Spring-house Decree on Athens' Water Supply

What it is

This is a triangular fragment of white marble inscribed with Greek letters in several lines. It records an Athenian decree from 432 BC about the spring-house, a structure connected to the city's water supply. The fragment is held by the Epigraphic Museum of Athens, catalogued as EM 6849 (IG I 49). The inscription names Paralos and Xanthippos, the sons of Pericles.

Why it matters

Official decrees carved in stone show how the Athenian state made public decisions and paid for public works. The mention of Pericles's sons shows that his family held a visible role in public matters. The text is evidence of the city's administration in the years when Pericles was its leading statesman.

Look closer

• What does the museum label tell you about the subject of the decree, and what is left unclear?
• Why were decrees like this carved in marble and displayed publicly?
• What can a fragment this small not tell us about the full decree?