BRIBERY IN CLASSICAL ATHENS Kellam ... - Historia Antigua

Conover Bribery in Classical Athens Chapter One
Because dōra were used to negotiate the relationship itself, the obligation they
incurred need not be repaid immediately. Often, in fact, outside of the ritualized
exchange of dōra on-the-spot, a gift entailed only a general return, that is, a return
unspecified in terms of both quality (what kind of gift, how valuable it was) and time
(when it would be given). 63 In this sense, assuming they were gifts not quid pro quo
compensation, we should not causally link the gifts given to Eurybiades and Adimantus
with their decision to stay and defend Artemisium. Rather, both the talents of silver and
the generals’ subsequent decision to stay could be viewed as independent ‘gifts’—we
might say ‘favors’—that separately negotiated a friendship. Much like we saw with
‘insider’ framing in the previous section, within the framing of the relationship it would
have been difficult to construe the gifts as bribes, for they likely would not have obligated
a specific return.
This reciprocity—gifts obligating non-specific returns—created a continuously
off-set equilibrium by which dōra could symbolize and strengthen relationships. The
Athenians had a preference to give rather than to receive, meaning it was better to
obligate others than to be so obligated. 64 As a result, when someone gave a gift, often the
counter-gift would not simply repay an obligation, but would seek to off-set the
equilibrium of the relationship by further obligating another, as well. 65 The exchange of
gifts was not a series of immediate, equal exchanges, but was a continuous string of
gift/counter-gift/gift (counter-gift)/counter-gift… Although an Athenian often claimed to
give dōra spontaneously and unprompted as a way to initiate a new sequence of
63 Mauss (1990) is seminal on this point. Finley (1957), Seaford (1994: 7-23), von Reden (1995a: 18-
24), Domingo Gygax (2007: 119-20; forthcoming: 29-30) helpfully lay out these concepts out for an
ancient Greek setting.
64 E.g. Aristot. EN 1124b.
65 Millett (1992: 32-3), Domingo Gygax (2007: esp. 120-2).
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