Professor Emeritus in the Department of Classics John Traill was honoured at an international symposium held by the Greek Epigraphic Society in Athens on April 28th and 29th. The two day conference featured talks by many prominent international scholars speaking on Greek epigraphy and Prof. Traill's contribution to its study.
Founded in 1985, the Greek Epigraphic Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the pursuit and worldwide study of Ancient Greek inscriptions.
The symposium program can be found below.
Greek Epigraphic Society 2023 Symposium Program
These conferences are a prestigious honour for individuals working on Greek and Attic epigraphy and their lifetime achievements, and the following citation by Angelos Matthaiou and Nassos Themos was read out at the event. A rough machine-generated translation of the citation follows the original text. Congratulations, John, on this wonderful achievement!
Ἄ. Π. Ματθαίου
Ἀθ. Ἀλ. Θέμος
28.4.23
Χαιρετισμὸς στὸν καθηγητὴ John Traill
Οἱ ἐπιγραφικοὶ οἱ ἐνδιατρίβοντες στὴν μελέτη τῶν Ἀττικῶν ἐπιγραφῶν καὶ οἱ
σχολούμενοι μὲ τὴν Ἀττικὴ Τοπογραφία νατρέχουν συχνότατα στὰ ἔργα τοῦ
τιμωμένου μας, σεβαστοῦ καθηγητοῦ Traill, τόσο στὸ The Athenian Councillors ποὺ
συνέγραψε πὸ κοινοῦ μὲ τὸν μέντορά του, Benjamin Dean Meritt, τὸν ρχηγέτη τῶν
Ἀττικῶν ἐπιγραφικῶν σπουδῶν στὴν ᾽Αμερική, ὅσο καὶ στὰ δύο προσωπικὰ του
ἔργα, τὸ opus magnus του, Persons of Ancient Athens, καὶ στὸν παραίτητο ὁδηγὸ καὶ
παραστάτη τῶν τοπογραφούντων ρχαιολόγων, μεταξὺ αὐτῶν μάλιστα τῶν
Ἑλλήνων· λέγω τὴν μελέτη του The Political Organization of Attica. Καὶ τὰ τρία εἶναι
ἔργα ναφορᾶς καὶ ἐκ τῶν ὧν οὐκ ἄνευ γιὰ τοὺς μελετητὲς τῶν Ἀττικῶν πραγμάτων.
Ὁ Traill εὐτύχησε στὰ πρῶτα ἐπιστημονικὰ βήματά του νὰ ἔχη σπουδαίους
καθοδηγητὲς στὸν σκολιό, μακρὸ καὶ νάντη δρόμο τῶν Ἀττικῶν ἐπιγραφῶν καὶ τῆς
Ἀττικῆς τοπογραφίας. Στὸ Harvard, ὅπου ἔκανε τὶς μεταπτυχιακές του σπουδὲς εἶχε
καθηγητὴ τὸν Sterling Dow. Στὴν Ἀθήνα ὡς φοιτητὴς τῆς Ἀμερικανικῆς Σχολῆς εἶχε
δάσκαλο τὸν Εὐγενιο Vanderpool. Ἀπὸ ἐκεῖνον, ὅπως καὶ ρκετοὶ ἄλλοι νεαροὶ
Ἀμερικανοὶ καὶ Καναδοί σπουδαστές, νέοι φανατικοὶ γιὰ γράμματα, ἐγνώρισε τὴν
Ἑλλάδα καὶ ἔμαθε νὰ γαπᾶ καὶ νὰ σέβεται τὸν τόπο καὶ τὸν Ἑλληνικό τρόπο. Σὲ
ἐκεῖνον ὀφείλει τὴν γνωριμία καὶ τὴν καθοδήγηση στὴν Ἀττικὴ τοπογραφία. Ἀπὸ τὸν
Vanderpool ἔμαθε νὰ γαπᾶ τὶς λαϊκὲς ταβέρνες καὶ τὸν πότον, μάλιστα τὴν ρετσίναØ
στὴν «Ἤπειρο» καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ζυθεστιατόρια καὶ ταβερνεῖα τῆς περιοχῆς πλησίον τῆς
ρχαίας Ἀγορᾶς ἦσαν μόνιμοι θαμῶνες οἱ μαθητὲς τοῦ Vanderpool, ὁ Geagan, ὁ
Threatte, ὁ Langdon, ὁ σημερινὸς τιμώμενός μας John Traill, καὶ ἄλλοι διαλεκτοὶ καὶ
φερέλπιδες νέοι ἐρευνητές. Ἴσως δὲν ἔτυχε νὰ ἔχουν διαβάσει, ἄλλα σφαλῶς
πάμπολλες φορὲς εἶχαν νοιώσει πίνοντας τοὺς εὐφρόσυνους λόγους τοῦ κυρ
᾽Αλέξανδρου Παπαδιαμάντη:
ἦτο ὠραῖον ρετσινᾶτον, ὄλο ἄρωμα καὶ πτῆσις καῖ φρός.
Ὁ τρίτος του δάσκαλος, μέντωρ καὶ μεγάλος φίλος ὑπῆρξε ὁ Meritt. Σὲ αὐτὸν
ὀφείλει τὴν συστηματικὴ ἐνασχόληση τόσο μὲ τοὺς βουλευτικοὺς καὶ πρυτανικοὺς
καταλόγους, ὅσο καὶ μὲ τὴν Ἀττικὴ προσωπογραφία. Ὁ δάσκαλος ἐμπιστεύθηκε τὸν
ἄξιο μαθητὴ καὶ ὑπῆρξε γενναιόδωρος. Καὶ νέες ἐπιγραφὲς τοῦ παρεχώρησε νὰ
δημοσιεύση καὶ τοῦ νέθεσε τὴν συνέχιση τῆς Ἀττικῆς Προσωπογραφίας. Τὸ σχέδιό
του νὰ ἑτοιμάση νέα βελτιωμένη ἔκδοση τοῦ μνημειώδους ἔργου τοῦ Kirchner, τῆς
Prosopographia Attica, εἶχε πὸ πολλῶν ἐτῶν βάλει σὲ ἐφαρμογὴ ὁ Meritt καὶ πέραν
τῆς προσωπικῆς του ἐργασίας νέθετε κατὰ καιροὺς τὴν σύνταξη δελτίων σὲ
νεώτερους συνεργάτες του, τὸν Kentrick Pritchett, τὸν Tony Raubitschek τὴν Daphne
Hareward καὶ ὀλίγους ἄλλους, κυριώτατα ὅμως στὸν ἐξαίρετο Ἕλληνα ἐπιγραφικὸ
Γεώργιο Σταμίρη, ποὺ ὑπῆρξε βοηθὸς καὶ στενὸς συνεργάτης τοῦ Meritt στὸ Institute
for Advanced Study ἐπὶ 13 συναπτὰ ἔτη, πὸ τὸ 1948 ἕως τὸ 1961. Ἡ ἐμπιστοσύνη ποὺ
ἔδειξε ὁ Meritt στὸν Traill δὲν διεψεύσθη. Ἐκτὸς τῆς δημοσιεύσεως βουλευτικῶν
καταλόγων στὸ περιοδικὸ Hesperia καὶ τῆς συνδημοσιεύσεως μαζὶ μὲ τὸν δάσκαλο
τῶν Athenian Councillors στὴν σειρὰ τῶν μπλὲ τόμων τῆς Ἀρχαίας Ἀγορᾶς, ὁ Traill
φιέρωθηκε στὴν σύνταξη σὲ εὐρύτερη πλέον βάση, καὶ μὲ τὴν χρήση τῆς
τεχνολογίας καὶ τῶν δυνοτήτων τῶν ὑπολογιστῶν, τῆς προσωπογραφίας ποὺ τώρα
θὰ περιελάμβανε ἐκτὸς τῶν Ἀθηναίων πολιτῶν καὶ τῶν γυναικῶν, τοὺς ξένους,
μόνιμους καὶ περιστασιακοὺς κατοίκους τῶν Ἀθηνῶν καὶ τοὺς δούλους. Ἡ σύνταξις
τοῦ τιτάνιου αὐτοῦ ἔργου, ἔργου ζωῆς τοῦ Traill, στὸ ὁποῖο συνέβαλε μεγάλως καὶ ἡ
οἰκογένειά του, ἐκράτησε πλέον τῶν τριανταπέντε ἐτῶν. ῾Ο πρῶτος τόμος τῶν
Persons of Ancient Athens δημοσιεύθηκε τὸ 1994 καὶ ὁ 21ος, ὁ τελευταῖος, τὸ 2012.
Ἀλλὰ ὁ γεραρὸς γέρων δὲν φήνει τὸ γαπημένο πνευματικό του τέκνο. Ἐξέδωσε
δύο κόμη τόμους, μὲ Προσθετέα καὶ Διορθωτέα· τὸν τελευταῖο τὸ 2021. Εἶμαι δὲ
βέβαιος ὅτι θὰ ἑτοιμάζη καὶ τρίτον, καὶ οἱ νακοινώσεις τοῦ Συμποσίου σφαλῶς θὰ
τοῦ προσφέρουν νέο καὶ ρκετὸ ὑλικὸ γιὰ τὰ Addenda et Corrigenda του.
῾Η δημοσίευσις καταλόγων βουλευτῶν καὶ πρυτάνεων καὶ ἡ σύνταξις τοῦ opus
magnum, τῶν Persons of Ancient Athens, ἐπέβαλλε νὰ ἔρχεται στὴν Ἑλλάδα συχνά, γιὰ
νὰ μελετᾶ τόσο στὴν ρχαία Ἀγορά, στὴν ποθήκη τῆς Στοᾶς Ἀττάλου, ὅσο καὶ στὸ
Ἐπιγραφικὸ Μουσεῖο, ὥστε ἐξ αὐτοψίας νὰ συλλέγη τὰ νέα ὀνόματα καὶ κατὰ
περίπτωσιν νὰ ἐλεγχη τὶς παλαιὲς ναγνώσεις. Ἡ προηγηθεῖσα διδασκαλία, ἡ
συναναστροφὴ μὲ τὸν Εὐγένιο Vanderpool, τὰ συχνὰ ταξίδια, ἡ παραμονή, καὶ τὸ
ντικείμενο τῆς σπουδῆς ὑπῆρξαν καθοριστικὰ γιὰ τὴν στενὴ καὶ γαπητικὴ σχέση
τοῦ Traill μὲ τὸν τόπο καὶ τοὺς νθρώπους.
Ἡ πατρίδα καὶ οἱ Ἕλληνες ὁμότεχνοι ὀφείλουν στὸν Traill πολλά, διότι γάπησε
τὴν Ἑλλαδα, ἔμαθε τὴν νέα Ἑλληνικὴ καὶ ἐπιδιώκει πάντοτε νὰ τὴν ὁμιλεῖ. ᾽Ανήκει
στὴν παλαιά, ἐκλείπουσα πλέον, γενεὰ τῶν Ἀμερικανῶν καὶ Καναδῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν
ποὺ θεωροῦν ὅτι ὁ Ἑλληνικὸς πολιτισμός, ρχαῖος, μεσαιωνικὸς καὶ νεώτερος,
συνιστοῦν διάσπαστη συνέχεια καὶ ἑνότητα καὶ ὅτι ἡ γνώση τοῦ νεοῦ Ἑλληνισμοῦ
συμβάλλει ποφασιστικὰ στὴν κατανόηση τοῦ ρχαίου ῾Ελληνικοῦ κόσμου.
Εἶναι πὸ τοὺς ἐλάχιστους, –καὶ τώρα μὲ τὸν θάνατο τοῦ David Jordan, τοῦ Leslie
Threatte καὶ τοῦ Ron Stroud, ὁ κύκλος ἐμίκρυνε κόμη περισσότερο–, ποὺ ἐξ ἐπιλογῆς
συναναστρέφεται καὶ ἔχει σταθερὲς φιλίες μὲ Ἕλληνες, ταξιδεύει στὴν ὕπαιθρο,
περπατᾶ, καὶ πολαμβάνει τὴν καλὴ παρέα καὶ τὸ κρασὶ στὰ λίγα ἐναπομείναντα
παλαιὰ ταβερνεῖα.
Ἡ Ἑλληνικὴ Ἐπιγραφικὴ Ἑταιρεία ἔχει παλαιὰ σχέση μὲ τὸν τιμώμενο, καὶ μερικὰ
μέλη της, μεταξύ των καὶ ὁ ὁμιλῶν συνδέονται μαζί του μὲ μακρὰ φιλία. Καὶ ἡ φιλία
του μᾶς τιμᾶ. Ὑπῆρξε, καὶ παραμένει, ὁ Traill σταθερὸς ὑποστηρικτὴς καὶ κήρυκας
τοῦ ἔργου τῆς Ἑταιρείας καὶ, ὅποτε τοῦ ἐζητήθη, προσέφερε, καὶ συνεχίζει νὰ
προσφέρη, φειδῶς τὶς γνώσεις καὶ τὴν πεῖρα του στὰ μέλη της.
Τὸ δὲ Ἐπιγραφικὸ Μουσεῖο, ποὺ στεγάζει τὴν σημερινὴ ἐκδήλωση πρὸς τιμήν του
ὑπῆρξε καὶ γιὰ τὸν Τrail, ὅπως καὶ γιὰ πολλοὺς κόμη ἐπιγραφικούς, μάλιστα
Ἀττικούς, home sweet home, γιὰ νὰ ἐπαναλάβω τὴν θερμὴ φράση τῆς Lillian Jeffery.
Σεβαστὲ καθηγητὰ Traill, φίλτατε Ἰωάννη
Ἡ πόφασις τοῦ Ἐπιγραφικοῦ Μουσείου καὶ τῆς Ἑταιρεία μας νὰ ὀργανώσωμε
καὶ νὰ Σᾶς φιερώσωμε, –ἐπ᾽ εὐκαιρίᾳ τοῦ ταξιδιοῦ σας μετὰ πὸ τέσσερα ἔτη–, τὸ
Ἀττικὸ Ἐπιγραφικὸ καὶ Τοπογραφικὸ Συμπόσιο, εἶναι ἐλάχιστο δεῖγμα τιμῆς καὶ
μικρὸ ντίδωρο γιὰ τὴν γενναία συνεισφορά Σας καὶ τὴν μεγάλη συμβολὴ Σας στὴν
μελέτη τῶν Ἀττικῶν ἐπιγραφῶν, τῆς Προσωπογραφίας καὶ τῆς Ἀττικῆς Τοπογραφίας,
λλὰ καὶ ἔνδειξη τῆς βαθείας εὐγνωμοσύνης γιὰ τὴν σταθερή, εἰλικρινῆ Σας γάπη
και μακρὰ σχέση μὲ τὸν τόπο καὶ τοὺς Ἕλληνες.
Εἰς ἔτη πολλά.
Χαίροις ἡμῖν, φίλε Ἀττικέ
April 28, 2023
A. P. Matthaiou
Ath. Al. Themos
Greetings to Professor John Traill
Epigraphists who are interested in the study of Attic inscriptions and those dealing with
Attic topography often consult the works of our honored, respected Professor Traill, both in The
Athenian Councillors which he co-authored with his mentor, Benjamin Dean Meritt, the Attic
leader of epigraphic studies in America, as well as the two works he did on his own, his opus
magnum, Persons of Ancient Athens, and the indispensable guide and assistant of topographical
archaeologists, among them especially the Greeks, I speak of his study of The Political Organization
of Attica. All three are works of reference indispensable for students of Attic antiquity.
Traill was fortunate in his first scientific steps to have great guides on the long and uphill
road of Attic inscriptions and Greek topography. At Harvard, where he did his postgraduate
studies, his professor was Sterling Dow. In Athens, as a student of the American School, his
teacher was Eugene Vanderpool. From there, like many other young American and Canadian
students, obsessed with letters, he got to know Greece and learned to love and respect the country
and the Greek way of life.
To Vanderpool he owes his acquaintance and guidance in Attic topography. From him
he learned to love the folk taverns and the drink, especially retsina. In the Epeiros and the
other beer-restaurants and taverns of the area near the Agora, Vanderpool’s students, Geagan,
Threatte, Langdon, our present honoree John Traill, and other specializing and promising young
researchers were permanent regulars. Maybe they did not happen to have read it, but surely many
times they would have felt it while drinking, Mr. Alexandros Papadiamantis’ cheerful words: “It
was a beautiful retsination full of aroma and flight and foam.”
His third teacher, mentor, and great friend, was Meritt. It is to him that he owes the
systematic engagement with the bouleutai and prytaneis lists, as well as with Attic prosopography.
The teacher trusted his worthy student and was generous. And he granted him new inscriptions to
publish and entrusted him with the continuation of the Attic Prosopography. His plan to prepare
a new and improved edition of Kirchner’s Prosopographia Attica, had been implemented by Meritt
for many years and, in addition to his personal work, he occasionally assigned the compilation of
entries to his younger collaborators, Kendrick Pritchett, Tony Raubitschek, Daphne Hareward
and a few others, but mainly to the excellent Greek epigrapher George Stamires, who was
Meritt’s assistant and close associate at the Institute for Advanced Study for 13 consecutive
years, from 1948 to 1961. The trust that Meritt put into Traill was not misguided. In addition
to publishing the bouleutic lists in the journal Hesperia and co-publishing with his teacher The
Athenian Councillors in the Ancient Agora series of blue volumes, Traill devoted himself to the
writing on a much broader basis, and using technology and computer capabilities, prosopography
which would now include, in addition to Athenian citizens and women, foreigners, permanent
and occasional residents of Athens and slaves. The compilation of this titanic work, Traill’s life
work, to which his family also contributed greatly, lasted more than thirty-five years. The first
volume of Persons of Ancient Athens was published in 1994 and the 21st, the last, in 2012. But
“the revered old teacher does not leave the beloved intellectual child.” He published two more
volumes with Addenda and Corrigenda, the last one in 2021. I am sure he will also prepare a
third one, and the papers of the Symposium will certainly provide him with new and sufficient
material for his Addenda and Corrigenda.
The publication of lists of bouleutai and prytaneis and the writing of his opus magnum,
Persons of Ancient Athens, required him to come to Greece often, to study both in the ancient
Agora, in the storehouse of the Stoa of Attalos, and in the Epigraphical Museum, as well as to
collect new names and check old readings. His previous teaching, the association with Eugene
Vanderpool, the frequent trips, the stays, and the object of study were decisive for Traill’s close
and loving relationship with the country and its people.
The country and the Greek fellow craftsmen owe a lot to Traill, because he loved Greece,
learned the modern Greek language, and always strives to speak it. He belongs to the old,
now disappearing, generation of American and Canadian Hellenists who consider that Greek
civilization, ancient, medieval and modern, constitute an inseparable continuity and unity and
that the knowledge of modern Hellenism contributes decisively to the understanding of the
ancient Greek world. He is one of the few – and now with the death of David Jordan, Leslie
Threatte, and Ron Stroud, the circle has become even smaller – who, by choice, associates and
has stable friendships with Greeks, travels in the countryside, walks, and enjoys good company
and wine in the few remaining taverns.
The Hellenic Epigraphic Society has a long-standing relationship with the honoree, and
some of its members, among them the speakers, are connected with him with a long friendship.
And his friendship honors us. Traill was, and remains, a steadfast supporter and expounder of
the Society’s work and, whenever he was asked, he generously offered, and continues to offer, his
knowledge and experience to its members. And the Epigraphic Museum, which houses today’s
event in his honor, was also for Traill, as well as for many other epigraphists, especially Attic
ones, home sweet home, to repeat the warm phrase of Lillian Jeffery.
Honored Professor Traill, dearest friend Ioannis.
The decision of the Epigraphic Museum and our company to organize and dedicate to
you – on the occasion of your trip after four years – the Attic Epigraphical and Topographical
Symposium, is a small sample of honor and a small reward for your brave contribution and your
great contribution to the study of Attic inscriptions, prosopography, and Attic topography, but
also an indication of the deep gratitude for your constant, sincere love, and long relationship
with Greece and the Greeks.
(May you live) For Many Years
You are a joy to us, friend Atticus
