Hermias of Atarneus in a New Inscription from Aerae

The present article analyzes a newly discovered 4th-century BCE inscription from Aerae (Ionia) concerning a reconciliation agreement mediated by Hermias of Atarneus. By examining the text’s provisions - including a general amnesty - the study challenges the editors’ dating to 342/1. The author argues that Hermias’s intervention likely occurred earlier, contending that Aerae fell within the limits of his territorial influence. Furthermore, the amnesty supports a more nuanced view of Hermias’s rule, aligning with the “milder” portrait in Peripatetic sources rather than Theopompus’s hostile tradition. Finally, the article explores the geopolitical context, considering Hermias’s broader anti-Persian networks.