This excerpt out of a recently discovered inscription from Lampsacus introduces us to a naval battle of which no other record exists. Can the date and occasion of the battle be determined? The editor of the inscription, M. G. Daux, concludes that any such attempt must be mere guesswork; but in telling us that the letter-forms of the new text are such as one would expect in a document of c. 300 B.C. he has given us a clue which invites exploration.

At this time Lampsacus was no longer in a position to maintain an independent navy in support of its own war-policy. Hence it may safely be assumed that the Lampsacenes captured in ‘the sea-battle’ were serving under one or other of the Diadochi.