Collaboration between the Secretary of the Athenian Council and the Generals: Recordkeeping and Accountability of Officials in Late Fifth-Century BC Athens.

This article focuses on the unusual collaboration between the secretary of the Athenian council (grammateus tes boules) and the board of generals (strategoi) in publishing decrees related to Athenian foreign policy after the restoration of democracy in 410 BC. Epigraphic evidence from the late fifth century BC reveals that this cooperation was part of broader reforms aimed at improving recordkeeping and accountability among military officials during the Peloponnesian War. The collaboration, seen in decrees involving treaties and honors, reflected concerns over financial transparency and protection of generals from accusations of misconduct. Over time, changes in Athenian military administration led to the appointment of dedicated clerical personnel, reducing the need for such joint publication efforts and contributing to more efficient and accurate recordkeeping in subsequent centuries.