Συμπολιτεύειν: Being a Citizen, with Others

The contribution examines how Greek poleis created a shared civic body when formerly independent communities merged in a sympolity. Drawing on epigraphic case studies including Delphi and Plygonion, Stiris and Medeon, Miletus and Pidasa, and the incorporation of Magnesia into Smyrna, it analyses how shared citizenship was defined and implemented in practice.  Sympolity agreements reveal that citizenship was understood less as a set of rights than as participation in common political institutions, cult practices, and civic obligations. By regulating assemblies, offices, cult participation, and civic subdivisions, these treaties show how communities negotiated integration and redefined the polis as a newly constituted body politic.