Epitaph of Antiochos, King of Kommagini
Constantine P Cavafy
After the funeral of the scholarly Antiochos, King of Kommagini, whose life had been restrained and gentle, his sister, deeply afflicted, wanted an epitaph for him. So, on the advice of Syrian courtiers, the Ephesian sophist Kallistratos (who often resided in the small state of Kommagini and was a welcome and frequent guest at the royal house) wrote an epitaph and sent it to the old lady. 'People of Kommagini, let the glory of Antiochos, the noble king, be celebrated as it deserves. He was a provident ruler of the country. He was just, wise, courageous. In addition he was that best of all things, Hellenic- mankind has no quality more precious: everything beyond that belongs to the gods.'