Abstract
An archaic boustrophedon inscription found a few years ago at Dreros is one of the oldest extant Cretan inscriptions, probably not later than 600 B.C., and is of the greatest interest for our knowledge of the early development of the Polis. The text runs as follows: 1. ←Aδ' εϜαδε πολι επει κα κοσμησει, δεκα Ϝετιον τον αIa←θιοσολοιον 2. →Ϝτον μη κοσμεν αι δε κοσμησιε, οπε δικακσιε, αϜτον οπηλεν διπηλεν καϜτον 3. ←ακρηστον ημεν, ας δοοι, κοτι κοσμησιε, μηδεν. 4. ← ομοται δε κοσμος κοι δαμιοι κοι ικατι οι τας πολ[ιο]ς