IGII2 1320 Decree of artists of Dionysos honouring officials

Decree of artists of Dionysos honouring officials

IG II² 1320 Date: ca. 229/8-203 BC

. . . ^[1] . . . [and] [managed] the association (sunodou) of the artists (technitōn) with the additionally appointed managers (epimelētōn) in as honour-loving a manner (philotimotata) (5) as they could, having contributed from their own resources; for good fortune, the artists shall decide to praise the religious officials (hieropoious), Sositheos the tragic actor and Sophilos the singer and (10) crown both of them with an ivy crown for their piety towards the gods and love of honour (philotimias) towards the society (koinon) of artists; and to inscribe this decree (15) and their names on a stone stele and stand it in the dedication of Poseidippos.^[2]

col. 1

The artists (crowned) Sositheos the tragic actor

col. 2

The artists (crowned) Sophilos the singer

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References:

IG II² 1320 (Translated text) (PHI)

Tracy, ALC 47a

Le Guen TE 3

Translation by: Stephen Lambert

Images: Krateros - (1)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Decree (Dionysiac artists)

Findspot: Athens, excavations of Dipylon (EM 6)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] On the origins of the “association (synodos) of artists (technitai) of Dionysos at Athens” (τῶν περὶ τὸν Διόνυσον τεχνιτῶν τῶν ἐν Ἀθήναις) see Le Guen, vol. 2, 5-14, and most recently, B. Fauconnier, Athletes and Artists in the Roman Empire, 2023, 19-22. The earliest evidence for them is in a decree of the League of the Delphian Amphiktyony, 279-277 BC, confirming their privileges, F. Delphes III 2, 68, ll. 61-94 = CID 4.12 = Le Guen TE 2. This is the only decree of the association datable to the 3rd cent. BC. In it they honour two officers of the association (hieropoioi), a tragic actor and a singer. It was discovered in the excavations of the Dipylon, at the apparent location of the association’s temenos. Documentary evidence for the Athenian association is collected by Le Guen vol. 1, pp. 57-127, TE 2-TE 16, tabulated pp. 18-22. For the latest decree of the association see I Eleus. 271. For the “world-wide itinerant association of theatrical artists of Dionysos” at Athens in the 2nd cent. AD see AIUK 4.3A, no. 9. [2] This is a work of Tracy’s “Cutter of IG II² 1706”, who was active ca. 229/8-203 BC. Sositheos the tragic actor is identifiable with Sostheos II, mentioned as victor at the Lenaia on the Victors’ List, IG II² 2325, l. 313 (2325H col. VII, l. 116 in B. W. Millis and S. D. Olson, Inscriptional Records for the Dramatic Festivals in Athens, 2012, p. 221; Stephanis, Dionysiakoi Technitai, 1988, no. 2345; Traill, PAA 861440. “II” might alternatively signify that there were two distinct victorious actors of this name, cf. Le Guen). The Poseidippos in whose dedication the stele is to be placed (16-17) is usually identified as the comic poet of that name, son of Kyniskos of Kassandreia, who is said by the Suda (π 2111) to have produced his first play two years after the death of Menander, i.e. 291/0 BC (PCG 7 p. 561, Millis and Olson p. 169 on IG II² 2325C, l. 80, Traill, PAA 785245).

Added: 15 Dec 2020
Updated: 5 Apr 2024
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