IGII34 12 Dedicatory inscription on the entrance of the Roman Agora

Dedicatory inscription on the entrance of the Roman Agora

IG II³ 4 12 Date: 27-10/9 BC?

The People, from the gifts given by Gaius Julius Caesar the god^[1] and the Emperor Caesar Augustus, son of the god, (dedicated this) to Athena Archegetis, when the hoplite general was Eukles of Marathon, who both inherited the responsibility (epimeleian) from his father Herodes, and also served as an envoy,^[2] (5) in the archonship of Nikias son of Sarapion of Athmonon.^[3]

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References:

IG II³ 4 12 (Translated text) (IG Online)

IG II² 3175 (PHI)

Schmalz 102

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Gateway

Inscription type: Dedication (People), Dedication (Athena Archegitis)

Original location: Roman Agora

Findspot: Roman Agora (In situ)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] The inscription is located in the architrave of the Gate of Athena Archegetis, a monumental Doric tetrapylon which formed the entranceway to the Roman Agora from the west. The pediment was topped by a statue of Augustus’ grandson, Lucius Caesar (IG II² 3251). On the gate, see Travlos, Pictoral Dictionary, 28-9 and pl. 40-41; T. L. Shear Hesperia 50, 1981, 358-98. On the functions of the Roman Agora and its internal organisation see D. S. Sourlas, in V. Chankowski and P. Karvonis eds., Tout vendre, tout acheter. Structures et équipements des marchés antiques (2012), 119-38. [2] There were two separate donations. The first was made to Herodes in 51/50 BC by Julius Caesar (Cic. ad Att. 6.1.25, cf. Suet. Div. Iul. 28), the second by the Emperor Augustus, by which time Herodes had died and Eukles had inherited the role of manager (epimeletes) of the building project. Given the size of the first donation (50 talents), the gifts were presumably intended to cover the costs of the whole Roman Agora, not just the gate. Either the first donation proved insufficient or it was interrupted as a result of Athens’ support for Pompey in 49 BC (see IG II² 1047 with notes). On Herodes, see Agora XV 267 with notes. [3] The date of Nikias’ archonship and of this inscription is not known. It is perhaps 27 – 17/6 BC or 10/9 BC because Octavian received the title of Augustus in 27 BC, the archons for the years 17/16-11/10 BC are known and from 9/8 BC the archons bore the additional title of ‘Priest of Drusus the Consul.’ If the statue of Lucius Caesar on the pediment was part of the original structure, then the inscription should date to 10/9 BC, the only available date after Lucius’ adoption by Augustus in 12 BC. G. Schmalz Augustan and Julio-Claudian Athens (2009), 80, however, prefers ca. 25 BC on prosopographical grounds.

Added: 13 Mar 2018
Updated: 9 Apr 2024
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