AIO 3644 Letters from Marcus Aurelius and Commodus on the Gerousia

Letters from Marcus Aurelius and Commodus on the Gerousia

AIO 3644 Date: ca. 176-185 AD

Stele A

Fragment a

On a shield in the pediment Eponymos Claudius the dadouch son of Claudius Leonides . . . ^[1]

Fragment bcdefg

Letter I (1) . . . . . . the . . . . . . estates . . . ^[2] . . . the four hundred . . . (5) . . . in accordance with the related [speech (?) . . . ] . . . in accordance with the customary things . . . . . . my birthday . . . ^[3] . . . to you of the - relating to . . . Letter II Emperor Caesar, son of the God Antoninus Pius, [brother of the God Verus Parthicus Maximus, great-grandson of the God Trajanus Parthicus] (10) descendant of the God Nerva, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus Germanicus Sarmaticus, pontifex maximus, tribunician power 32 times, acclaimed emperor [9 times, consul 3 times, father of the fatherland and Emperor Caesar Lucius Aurelius Commodus] [Augustus, son] of Emperor Antoninus Augustus, [grandson of the God Pius, great-grandson of the God Hadrian], descendant [of the God Trajan Parthicus] [and the God Nerva], Germanicus Sarmaticus, [tribunician power 3 times, acclaimed emperor 2 times, consul, father of the fatherland (178)], to the Areopagos Council and the Council of the Five Hundred and the People of the Athenians, (15) greetings: [The letters which] you sent about matters relating to the Gerousia . . . ^[4] . . . to be – the number this memorial . . . . . . of the assemblygoers in accordance with the customary ways . . . ^[5] . . . defined, so that indeed neither . . . (20) . . . of most you accept for worth- . . . . . . the age of those being – and of these . . . . . . the place of the departed man, until . . . . . . from the citizens (astōn) it will be always be necessary to bring in . . . . . . of the naturalised men (dēmopoiētōn) entering and those with citizen rights (epiteimous) . . . (25) . . . to share in the Athenian [citizenship] . . . . . . they sent - , wishing to learn from . . . . . . entering the [Gerousia], whenever (it needs?) to be filled up . . . . . . some of the elders (gerontōn) to choose . . . . . . will – the oldest man . . . (30) . . . by vote to make clear the . . . . . . whoever they may choose now . . . . . . uninscribed space Letter III Emperor Caesar, son of the God Antoninus, brother of the God Verus Parthicus Maximus, grandson of the God Hadrian, great-grandson of the God Trajan Parthicus, descendant of the God Nerva, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus Germanicus Sarmaticus, pontifex (35) Maximus, tribunician power - times, acclaimed emperor - times, consul 3 times, father of the fatherland, and ⟦Emperor Caesar Lucius Aurelius⟧ ⟦Commodus Augustus⟧,^[6] son of Emperor Antoninus Augustus, grandson of the God Pius, great-grandson of the God Hadrian, descendant of the God Trajan Parthicus and the God Nerva, Germanicus Sarmaticus, tribunician power – times, acclaimed emperor – times, consul – times, father of the fatherland, proconsul (178-179), to the Athenians’ Gerousia, greetings. Regarding those who chop down the wood from the estates . . . ^[7] (40) about this, the procurator Caelius Quadratus informs . . . ^[8] the one managing the estates - noteworthy men, to whom . . . to - to us, and you will provide to Quadratus these things of ours . . . of – clear and having sent to us he will do . . . having thought . . . may you make it be . . . about them, and you will also act correctly if, having written [to us . . . ] (45) we gave you this authority (exousian) and the right (dikaion) to write a song . . . to the members of the Gerousia. However, regarding the appointment of the archon . . . having selected whichever methods, from which we will choose the procurator (epitropon) . . . [but if] you want such a man to be provided, send the letters to him. [Farewell] Letter IV Emperor Caesar, son of the God Antoninus, brother of the God Verus Parthicus Maximus, [great-grandson of the God Trajan Parthicus], descendant of the (50) [God Nerva], Marcius Aurelius Antoninus Augustus Germanicus Sarmaticus, pontifex maximus, tribunician power [33 times] acclaimed emperor 11 times, consul 3 times, father of the fatherland, proconsul and ⟦Emperor Caesar Lucius Aurelius Commodus Augustus⟧, son of Emperor Antoninus Augustus, grandson of the God Pius, great-grandson of the God Hadrian, descendant of the God Trajan Parthicus and the God Nerva Germanicus Sarmaticus, tribunician power [4 times, acclaimed emperor 2 times], consul 2 times, father of the fatherland, proconsul (179), to the Athenians’ Gerousia, greetings.^[9] (55) We were pleased with the letters we got from you,^[10] since even with the . . . men in charge of the - of the . . . we have bought for the board (sunedriō) for the sponsorship (chorēgia) of distributions . . . having arranged -, we sent . . . you have approved what was necessary. So, then, you have wished to have the images (eikonas) of us and [our wives] made of gold [or silver, when], having understood our position (gnōmēs) well, you now wish bronze images to suffice, and it is clear that you will make sculptures (andriantas) of the sort which the masses more commonly call busts (protomas), and [you will make these] four symmetrical and equal, so that it is easy [at] your [festivals] (60) at each of the meetings (sunodōn) to carry them wherever you wish to [on each occasion], likewise also for the assembly meetings (ekklēsias), and . . . we approve that the record of our names be on -, on account [of your goodwill towards us], happily [accepting such] things, but shrinking from [divine things] and what seems likely to cause envy, at all [times]. Therefore, even now we [emphasise] to you considerately, [to make] them only from bronze, as this would be more gratifying to us, [and regarding the other men or regulations], Caelius Quadratus, our procurator (epitropos), [will make clear to you] their opinion, [having been instructed by them]. Farewell. Letter V (65) Emperor Caesar, son of the God Antoninus, brother of the God Verus Parthicus Maximus, great-grandson of the God Trajan Parthicus, descendant of the God Nerva, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus Germanicus Samaticus, pontifex maximus, tribunician power - times, acclaimed emperor [ten] times, consul 3 times, father of the fatherland, proconsul, and ⟦Emperor Caesar Lucius Aurelius Commodus⟧ Augustus, son of Emperor Antoninus Augustus, grandson of the God Pius, great-grandson of the God Hadrian, descendant of the God Trajan Parthicus and the God Nerva, Germanicus Sarmaticus, tribunician power - times, acclaimed emperor 3 times, consul 2 times, father of the fatherland, proconsul (179-180). (70) to . . . , greetings. . . . and the [archon?] of the Gerousia shall be present . . . ^[11] . . . an exemplar of the Athenians must . . . . . . he shall use white clothing, well . . . . . . on customary days . . . (75) . . . for us bearing – the elders (gerontes) . . . . . . of the council houses (bouleutēriōn) in the city . . . . . . and, having investigated, he . . . . . . the laws and those of which . . . . . . to the one who will be curator (logistē) . . . ^[12] (80) . . . victory, since . . . . . . learn . . . . . . . . . . . . write . . . (85) . . . . . . . . .

Fragment i

. . . . . . the appeasing (?) . . . . . . to be – both towards . . . (5) you - the acts . . . will be for you . . . public record office (dēmosion grammatophulakion) . . . ^[13] send . . . of a citizen . . . (10) . . . . . .

Fragment j

. . . . . . . . . . . . other . . . (5) of foliage . . . ^[14] . . . gather(?) . . . . . . meeting (sunodon) . . . . . . . . . (10) . . . . . .

Fragment k

. . . to . . . . . . . . . write . . . . . . other . . .

Fragment l

. . . . . . . . . . . . (5) [ . . . farewell] Letter VI(?) Emperor Caesar, son of the God Marcus, grandson of the God Pius, great-grandson of the God Hadrian, descendant of the God Trajan Parthicus and the God Nerva, ⟦Marcus Aurelius Commodus⟧ Antoninus Augustus Germanicus Sarmaticus, pontifex maximus, tribunician power - times, acclaimed emperor – times, consul 3 times, father of the fatherland, proconsul (181-182) [to the Athenian Gerousia], [greetings:] (10) . . . to be . . . . . .

Stele B

Fragment mnopq

Letter VII . . . . . . and . . . ^[15] . . . of the borders . . . . . . he will plan for . . . (5) . . . to define . . . . . . and can . . . . . . Antipatros and Gargilius [Antiquus, the mighty ones, and Apollonios son of Apollonios].^[16] Farewell. Letter VIII Emperor Caesar, son of the God Marcus Antoninus Pius Germanicus Sarmaticus, grandson of the God Pius, great-grandson of the God Hadrian, descendant of the God Trajan Parthicus and the God Nerva, ⟦Marcus Aurelius Commodus⟧ Antoninus (10) Augustus Sarmaticus Germanicus Maximus, pontifex maximus, tribunician power - times, acclaimed emperor 5 times, consul - times, father of the fatherland (182) to the Athenian Gerousia, greetings:^[17] [the letters which you sent] about the olive oil [deposit (thesin)] . . . this also . . . about the past events . . . [not] to innovate about . . . the age . . . and Gargilius Antiquus the (15) [mighty ones, and Apollonios] son of Apollonios.^[16] [Farewell] Letter IX Emperor Caesar, son of the God Marcus Antoninus Pius Germanicus Sarmaticus, grandson of the God Pius, great-grandson of the God Hadrian, descendant of the God Trajan Parthicus and the God Nerva, ⟦Marcus Aurelius Commodus⟧ Antoninus Augustus Sarmaticus Germanicus Maximus, pontifex maximus, tribunician power 8 times, acclaimed emperor - times, consul – times, father of the fatherland (182), to the Athenian Gerousia, greetings:^[18] (20) . . . the ancestral customs of the city . . . and you who have become this . . . to have – of this sort of . . . and now, sending – you asked that one of those competing [each time in a manner worthy of victory] in the encomium which . . . is written, that this one immediately [get a share in] your citizenship (politeias) from you and get the prescribed - of the crown for this exemplar (paradeigma) and . . . enthusiastically then . . . those in charge of the . . . with a speech, after judging that they are worthy of victory, immediately (25) . . . I have conceded . . . to the one judged worthy of victory immediately also citizenship (poleiteias) . . . Antipatros and [Gargilius Antiquus] the mighty ones and Apollonios son of Apollonios.^[16] Farewell. Letter X Emperor Caesar, son of the God Marcus Antoninus Pius Germanicus Sarmaticus, grandson of the God Pius, great-grandson of the God Hadrian, descendant of the God Trajan Parthicus and the God Nerva, ⟦Marcus Aurelius Commodus⟧ Antoninus Augustus Sarmaticus Germanicus Maximus, pontifex maximus, tribunician power - times, acclaimed emperor - times, (30) consul - times, father of the fatherland, to the Athenian Gerousia, greetings: . . . . . . . . .

Fragment r

. . . uninscribed space Letter XI (35) Emperor Caesar, son of the God Marcus Antoninus Pius Germanicus Sarmaticus, grandson of the God Pius, great-grandson of the God Hadrian, descendant of the God Trajan Parthicus and the God Nerva, ⟦Marcus Aurelius Commodus⟧ Antoninus Augustus Sarmaticus Germanicus Maximus, pontifex maximus, tribunician power [9 times], acclaimed emperor 7 times, consul [4 times], father of the fatherland (185), to the Athenian Gerousia, greetings: . . . is - and the - from (40) . . . of - and philanthropy (philanthrōpeias) . . . and . . .

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References:

AIO 3644 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG II² 1108 (PHI)

IG II² 1112 (PHI)

SEG 26.127

SEG 24.149 (PHI)

SEG 21.509 (PHI)

SEG 19.114 (PHI)

SEG 3.112 (PHI)

Meritt, Inscriptions 1933, 10 (PHI)

Oliver, Gerusia 24-26

Oliver, Marcus Aurelius 4

Oliver, Constitutions 193-203

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Images: Agora Excavations - (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
Krateros - (1, 2)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Letter (emperor)

fr. a - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 864)
fr. b - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 5984)
fr. c - Findspot: Acropolis? (EM 2763)
fr. d - Findspot: Acropolis, south slope (EM 9495)
fr. e - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 64a)
fr. f - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 64b)
fr. g - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 815)
fr. h - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 60)
fr. i - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 10b)
fr. j - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 10a)
fr. k - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 27)
fr. l - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 6436)
fr. m - Findspot: Agora (EM 13452, formerly Ag. I 964)
fr. n - Findspot: Acropolis, near Propylaia (EM 9494)
fr. o - Findspot: Acropolis (Ag. I 9497)
fr. p - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 2138)
fr. q - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 6935)
fr. r - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 3703)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Textual note: AIO follows the text of Oliver, Constitutions, but we also include fragments i-k, which Oliver omitted, from the text of B. D. Meritt, Hesperia 30, 1961, 231–236 n. 31 fr. d-f (= SEG 21.509), and restart the line numbering at the beginning of the second stele. We correct three typos in Oliver, Constitutions, which were not present in earlier editions by the same author: A l. 13 ἐξουσίας τὸ Β (“power 2 times”), which should be “3 times”; A l. 49, where Oliver restores θ[εοῦ Ἁδριανοῦ υἱωνός (“grandson of the God Hadrian”), but the size of the gap shows that the inscriber accidentally omitted these words; A l. 53 ἐξουσία[ς τὸ Γ (“power 3 times”), which should be “4 times”.

This fragmentary dossier consists of two stelai, containing at least eleven short letters from the emperors Marcus Aurelius (r. 161-180 AD) and Commodus (r. 177-192), establishing and regulating the Sacred Gerousia ("council of elders"). On Marcus Aurelius and Athens see IG II² 3410 with notes; on Commodus, see SEG 26.128; and, on inscribed Imperial letters, see I Eleusis 513. Letter I was written when Marcus was still sole ruler (i.e. before 177, cf. A. l. 7). Letters II-V date to their co-regency (177-180) and Letters VI-XI belong to the early years of Commodus’ sole reign (for the dates, derived from the Imperial titulatures, see Kienast, Römische Kaisertabelle⁷, 2017, 131-43). The idea of establishing the Gerousia was probably developed during Marcus Aurelius’ visit to Athens in late 176 AD (B. D. Meritt, Hesperia 29, 1960, 22 n. 29). Letters III-XI are addressed to the Gerousia, but Letter II is addressed to the Areopagos, Council, and People, presumably because it had not yet begun to operate. The letters respond to a series of embassies from the Athenians (whose ambassadors are honoured in I Eleusis 503 and 624). The eponymous official named at A l. 1-3, perhaps identical with the archon of the Gerousia (see n. 7), is a member of the Claudii of Melite, one of the leading families of Athens in this period, and dadouch, a prestigious Eleusinian priesthood. Gerousiasts are also mentioned in prytany lists from ca. 220 and ca. 255 AD (Agora XV 467, l. 17 and 466, ll. 5-7).

The function of the Gerousia was probably the organisation of festivals. This is suggested by the content of these letters (especially A ll. 45, 55-64, 71-74; B ll. 12, 22-25), by comparison with Gerousiai elsewhere (notably at Ephesos, cf. J. H. Oliver, Historia 7, 1958, 472-79), and by a set of 475 tokens found in and around the Stoa of Attalos, all issued and countermarked by a single authority in the mid-third century AD (Agora X L299-L331). Nine of these are inscribed "Clodius of the sacred Gerousia" (Agora X L310, with image). These appear to be festival tokens, which grated holders the right to admission or to a share of distributions. The imagery on the tokens recalls Athena, Theseus, Herakles, Sarapis, Dionysos, Poseidon, Asklepios, and others, suggesting that the Gerousia was involved in the organisation of the Panathenaia, Theseia, Great Dionysia, Asklepieia, and ephebic festivals (Cf. M. Gkikaki, in Z. Newby, Material Dynamics of Festivals, 2023, 106-112). The tokens do not depict Demeter and Persephone and the Gerousia does not appear in either of the surviving decrees from the Imperial period dealing with the Eleusinian Mysteries (I Eleusis 489; AIUK 4.2 (BM, decrees), 17), so these were probably outside their purview (and continued to be managed by the gene of the Eumolpidai and the Kerykes, perhaps in conjunction with the Panhellenion). The Gerousia must have shared the organisation of the festivals it was responsible with the competition-directors (agonothetai), who funded these festivals (cf. IG II³ 4, 518 and 528 with notes). This collaborative relationship is supported by SEG 30.82, l. 4, a decree honouring the competition-director the Panathenaia, which was erected in the meeting chamber of the Gerousia. This dossier was probably set up in the same place. The findspots of the fragments of this inscription and of the tokens suggests that this was somewhere in or around the Agora. [2] cf. A ll. 39-41. [3] The celebration of Imperial birthdays was a key component of the Imperial cult, cf. Agora XVI 336 with notes. [4] Letter II deals with membership of the Gerousia. It appears that there is a fixed number of members (A l. 17 and 27), perhaps a minimum age requirement (l. 21), that new members are brought in as existing members die (A l. 22), that priority is given to Athenian citizens (A l. 23) who are entitled to attend the assembly (A l. 18, cf. n 5), but some sort of provision is made for naturalised citizens or for the naturalisation of citizens to allow them to become members (ll. 24-25). Perhaps ll. 27-31 deal with a subcommittee for selecting new members or a shortlist of prospective members from which a new gerousiast would be elected (ll. 27-31). [5] This seems to indicate that those entitled to attend the Assembly in the 2nd century AD were a subset of the Athenian citizen body, as in various other communities in the Greek East (cf. Oliver, Marcus Aurelius, 1970, 61-62). Compare Marcus Aurelius’ restriction of participation in the Areopagos and Council to sufficiently well-born citizens in SEG 29.127. [6] Commodus’ name has been erased and then reinscribed throughout the whole dossier, as a result of his damnatio memoriae in 193 AD and rehabilitation in 197 AD, see IG II² 2119 with notes. [7] Letter 3 deals with estates, a song, and the appointment of an archon. It appears that the estates, which the Gerousia presumably used to fund its activities were leased from the Imperial fiscus (cf. IG II² 1100, ll. 5, 30-32) and that the emperor retained a right to some of their products (l. 42; Oliver, Gerusia, 44-46). The song which the Gerousia is entitled to write (l. 45) is perhaps a hymn to be sung during religious processions. The archon of the Gerousia also appears in I Eleusis 624. It is unclear whether he is to be identified with the eponymous official of A ll. 1-3. [8] A procurator managed affairs, often financial, on behalf of the emperor. L. Caelius Quadratus recurs at A l. 63, so it appears that he was organising the establishment of the Gerousia. He is probably also attested in Sicily and Rome (CIL VI 13913, CIL X 7191). [9] Letter IV deals with administration of assets that will be used for distributions of money (cf. I Eleusis 489 with notes and A. Zuiderhoek, The Politics of Munificence, 2009, 94-108). The Gerousia plans to honour Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and their wives Faustina the Younger and Bruttia Crispina with a set of busts. The emperors accept but insist that they be made of bronze rather than gold or silver. This limited acceptance was a standard Imperial behaviour intended to save honourers from excessive expense, demonstrate the emperor's modesty, and avoid provoking envy (cf. Oliver, Constitutions, pp. 14-15, citing other examples).

These busts were carried in processions and brought to attend festival games, and meetings of civic bodies, thus ensuring the virtual presence of the Imperial family within individual communities. Examples are attested in Greek cities in textual sources from the reign of Tiberius onwards and at least 16 gold and silver examples have survived from the Roman empire, dating between the mid-1st and 4th centuries AD (cf. A. de Pury-Gysel, Journal of Roman Studies 32, 2019, 313-328; G. Rogers, The Sacred Identity of Ephesos, 1991, 80–135). Athenian ephebic inscriptions from the 160s AD onwards refer to a “Sebastophoric” (emperor-bearing) fund, suggesting that carrying these busts was a role of the ephebes, as in other communities (AIO Papers 12, pp. 29-30). Maintaining these busts also came under the jurisdiction of the Gerousia at Ephesos (cf. Oliver, Constitutions 170, ll. 8-28). [10] The opening of Letter IV calques a phrase frequently used to open Imperial letters in Latin (cf. Plin. Ep. 10.36, 53, 101, all by Trajan). [11] The first part of Letter V seems to regulate festivals or meetings of the Gerousia or participation of Gerousiasts in festivals. [12] The Gerousia is perhaps permitted to request the appointment of a curator (a special commissioner) to audit their finances (Oliver, Sacred Gerusia, p. 46). For comparanda from Asia Minor, see Oliver, Constitutions 170 and S. Dmitriev, City Government in Hellenistic and Roman Asia Minor, 2005, pp. 195-196. [13] The public record office (grammatophylakeion), probably the same as the archive in the Metroon, could be involved in the registration of new citizens (cf. Letter III) and/or the recording of victors (cf. IG V, 1 20, ll. 3-4 from Sparta), among other things. [14] Probably a foliage crown to be worn during a sacrifice or festival. Cf. Letter V. [15] Letter VII has something to do with borders of reserved plots of land (ll. 3, 5), perhaps the estates mentioned in Letter III. [16] Under Commodus, Imperial letters begin to include a list of the members of the consilium, the Imperial Council, an informal group of advisors who participated in the composition of the letter (cf. Oliver Constitutions 209 with notes). Antipatros and Gargilius Antiquus are Roman senators; Apollonios is not a Roman citizen. For suggested identifications of these individuals, see Oliver, Constitutions pp. 412-413. [17] Letter VIII responds to a query about olive oil, probably the terms on which the Gerousia acquired it for athletic festivals. No change to previous practice is allowed. Since the Gerousia chose to inscribe the letter, this is probably what they wanted. On the oil supply at Athens in the Imperial period, cf. IG II² 1100 with notes. [18] Letter IX appears to permit the Gerousia to award citizenship to the victor in the encomium contest (or anyone deemed worthy of competing, cf. J. Robert and L. Robert Bulletin épigraphique 1972, 395-96, no. 138). The encomium or speech of praise was one of the normal cultural events at festivals in the Imperial Age. Encomia in praise of the city of Athens were introduced to the Panathenaia in the first century AD (J. Shear, Serving Athena, 2021, 178 and table 5.2). Aelius Aristeides, Panathenaic Oration is a surviving example from the mid-second century AD. Encomia were also part of the ephebic festivals at Athens in the Imperial period (cf. IG II² 2119 and AIO Papers 12, p. 42).

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_3644