SEG 25.212 Statue for Tiberius Claudius Iason Magnus

Statue for Tiberius Claudius Iason Magnus

SEG 25.212 Date: 160/1-ca. 170 AD

In accordance with a memorandum (hupomnēmatismon) of the Areopagos Council, (this statue of) Tiberius Claudius Iason Magnus, having been archon of the Panhellenion (was erected); Tiberius Claudius (5)Iason Magnus (organised it) for his father.

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References:

SEG 25.212 (Translated text) (PHI)

Oliver, Marcus Aurelius 10

Agora XVIII 404

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Images: Agora Excavations - (1)

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Statue base (private)

Findspot: Agora (Post-Herulian wall) (Ag. I 6737)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This is the base for an over-life-size statue of Tiberius Claudius Iason Magnus, who was archon of the Panhellenion from 157/8 to 160/1 AD, serving concurrently as priest of Hadrian Panhellenios and competition-director of the Panhellenia games of 160/1 AD (as was usual). He also appears in this role in OGIS 504-507 B. On the Panhellenion, see IG II³ 4, 215 with notes. Iason belonged to one of the leading families of Cyrene in North Africa, where he and his homonymous son are associated with numerous buildings and dedications (see IRCyr.C.64, with notes). The family's palatial residence there has been fully excavated (P. Mingazzini, L'Insula di Giasone Magno a Cirene, 1966; P. Kenrick, Cyrenaica, 2013, 163-66). The archon's grandson, also called Iason, won a footrace at the 189 AD Olympics and is an example of the multi-generational links with Greece engendered by the Panhellenion (A. J. Spawforth and S. Walker, JRS 76, 1986, 98-100). Cyrene was an enthusiastic participant in the Panhellenion, with the privilege of sending two delegates to its meetings. The value that the Cyrenaeans placed on this is shown by an appeal that they submitted to Hadrian opposing membership for a neighbouring city (IRCyr.C.163, ll. 1-12). For ties between Athens and Cyrene in the Augustan period, see IRCyr.C.1.

Memorandum (hypomnematismos) was the normal term for decrees of the Areopagos from the first century BC onwards. Private individuals often erect statues with the permission of the Areopagos alone in the Imperial period; they might additionally or alternatively seek permission from the Council and People (on the Areopagos in the Imperial period, see AIUK 4.3A (BM, Decrees), no. 10 and Agora XVI 333 with notes).

The base was reused in the foundations of the post-Herulian wall along with Agora XVIII 402, the base for Tiberius Flavius Kyllos, Iason's predecessor as archon of the Panhellenes. It is likely that both bases originally stood in the nearby City Eleusinion (the Panhellenion had close ties with the Eleusinian cult). It remains in situ inside the wall and is not now visible.

Added: 21 Jan 2024
Updated: 21 Jan 2024
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ID: AIO_2855