FDIII2 65 List of participants of the first Domitianic <i>Dodekais</i> at Delphi

List of participants of the first Domitianic Dodekais at Delphi

F.Delphes III 2 65 Date: 84/5 – 92/3 AD (87/8 AD?)

In the archonship of Emperor Caesar Augustus Domitian Germanicus Zeus Eleutherios at Athens,^[1] the following came to sacrifice the bull-headed (bouprōron) Dodekais:^[2] the herald of Apollo Pythios and priest of Hermes (5)Patroos of the Kerykes [Philon] son of Philon of Marathon, the religious official (hieropoios) Po[le]m[on son of Philon] of Marathon, the seer (mantis) Philemon of Azenia, the [pipe-player] Philomousos of Marathon,^[3] in the priesthood of Apollo Pythios at Athens of Hipparchos son of [Herodes of Marathon], and at [Delphi] of Euthydamos and Eukleidas.^[4]

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References:

F.Delphes III 2 65 (Translated text) (PHI)

Ameling, Herodes Atticus II 23

Choix de Delphes 280

Kühn, Pythais-Prozession 351a

Translation by: Dustin Hoferichter

Monument type: Block (Wall)

Inscription type: List of names (Dodekais)

Fr. a - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 176)
Fr. b - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 192)
Fr. c - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 3900)
Fr. d - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 522)
Fr. e - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 187)
Fr. f - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 153)
Fr. g - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 161)
Fr. h - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 160)
Fr. i - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 116)
Fr. j - Findspot: Delphi (Athenian Treasury, south wall) (Delphi Museum 158)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This inscription is the first of two lists of participants in the Dodekais, an official Athenian pilgrimage to Delphi, inscribed on the south wall of the Athenian Treasury at Delphi, during the reign of emperor Domitian (81-96 AD). On the Dodekais in general, see F.Delphes III 2, 59 with notes; on the Treasury, see F.Delphes III 2, 3; and on Attic inscriptions at Delphi, see IG II³ 4, 17. After a hiatus of about ninety years from the last Augustan Dodekais, the ritual was revived, but was only held twice (the other Domitianic Dodekais is F.Delphes III 2, 66). The Dodekais was revived once more in the second century AD, but now went to Delos rather than Delphi (I Délos 2535-2538).

The inscription dates to the archonship of Domitian at Athens. He was the first Roman emperor to hold this office and did so between 84/5 and 92/3 AD, perhaps in 87/8 AD (cf. S. Follet, Topoi 8, 1998, 253). Alongside the imperial titles, Domitian bears the epithet “Zeus Eleutherios” ("Zeus of Freedom" cf. IG II² 1996). This epithet reflects the special relationship between Domitian and Jupiter/Zeus. During his reign, the cult of Zeus Eleutherios was the most important cult of Zeus at Athens (cf. S. Bönisch-Meyer and C. Witschel, in S. Bönisch-Meyer et al., Nero und Domitian, 2014, 145). On the cult of Zeus Eleutherios, see IG II³ 1, 1417 with notes. Various other emperors also bore this epithet at Athens and elsewhere in the Greek world (e.g. Nero in IG VII 2713, l. 49, Antoninus Pius in IG II² 3396, ll. 1-4).

Although the Roman Senate passed a damnatio memoriae after Domitian's assassination in 96 AD (Suet. Dom. 23.1), it seems that it was barely carried out in the province of Achaia. His name was not erased or deliberately damaged in this inscription. The Latin inscription recording Domitian’s repair of the temple of Apollo also remained untouched (F.Delphes III 4, 120). The same applies in Athens (e.g., IG II² 1996). However, his name was erased from his letters to the Delphians (Syll.³ 821 C-E) and perhaps in IG II² 3283. On damnatio memoriae, see IG II³ 4, 1397 with notes). [2] The adjective bouproros ("bull-headed") indicates that the most significant part of the sacrifice was a bull. It seems that the Dodekais consisted of a sacrifice of twelve animals starting with a bull. The term has a literary flavour; Sophocles uses it to describe the river Achelous (Soph. Trach. 7-11; cf. Strab. 10.2.19). A similar term protoboia ("bull-first") probably appears in an Augustan Dodekais inscription (F.Delphes III 2, 63). [3] The Domitianic Dodekais had fewer participants than the Augustan one. The Athenian priest of Apollo Pythios, the interpreter (exegetes) and the sacred remembrancer (hieromnemon) are no longer mentioned. The herald of Apollo Pythios and priest of Hermes Patroos of the Kerykes, the seer (mantis) and the pipe-player remain. Philomousos’ name ("lover of the Muses") is particularly appropriate for a pipe-player, suggesting that he came from a family of musicians. The religious official (hieropoios) is a new addition to the Dodekais (but cf. IG II³ 4, 18 for his role in the Classical Pythais). He is likely the herald's brother. Presumably, this family took the initiative in reviving the Dodekais. Aside from the seer Philemon of Azenia, all participants belonged to the deme of Marathon. [4] The final dating formula names the priests of Apollo Pythios at Athens and at Delphi. The Athenian priest, Tiberius Claudius Hipparchos, came from one of the most prominent Athenian families of the period. Although not a participant, his inclusion suggests that Hipparchos was involved in the revival of the Dodekais, perhaps providing funding (cf. IG II³ 4, 8 with note). His family already had a connection with Delphi: his ancestor Eukles took part in the Pythais in 106/5 BC (F.Delphes III 2, 28 ll. 12-13) and Hipparchos' grandfather, also called Eukles, led the Dodekais in Augustan times as priest of Apollo Pythios (cf. F.Delphes III 2, 59 with note). He was also high priest of the Imperial cult at Athens (F.Delphes III 2, 66). In 95/6 AD, Hipparchos was convicted of tyranny and his property was seized (Philostr. Vit. Soph. 2.1.2, cf. SEG 55.248bis with note), but the family’s fortunes recovered under his son Claudius Attikos (cf. Agora XV 322) and his famous grandson Herodes Atticus (cf. AIUK 11 (Ashmolean), no. 15).

Euthydamos and Eukleidas were the priests of Apollo at Delphi from 84 to 94 AD. Euthydamos came from an illustrious Delphic family, the Memmii, who provided many of the highest civic and sacral magistrates. He was archon in 66/7, 76/7 and 81/2 AD (F.Delphes III 3, 233 l. 2; F.Delphes III 4, 100 ll. 11-12; 113 l. 2; 132; 133 l. 2-3). Eukleidas had been a councillor in 62/3 AD (F.Delphes III 6, 126). Several of his ancestors were also priests and archons. He was succeeded by Plutarch (Plut. Table Talk 7.2.2). Unlike in F.Delphes II 2, 66, Hipparchos and Euthydamos' Roman nomina are omitted (cf. AIUK 11 (Ashmolean) no. 5 with note).

Added: 3 Dec 2023
Updated: 5 Dec 2023
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