IEleus 503 Honours for L. Memmius Altar Priest

Honours for L. Memmius Altar Priest

I Eleusis 503 Date: 177-180 AD

The city (erected this statue of) L(ucius) Memmius Altar Priest of Thorikos,^[1] who was descended from Dadouchs and archons and generals and competition-directors (agōnothetōn), (5)who also, along with many other magistracies (archōn) and liturgies, served as eponymous archon (161/2) and hoplite general and manager (epimelētēn) of the gymnasiarchy of the God Hadrian and competition-director (agōnothetēn) three times,^[2] (10)and envoy many times about the greatest matters, including also about the Gerousia,^[3] who performed initiations in the presence of the God Hadrian, who initiated the God Lucius Verus Armeniacus Parthicus and the Emperors (15)M(arcus) Aurelius Antoninus ⟦and M(arcus) Aurelius⟧ ⟦Commodus⟧ Germanici Sarmatici,^[4] who served the two goddesses for 56 years, who was descended from high priests,^[5] who was a lover of his fatherland (philopatrin).

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References:

I Eleusis 503 (Translated text) (PHI)

IG II² 3620 (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Images: Wikimedia Commons - (1)

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Statue base (city)

Findspot: Eleusis (Eleusis Museum)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This statue base records the career of Lucius Memmius the Altar Priest, emphasising his family relationships (ll. 2-3, 17-18), civic service (ll. 5-11, 17-18), and the connection of his religious role to the emperors (cf. I Eleusis 503). He became Altar Priest (epi bomo) between 120 and 124 AD and remained in the role until at least 182/3 AD (Agora XV 387). In accordance with the practice of hieronymy, his priesthood is used in place of his personal name, which is unknown (cf. S. G. Byrne, Roman Citizens of Athens, 2003, 358-59). [2] For the date of the archonship, see Byrne, Roman Citizens, 509). Hadrian donated funds to cover the cost of the Athenian gymnasiarchy in perpetuity (Geagan Athenian Constitution, 1967, 130-131). [3] On the Gerousia, see AIO 3644 with notes. [4] Lucius Memmius apparently initiated people into the Eleusinian Mysteries during one of Hadrian’s visits to Athens (112, 121, 124, 132 AD), but is not claimed to be responsible for Hadrian’s initiation, so this must have occurred before Memmius became Altar Priest (K. Clinton, The Sacred Officials of the Eleusinian Mysteries, 1974, 84). Lucius Verus (r. 161-169 AD) was initiated during his visit to Athens in 162 AD (see Agora XVIII 315, ll. 23-26; other evidence for the visit is collected in T. D. Barnes, JRS 57, 1967, 71; S. Follet, Athènes, 1976, 55, 136 n. 8). The Altar Priest performed the actual initiation, but the ceremony was led by Titus Flavius Hierophant (I Eleusis 348). The initiation of Marcus Aurelius (r. 161-180 AD) and his son Commodus (r. 177-192 AD) took place during their visit to Athens in 176 AD (I Eleusis 516, l. 7; Cassius Dio 72.31.3). Neither emperor is called a god, so this inscription must have been erected while both were still living. 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. [5] The reference to Lucius Memmius’ descent from the high priests, who were responsible for the Imperial cult at Athens, was added to the inscription at a later stage (K. Clinton, The Sacred Officials of the Eleusinian Mysteries, 1974, 85 n. 28). It probably indicates that Lucius Memmius was a relative of either the Claudii of Marathon (i.e. the family of Herodes Atticus) or the Claudii of Melite (Herodes’ main rivals in Athens).

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_3671