AIUK45 no. 8 Dedication of a shrine to Aphrodite/Isis

Dedication of a shrine to Aphrodite/Isis

AIUK 4.5 (BM, Dedications) no. 8 Date: ca. 127–130 AD

[τὰ] κιόνια καὶ τὸ αἴτωμα [κ]α̣ὶ τὰς κινκλίδας καὶ τὴν [Ἀ]φροδείτην τῇ θεῷ ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων ἀνέθηκεν, ἐ- (5)πισκευάσασα καὶ αὐτὴν τὴν θεὸν καὶ τὰ περὶ αὐτήν, οὖσα καὶ λυχνάπτρια αὐ̣- τῆς καὶ ὀνειροκρίτις ❦ στολίζοντος Αἰμιλίου Ἀ̣[τ]- (10)[τ]ικοῦ Μελιτέως, ἱερατε[ύ]- οντος ἰακχαγωγοῦ Διονυ- σίου Μαραθωνίου, ζακορ̣- εύοντος ἁγιαφόρου Εὐκάρ- που.

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Translated text

References:

AIUK 4.5 (BM, Dedications) no. 8 (Translated text) (AIUK) (AIO)

IG II² 4771 (PHI)

IG II³ 4 1130 (IG Online)

GIBM I 57

Bricault 101/0221

Translation by: Peter Liddel, Polly Low

AIO Images: 1 2

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Dedication (Egyptian Gods), Dedication (Aphrodite)

Findspot: Acropolis south slope, built into church of Panagia Speliotissa above theatre of Dionysos (BM 1816,0610.165)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This was among the inscriptions acquired in Athens by Lord Elgin (cf. AIUK 4.1, no. 2). Like most inscriptions collected by him, there is no record of its findspot, but in this case it was recorded in the previous century by Richard Chandler and before him the Abbé Fourmont, who noted it was built into the outer wall of the church of Panagia Spiliotissa, on the south slope of the Acropolis above the theatre of Dionysos at the site of the choregic monument of Thrasyllos, IG II³ 4, 468. The inscription commemorates the repair of a sanctuary of Isis (implied by the offices mentioned), including a statue of Aphrodite, by the “lamplighter” and “dream-interpreter”, whose name is not preserved on the surviving monument. The date is determined by the ephebic inscription, IG II² 3733, which shows that the son of Dionysios of Marathon was iakchagogos (and superintendent of ephebes) in 126/7 AD (also in IG II³ 4, 1120 and IG II³ 4, 1129). This inscription exemplifies a notable feature of the cult of Isis in the Roman period, namely its assimilation to the cult of Aphrodite. Physical remains of this Isis sanctuary have been identified near the findspot of this inscription in the area to the west of the Asklepieion. For the “dream-interpreter” (8) in the cult of Isis cf. IG II³ 4, 1115; for the stolistēs (“in charge of vestments”), IG II³ 4, 1343. For more detail on this inscription and the associated shrine see AIUK 4.5 (BM, Dedications), no. 8. In general on inscriptions relating to the cult of Isis in Attica cf. IG II³ 4, 1113. For the cult of Egyptian gods in an Attic calendar of offerings contemporary with this inscription, see AIUK 11 (Ashmolean) no. 2.

For fuller discussion of this inscription see AIUK 4.5 (BM, Dedications), no. 8.

Added: 15 Mar 2022
Updated: 10 Mar 2024
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ID: AIO_2292