IGII34 687 Dedication to Asklepios by a husband

Dedication to Asklepios by a husband

IG II³ 4 687 Date: mid-4th century BC

Relief On behalf of his wife, having vowed this, Praxias (dedicated it) to Asklepios.^[1]

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References:

IG II³ 4 687 (Translated text) (IG Online)

IG II² 4372 (PHI)

Löhr, Familienweihungen 113

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Images: Acropolis Museum - (1)
Wikimedia Commons - (1)

Monument type: Pillar

Inscription type: Dedication (private, Asklepios)

Original location: Asklepieion

Findspot: Asklepieion (Acropolis Museum 15244, formerly NK 1414)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] The heavily worn inscription is near the bottom of a large roughly-cut square pillar, from the Asklepieion on the south face of the Acropolis (on which, see IG II³ 4, 665 with notes). The inscription is immediately below a semicircular cutting containing a marble relief, which depicts the top half of a human face with two glass eyes (formerly NAMA Γ 15244, now reunited with the pillar). This might indicate that Praxias’ wife had been suffering from an eye disease. Alternatively, it could symbolise an experienced or anticipated vision of the god. On such ‘anatomical votives’, see AIUK 4.5, pp. 69; J. Draycott and E.-J. Graham, Bodies of Evidence (2017). There are cuttings for further votives (all lost) elsewhere on the pillar: a large rectangular cutting below the inscription, two small rectangular cuttings above the relief, a large, deep cutting above these, which runs from the left-hand side of the pillar almost to the right-hand side, and a heavily worn rectangular cutting further up the pillar. There are holes in the back for attaching the pillar to another architectural element. The date is based on letter forms. Three other pillars of the same type as this one were found at the Asklepieion, also with cuttings for the insertion of votives, but without surviving inscriptions. They may have formed part of the walls of a structure in the sanctuary, but were more likely free-standing structures, demarcating a particular area within the precinct (M. Melfi, I santuari de Asclepio in Grecia, 2007, 335-36).

Added: 15 May 2025
Updated: 15 May 2025
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ID: AIO_3366