OliverConstitutions 134 Letter from Antoninus Pius

Letter from Antoninus Pius

Oliver, Constitutions 134 Date: 140-144 AD

Emperor Caesar, son of the God [Hadrian], grandson of Trajan, [great-grandson of] the God [Nerva, Titus Aelius] Hadrian Anto[ninus Augustus, pontifex] maximus, tribunician power - times, consul (5) 3 times, father of the fatherland, [to the Areopagos Council] and the Council [of the 500 and the People of the Athenians], greetings. Regarding . . . I sent . . . . . .

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References:

Oliver, Constitutions 134 (Translated text) (AIO)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Letter (emperor)

Findspot: Athens (Athens Ephoria ΡΑ 640)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This stele preserves the prescript of a letter from Antoninus Pius (r. 138-161 AD), which his titulature dates between 140 and 144 AD. The subject matter of the letter is totally lost. On inscribed Imperial letters, see I Eleusis 513. Pius’ engagement with Athens seems to have largely consisted of completing and maintaining the acts of Hadrian (on which, see IG II² 5185 with notes), rather than introducing new initiatives. He is attested as completing an aqueduct begun by Hadrian (SIA VI 2), continuing Hadrian’s correspondence with the association of the Dionysiac Artists (SEG 30.86 B), responding to routine commendations from the Panhellenion (OGIS 506), and participating somehow in the appointment of a hierophant (I Eleusis 483, ll 20-23). The Athenians honoured him and his family with statues (IG II² 3390; Agora XVIII 263; SEG 32.256; Ag. S 2436), a festival among those celebrated by the ephebes (e.g., IG II² 2068 col. iii l. 122; AIO Papers 12, pp. 40-44), the Agoranomion in the Roman Agora (IG II² 3391), and a small stoa in the east of the city (SEG 39.245). The Panhellenion offered a set of honours to him on behalf of all its member cities (IG X 2, 1 supp. 1063), one city erected a statue for him as Zeus Eleutherius (IG II² 3396) and the Dionysiac Artists dubbed him a “new Dionysos” (IG II² 1350). Two further inscriptions of uncertain type are also associated with him (IG II² 3392 and 3394). On Antoninus Pius generally, see C. Michels, Antoninus Pius und die Rollenbilder des römischen Princeps (2018). For his letters to other Greek communities in the empire, see Oliver, Constitutions 123-165.

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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