OliverConstitutions 161 Letter from emperors on honours

Letter from emperors on honours

Oliver, Constitutions 161 Date: 161-169, 177-180, or 197-211 AD

[ . . . Council] of the five hundred [and the People . . . ] zeal and enthusiasm [ . . . to the] gods on behalf of him and . . . (5)and cult statues (agalmata) set up . . . -. Since, having returned, [the envoys . . . ] have announced to us the . . . of the - festival(?), just as we wished . . . on account of - to set up statues (eikonas) . . . (10)bearers of silver, but the expenditure [he promised? . . . on behalf of the] envoys, he also - the opinion (gnōmēn) [ . . . of the] Council and the People uninscribed space [farewell].^[1] uninscribed space

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References:

Oliver, Constitutions 161 (Translated text) (AIO)

SEG 33.140 (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Letter (emperors)

Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 869)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This fragment is identified as part of an Imperial letter by the references to embassies in l. 6 and 11 and the first person plurals in ll. 7-8. The use of the plural probably means that the authors were co-regent emperors, most likely Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (161-169 AD), Marcus Aurelius and Commodus (177-180 AD), or perhaps Severus and Caracalla (197-211 AD). On inscribed Imperial letters, see I Eleusis 513 with notes.

The topic appears to be the establishment of cult honours for emperors or their relatives. The normal procedure was to praise the city for its positive attitude (l. 3?), but then to moderate the honours, in order to save the city from expense and avoid appearing tyrannical. This may explain the shift from “cult statues” (agalmata) in l. 5 to regular “statues” (eikones) in l. 9. On this procedure, see Oliver, Constitutions 193-203, ll. 55-64, with notes). The appended comment at ll. 6-12 (marked off from what precedes by punctuation) seems to indicate that the ambassadors departed (to consult with the Athenians?) and then returned to the emperors with a decree (gnome, l. 11) for Imperial approval (Geagan, Athenian Constitution after Sulla, 1967, 161-62). Imperial letters often conclude with a note that the embassy’s travel expenses should be met by the city, unless the leader of the embassy had promised to pay it himself (see IG II² 1114). This appears to be the topic of ll. 10-12.

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_2884