OliverConstitutions 173 Letter from Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus on the Areopagos, 165 AD

Letter from Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus on the Areopagos, 165 AD

Oliver, Constitutions 173 Date: 165 AD

Emperor [Caesar Marcus Aurelius] Antoninus Augustus [Armeniacus Parthicus] Maximus, tribunician power [19 times, acclaimed emperor] 3 times, consul [3 times, and Emperor Caesar Lucius] (5) Aurelius [Verus Augustus Armeniacus] Parthicus [Maximus, tribunician power] 5 times, acclaimed emperor [3 times, consul 2 times, proconsul (165 AD)] [sons] of the God Antoninus, [grandsons of the God Hadrian] [great-grandsons of] the God Trajan [Parthicus], great-grandsons (10) [of the God Nerva, to the Council of the Areopagos, greetings].^[1] The board (sunedrion), of the [Areopagos Council, the] oldest [of the boards among the Greeks and] the most glorious (endoxotaton) . . . ^[2] being, good will (eunoian) . . . (15) and . . . this not of words [alone . . . but also] of deeds, there . . . however also . . . of the intention (dianoias) . . . (20) whatever can . . . - and give . . . - in which . . . - all . . . - the . . . (25) . . .

Previous - SEG 29.116 Next - SEG 31.102

References:

Oliver, Constitutions 173 (Translated text) (AIO)

SEG 21.508 (PHI)

SEG 26.126 (PHI)

SEG 30.87 (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Images: Agora Excavations - (1, 2)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Letter (emperor)

a - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 6602)
b - Findspot: Athens (EM 8402)
c - Findspot: Agora (Ag. I 7173)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This fragmentary inscription is part of an inscribed letter from Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, who were co-rulers from 161-169 AD. The titulature indicates a date late in 165 AD, when Verus was away on campaign in Parthia, so it is likely that it was actually written by Marcus on behalf of both. In SEG 29.127 of 174/5 AD, Marcus Aurelius relaxes a strict rule requiring candidates for the Areopagos Council to have three-generations of free-birth, called the trigonia, which he had attempted to impose in an earlier letter, but had proven unworkable (ll. 56-81). Oliver suggests that this inscription is the original letter (J. H. Oliver, Marcus Aurelius, 1970, 72-84). Although this seems plausible, it should be noted that all references to the Areopagos in the text are restored. On Marcus Aurelius and Athens see IG II² 3410 with notes and, on inscribed Imperial letters, see I Eleusis 513. [2] For the prestige of the Areopagos in the Imperial period, cf. Aristides Or. 1 45-47 and Sardis VII 2 319-320.

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_3592