SEG 56.316 Graffiti from the Roman Agora

Graffiti from the Roman Agora

SEG 56.316 Date: 2nd-3rd centuries AD

Εὐφροσινος Ἀθηνεος drawing vac. Above second drawing Κρατημα- χίου Below second drawing (5)γλύφη Left of second drawing Εὐχαρίς Right of second drawing Ξἀνθιππος vac. Further drawings

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Translated text

References:

SEG 56.316 (Translated text) (AIO)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Column

Inscription type: Graffiti

Transliterations on Places on

[1] These graffiti are located in the Roman Agora in the eastern colonnade, on the south side of the thirteenth column from the south end, at about head height. Hoff tentatively suggests a second or third century AD date on the basis of lettering and iconographic parallels (M. Hoff, ZPE 155, 2006, 180-81). In addition to these graffiti, the Roman Agora also contains six ‘topos-inscriptions’ (SEG 62.144-149), one text that might be a graffito or a ‘topos’-inscription (18.94), which probably date to the first three centuries AD, one non-textual graffito depicting a face in profile, and four non-textual graffiti depicting Christian symbols (a fish, a fig leaf, a dove, and a Chi-Rho monogram), likely dating from the seventh century AD, when the eastern part of the Roman Agora was converted into a church (M. Hoff, ZPE 155, 2006, 176). On the Roman Agora in general, see IG II³ 4, 12 with notes.

The upper text is accompanied by a depiction of oral sex: a bust, facing left, with a horn on its head and exposed nipples holds a disembodied phallus in its mouth. Such sexual acts are presented as disgusting and shameful in Roman-period literary sources (W. Krenkel, Naturalia non turpia, 2006, 265–302), as well as in Latin graffiti from Pompeii (e.g., CIL IV 2257 with S. Levin-Richardson, The Brothel of Pompeii, 2019, 106-107). Presumably for this reason, an attempt was subsequently made to erase the phallus. Euphrosynos was a common male name in Athens in the Imperial period, but also means ‘happy man’. On the former interpretation, this graffito would be an attack on somebody called Euphrosynos. On the latter interpretation, the graffito would be a subversive challenge to sexual norms. For another graffito in the Roman Agora referring to oral sex, see SEG 62.148 with notes. [2] The lower text surrounds a drawing of two facing busts in the same style. A horizontal line runs between their mouths, which is crossed by a vertical line with a circle at each end. The text appears to identify the graffito as the work of one Kratemachios and to label the two figures as Eucharis and Xanthippos. Hoff suggests that the symbol between their mouths is a chiasma, a preventative magical symbol, perhaps intended to end or prevent a sexual relationship between Eucharis and Xanthippos (cf. CIL IV 3494a from Pompeii, which depicts two figures almost kissing accompanied by the text “I don’t want to with Myrtale”). So, Kratemachios may have been trying to prevent a relationship between Eucharis and Xanthippos (ZPE 155, 2006, 180-81). Further figures in a similar style have been found in the Athenian Agora on the columns of the Southeast Stoa and the Stoa of Attalos (H. A. Thompson, Hesperia 29, 1960, 345-46 and Hesperia 19, 1950, 319). Below the graffiti are two further drawings side by side: a roughly horizontal line with various other lines branching off from it and a semicircular arc containing two small circles (a mouthless face?).

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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