SEG 60.223 Honours for Trajan

Honours for Trajan

SEG 60.223 Date: 98-102 AD

Αὐτοκράτορα Νέρβαν Τραϊανὸν Καίσαρα Σεβαστὸν Γερμανικὸν ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς αὐτοῦ Τιβ. Κλα. Ἀτ- τικὸς Ἡρώδης Μαραθώνιος

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Translated text

References:

SEG 60.223 (Translated text) (AIO)

Ameling, Herodes Atticus II 38

Højte, Statue Bases Trajan 101

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Images: Agora Excavations - (1)
Wikimedia Commons - (1)

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Statue base (priest)

Findspot: Library of Pantainos (Ag. I 7353, in situ)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This base was erected for an over-life-size statue of the emperor Trajan (r. 98-117 AD). The titulature suggests a date before 102 AD. The base was found incorporated into the back wall of the stoa on the street north of the Library of Pantainos, where it remains in situ. This findspot suggests that it was originally located in a shrine to Trajan on the north side of the library building facing the street from the Ancient Agora to the Roman Agora, where numerous fragments of a 2.3-metre-high statue of Trajan looming over a kneeling Dacian or Parthian captive were found. His cuirass depicts Athena being crowned by a pair of winged Nikai and he held the globe in his outstretched right hand (Ag. S 1798, 2503, 2512, 2515-2518, see S. Dillon, in D. Damaskos, P. Karanastasi, and T. Stefanidou-Tiverou, Πλατική στη ρωμαϊκή Ελλάδα, 2022, 73-84; B. Martens, JRS 113, 2023, 154-55). On the library, which was dedicated to Trajan, see IG II³ 4, 1405 with notes.

Trajan visited Athens in 114 AD on his way east to invade Parthia (Cassius Dio 68.17.2), the first time that an emperor had visited Athens since the reign of Augustus. The fourteen funerary inscriptions for Roman soldiers and sailors that have been found at Athens may derive from this visit (J. H. Oliver, Hesperia 10, 1941, 245-46). Two more inscriptions from statue bases for Trajan were found nearby: Verdélis, Inscriptions 2 (inscribed with a near identical text) and IG II² 3284a. He is also honoured in two inscriptions from the Acropolis: IG II² 3284-3285). Fragments of several statues of him have been found in Athens: Piraeus Archaeological Museum 276, NAMA 3298, possibly NAMA 3294, Ag. S 347, and Ag. S 2431, 2501-2502, 2504 (also found near the Library). A tripod supported by Parthian captives seen by Pausanias in the Olympieion may have been part of a dedication commemorating Trajan's Parthian victories (Paus. 1.1.18; cf. Ag. S 1170 with B. Martens JRS 113, 2023, 137-69) and a statue on the Acropolis of Trajan's successor Hadrian names him as the son of the God Trajan Parthicus Zeus Eleutherios (Raubitschek, Hadrian 1). [2] Claudius Atticus was high priest of the Imperial cult during his reign. On Atticus see Agora XV 322 and on the high priesthood, see IG II³ 4, 1928 with notes.

Added: 24 Jul 2026
Updated: 24 Jul 2026
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