Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

An expanding collection of inscriptions, papyri, and other sources in translation (run by Philip A. Harland)

[173] Honors by Initiates for Commodus as the New Dionysos (180-192 CE) Ephesos - Ionia


Ephesos (Ionia, Asia Minor — Pleiades map), ca. 180-192 CE
AGRW 173 = IEph 293 = PHI 248767 = AGRW ID# 1319
Copenhagen Inventory info: 1620


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Found near the old harbor in the apsidal building near the so-called baptismal font of John. Here the emperor is identified with a god as a “new Dionysos”.

The emperor-loving, hair-cloth wearing (or: sack-bearing) initiates (sakēphoroi mystai) of the primal god Dionysos Koreseitos set this up in honor of emperor Caesar M. Aurelius Commodos Antoninus Augustus, new Dionysos, during the priesthood of M. Aurelius Menemachos, the high-priest and president.

Translation by: Harland



Αὐτοκράτορα Καίσαρα | [[Μ. Αὐρήλιον Κόμμοδον]] | [[Ἀντωνεῖνον Σεβ.]] | νέον Διόνυσον οἱ τοῦ || προπάτορος θεοῦ Διονύ|σου Κορησείτου σακηφό|ροι μύσται φιλοσέβαστοι ἀ|φείδρυσαν, ἱερατευόντων | [[Μ. Αὐρ. Μενεμάχου ἀρχιερέως]] || [[καὶ πρυτανέως.]]

Item added: December 12, 2011
Item modified: November 6, 2020
ID number: 1319
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=1319

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