Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

[203] Donations by Initiates of Dionysos (II CE) Magnesia on the Maeander - Caria


Magnesia on the Maeander (Caria, Asia Minor — Pleiades map), II CE
AGRW 203 = IMagnMai 117 = Friedrich Hiller von Gaertringen, "Une inscription des mystai de Magnésie du Méandre (en grec)." BCH (1893) 31–34 = Jaccottet 2003, vol. 2, no. 147 = SEG 17 (1960), no. 496 = PHI 260567 = AGRW ID# 1485
Copenhagen Inventory info: 1400


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Block of marble found west of the gymnasium. Klidon is either a district within Magnesia or a village in the vicinity. This inscription documents donors who left funds to the Dionysiac association upon their deaths. Several mention the title or position that the person had held within the group and these seem to be closely associated with the mythology of Dionysos, including a “nurse” and two “papas” or foster-fathers of Dionysos. The foster-father Silenos (who is not expressly mentioned) was often pictured as an old man who adopted and cared for the baby Dionysos.

When Claudia Appia Tatiane was crown–bearer … Name son of Philetos, the head–initiate (archimystēs), along with Hermeros son of Euporos (?), arranged to record the following so as not to forget the initiates (mystai) who left behind funds for them as a remembrance, so that the customary offerings will be offered in the month of Leneon for them by the initiates of Klidon who meet in the sacred house (oikos).  Here is an indication of how much each of them left behind: Philemon the “pappa” of Dionysos: 18 denarii; Posidonia the priestess and crown–bearer: 25 denarii; Antiochos (?) (10) the revealer of sacred objects (hierophantēs): 18 denarii; Elpis the “nurse”: 15 denarii; Agathia … : x denarii; … Anaxagoras (?) the “pappa”: 18 denarii.  Whatever is lent out at interest by the initiates …

Translation by: Harland



ἐπὶ στεφανηφόρου Κλ(αυδίας) Ἀπ(πίας) Τατιανῆς ☩ Ἐ̣[—] ǀ Φιλήτου ὁ ἀρχιμύστης σὺν καὶ Ἑρμέρωτ[ι Εὐ]ǀπόρου διεσημειώσαντο πρὸς τὸ τοὺς μǀύστας μὴ ἀγνοεῖν τοὺς καταλιπόντας αὐτ[οῖς] ǀǀ εἰς μνήμην χρήματα, ὥστε τῷ Ληνεῶνι μηνὶ τὰ [εἰ]ǀθισμένα αὐτοῖς προσφέρεσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν μυστῶν ἐξ ὧ[ν] ǀ κατέλιπον τῷ ἱερῷ οἴκῳ τῶν ἐν Κλίδωνι, ☩ μηνύοντες [ὁ]ǀπόσον ἕκαστος αὐτῶν κατέλιπε· Φιλήμων ὁ ἄππας ǀ Διονύσου 𐆖 {denarius symbol} ιηʹ ☩ Ποσιδωνία ἡ ἱέρια καὶ στεφανηφόρος 𐆖 {denarius symbol} κεʹ [Ἀντίο]ǀǀχος ὁ ὶεροφάντης 𐆖 {denarius symbol} ιηʹ ☩ Ἔλπις ἡ ὑπότροφος 𐆖 {denarius symbol} ιεʹ ☩ Ἀγαθίας [𐆖 {denarius symbol}—ʹ Ἀνα (?)]ǀξαγόρας ὁ ἄππας 𐆖 {denarius symbol} ιηʹ ἅτινα καὶ ἐκδανείζεται ὑπὸ τῶ̣[ν μυστῶν —]

IMagnMai 117: Sketch by Friedrich Hiller von Gaertringen 1893.
Public domain.

 

Item added: January 2, 2012
Item modified: November 6, 2020
ID number: 1485
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=1485

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