Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

[257] Victories in Contests of Tribes within an Immigrant Association (200-150 BCE) Rhodos on Rhodes - Southeastern islands


Rhodos on Rhodes (Southeastern islands, Aegean Islands — Pleiades map), early II BCE
AGRW 257 = IG XII,1 127 = F. Bechtel, and H. Collitz, eds. Sammlung der griechischen Dialekt-Inschriften (4 vols; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1884–1915), III 4108 = PHI 138664 = AGRW ID# 1728
Copenhagen Inventory info: 2026


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Slab of marble found (in 1885-1886) reused in a church. This inscription documents victories in contests organized by three sub-divisions or "tribes" (Nikasioneian, Olympeian, and Basileian) of an association of immigrants to Rhodes, mirroring the activities of the official tribes. This association which was expressly founded by Nikasion of Kyzikos may be identified with the "the association of Nikasioneian devotees of Asklepios (Asklepiastai) and the Olympians (Olympiastai)" attested in another inscription (see PHI 192447 on this site). If so, Asklepios was evidently among the patron deities of our present immigrant association. The document concludes with a list of donors who belonged to the association of immigrants. Those named throughout include immigrants from Ephesos, Ilion, Knidos, Chios, Kyzikos, Selge, Soloi in Asia Minor; from Alexandria in Egypt (or in Asia Minor); from Antioch in Syria (or in Asia Minor); and from Amphipolis in Thracia. Some members or leaders are identified as “Rhodians.” Gabrielsen (1992) suggests that those who adopted this identifier (at Rhodes itself) were, in fact, sculptors or members of sculptors' families who did not belong to a specific civic sub-division (deme). Certain indigenous Rhodians (i.e. not recent immigrants) regularly identified themselves by deme rather than using the designation "Rhodian" when in Rhodes. Sculptors (and their families) in particular used this self-identifier regularly.

When Satyros the Ephesian was director of contests, to whom the right of residence has been granted, the Nikasioneian tribe (phylē) was victorious under the direction of the tribal leader (phylarchos), Zenodotos son of Satyros the Ephesian, and head of the gymnasium (gymnasiarchos), Damatrios son of Damatrios the Rhodian.

When Metrodoros son of Tenios was director of contests, the Nikasioneian tribe was victorious under the direction of the tribal leader, Dorion the Antiochian, and head of the gymnasium, Poseidonios son of Poseidonios the Rhodian.

When Apollonidas son of Lysimachos was director of contests, the Nikasioneian tribe was victorious under the direction of the tribal leader, Dion the Phrygian, and head of the gymnasium . . . Name the Antiochian.

When Name . . . was director of contests . . . (remaining lines of this victory missing).

When Agathanor of Phaselis was director of contests, the Nikasioneian tribe was victorious under the direction of the tribal leader, Apollonios the Selgian, and head of the gymnasium, Apollonios the Amphipolitan.

When Philon the Alexandrian was director of contests, the Basileian tribe was victorious under the direction of the tribal leader, Soterichos the Antiochian, and head of the gymnasium, Keraias the Solian.

When Dromon the Antiochian was director of contests, the Olympian tribe was victorious under the direction of the tribal leader, Gorgon the Knidian, and head of the gymnasium, Apollonidas the Antiochian.

When Hermon the Antiochian was director of contests, the Basileian tribe was victorious under the direction of the tribal leader, Philon (?) the Ilian, and head of the gymnasium . . . Name . . .

The male and female benefactors of the association (koinon): Nikasion of Kyzikos to whom the right of residency was granted, founder of the association; Olympias the Solian; Nikasion son of Nikasion, the Rhodian; Basilis daughter of Demetrios; Demetrios son of Nikasion, the Rhodian; Demetrios II the Rhodian; Hermokreon son of Thaliarchos, the Rhodian; Theon the Antiochian to whom the right of residency was granted; Eirena the Solian; Eukleitos, son of Damainetos, the Rhodian; Aristokrates son of Aristophanes the Rhodian; Satyros the Ephesian to whom the right of residency was granted; Zenodotos, son of Satyros, the Ephesian; Nestor of Hermione; Hermias of Symbra; Achias the Chian; Olympias daughter of Nikasion; Nikasion son of Archias and Kallistratos son of Archias; Diogenes son of Archias; Damatrios II the Rhodian; Agathokles the Solian; Bathippos the Alexandrian; Menandros son of Kratinos, the Rhodian; Iphidias son of Mikon, the Rhodian; . . . Name the Antiochian.

Translation by: Harland



(column A, beginning at line 1)

ἐπὶ ἀγωνοθέ[τα] | Σατύρου Ἐφεσίου | ὧι ἁ ἐπιδαμία δέδοται | ἐνίκει || φυλὰ Νικασιωνηῒς | φύλαρχος | Ζηνόδοτος Σατύρου | Ἐφέσιος | <γ>υμνασίαρχος || Δαμάτριος Δαματρίου | Ῥόδιος. | ἐπὶ ἀγωνοθέτα | Μητροδώρου Τηνίου | ἐνίκει || φυλὰ Νικασιωνηῒς | φύλαρχος | Δωρίων Ἀντιοχεὺς | γυμνασίαρχος | Ποσειδώνιος Ποσε<ι>δωνίου || Ῥόδιος. | ἐπὶ ἀγωνοθέτα | Ἀπολλωνίδα Λυσιμαχέως | ἐνίκει | φυλὰ Νικασιωνηῒς || φύλαρχος | Δίων Φρὺξ | γυμνασίαρχος | [ . . ]ρος Ἀν[τι]οχεύς. | [ἐπὶ ἀ]γωνοθέτ[α - - ] ||

(column B, beginning at line 30)

ἐπὶ ἀγωνοθέτα | Ἀγαθάνορος Φασηλίτ[α] | ἐνίκει φυλὰ | Νικασιωνηῒς | φύλαρχος || Ἀπολλώνιος Σελγε[ὺς] | γυμνασίαρχος | Ἀπολλώνιος Ἀμφιπολί[τας]. | ἐπὶ ἀγωνοθέτα | Φίλωνος Ἀλεξανδρέως || ἐνίκει φυλὰ Βασιληῒς | φύλαρχος | Σωτήριχος Ἀντιοχεὺς | γυμνασίαρχος | Κερα̣ίας Σολεύς. || ἐπὶ ἀγωνοθέτα | Δρόμωνος Ἀντιοχέως | ἐνίκει φυλὰ Ὀλυμπηῒς | φύλαρχος | Γόργων Κνίδιος || γυμνασίαρχος | Ἀπολλωνίδας Ἀντιοχεύς. | ἐπὶ ἀγωνοθέτα | Ἕρμωνος Ἀντιοχέως | ἐνίκει φυλὰ Βασιληῒς || φύλαρχος | [Φίλων(?)] Ἰ̣λ̣ι̣ε̣ὺς | [γυμνασίαρχος] | [ - - - - - - - ].

(column C, starting at line 56)

| [εὐερ]γ̣έται κα̣ὶ || [εὐεργ]έτιδες τοῦ [κοινοῦ]· | [Νι]κασίων Κυζικηνὸς ὧι̣ [ἁ] | [ἐπιδαμία] δέδοται κτίστας τοῦ κοιν[οῦ] | [Ὀλυ]μ̣πιὰς Σολὶς | [Νικα]σ̣ί̣ων Νικασίων[ος] || Ῥόδιος | Βασιλὶς Δημητρίου | Δημήτριος Νικασίωνος Ῥόδιο[ς] | Δημήτριος β Ῥόδιος | Ἑρμοκρέων Θαλιάρχου Ῥόδιο[ς] || Θέων Ἀντιοχεὺς | ὧι ἁ ἐπιδαμία δέδοται | Εἰρήνα̣ Σολὶς | Εὔκλειτος Δαμαινέτου Ῥόδιος | Ἀριστοκράτης Ἀριστοφάνευ̣[ς] || Ῥόδιος | Σάτυρος Ἐφέσιος ὧι ἁ | ἐπιδαμία δέδοται | Ζηνόδοτος Σατύρου Ἐφέσιο[ς] | Νέστωρ Ἑρμιονεὺ[ς] || Ἑρμίας Συμβρεὺ[ς] | Ἀχίας Χῖος | Ὀλυμπιὰς Νικασίων[ος] | Νικασίων Ἀρχία κα[ὶ] | Καλλίστρατος Ἀρχ[ία] || Διογένης Ἀρχία | Δαμάτριος [β’ Ῥόδιος] | Ἀγαθοκλῆς Σολεὺς | Βάθιππος Ἀλεξ[ανδ]ρεὺ[ς] | Μένανδρος Κρ[ατ]ίνου || Ῥόδιος | Ἰφιάδας Μικίωνος | Ῥόδιος | [ . . . . . ] . . . . [ . ]ος Ἀντιοχεύ[ς].

Facsimile of IG XII,1 127 (from IG).

Item added: March 2, 2012
Item modified: February 23, 2021
ID number: 1728
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=1728

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