Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

[320] Dedication and Imperial Letter from Hadrian Involving an Athletic Synod (134 / 143 CE) Rome - Latium


Rome (Latium, Italy — Pleiades map), 134 / 143 CE
AGRW 320 = IGUR 235 = GCRE 86 = PHI 187869 = AGRW ID# 1857


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Large base of white marble, in the Archaeological Museum at Naples in 1971. This dedication to the emperor Antoninus Pius (143 CE) along with an earlier imperial letter from emperor Hadrian (ca. 134 CE) is one of several inscriptions involving M. Ulpius Domesticus or the synod of athletes (see IGUR 235-250). It is not clear what documents or contracts the synod planned to modify, but the emperor was unconcerned.

(front)  For good fortune! M. Ulpius Domesticus, the high-priest of the whole athletic meeting and officer in charge of the Augustan baths dedicated this to Marcus Aelius Aurelius Caesar, son of Titus Aelius Hadrian Antoninus Augustus Pius.

(side)  For good fortune! Emperor Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus, son of god Trajan–victorious in Parthia–and grandson of god Nerva, greatest high-priest (i.e. pontifex maximus), with tribunician power for the eighteenth time, consul for the third time, father of the fatherland, to the athletic synod of victorious and crowned athletes gathered around Herakles, greetings.

I will order that a place be given to you there as you wish, as well as a building to store your common documents. If you also consider the modification of the contracts necessary, that is up to you. Ulpius Domesticus was ambassador. Farewell.

May 5, from Rome.

Translation by: Harland



(A, front, beginning at line 1) ἀγαθῇ ∙ τύχῃ | Μ(άρκωι) ∙ Αἰλίωι | Αὐρηλίωι ∙ Καίσαρι | Τ(ίτου) ∙ Αἰλίου ∙ Ἁδριανοῦ̣ || Ἀντωνείνου | Σεβαστοῦ ∙ Εὐσεβοῦς ∙ υἱῷ | Μ(άρκος) ∙ Οὔλπιος | Δομεστικὸς | ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς || τοῦ ∙ σύνπαντος ξυστοῦ ∙ καὶ | ἐπὶ βαλανείων Σεβαστῶν.

(B, right, beginning at line 1) ἀγαθῆι ∙ τύχηι | Αὐτοκράτωρ ∙ Καῖσαρ θεοῦ Τραιανοῦ Παρθικοῦ υἱός, | θεοῦ ∙ Νέρουα ∙ υἱωνός, Τραιανὸς ∙ Ἁδριανὸς ∙ Σεβαστός, ἀρχιερεὺς | μέγιστος ∙ δημαρχικῆς ∙ ἐξουσίας ∙ τὸ ∙ ιη ∙ ὕπατος ∙ τὸ ∙ γ ∙ || πατὴρ ∙ πατρίδος ∙ συνόδῳ ∙ ξυστικῇ ∙ τῶν ∙ περὶ τὸν | Ἡρακλέα ∙ ἀθλητῶν ∙ ἱερονεικῶν ∙ στεφανειτῶν ∙ χαίρειν· | καὶ τόπον ἔνθα ∙ βούλεσθε ∙ κελεύσω δοθῆναι ὑμεῖν ∙ καὶ ∙ οἴκημα | ὡς τὰ γράμματα ἀποτίθεσθαι τὰ κοινά· καὶ εἰ τῶν διπλῶν τὴν | μεταποίησιν ∙ ἀνανκαίαν ∙ νομίζετε, τοῦτο ἐφ’ ὑμεῖν ἐστιν. || ἐπρέσβευεν Οὔλπιος ∙ Δομεστικός ∙ εὐτυχεῖτε. | πρὸ ∙ γ ∙ νωνῶν ∙ μαίων ∙ ἀπὸ ∙ Ῥώμης.

Item added: June 18, 2012
Item modified: February 21, 2016
ID number: 1857
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=1857

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