[50] Bequest to an Association of Initiates of Zeus Dionysos Gongylos (I CE)

Thessalonike (Macedonia, Greece and Macedonia — Pleiades map), I CE
AGRW 50 = GRA I 76 = IG X,2.1 259 = RICIS 113/0537 = Nigdelis 2010, no. 12 = PHI 137441 = AGRW ID# 2388
Copenhagen Inventory info: 716

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Slab of white marble broken in two pieces. Found in the sanctuary of Sarapis, now in the Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum (inv. no. Μθ 983).

For the good fortune of Zeus Dionysos Gongylos (“Round”). Gaius Julius, cult official, consecrated to the god and gave by bequest to the current and future initiates (mystai), as long as they are banded together, one third of five plethra (five plethra is about 4.4 sq. km) of vineyards located in the village (asty) of Perdylia, on the following condition: As long as they maintain the legal right, they will use the income to hold a banquet of bread for the supporters (threpsantes), according to the tradition and the donation, on the 19th of the month of Dystros, on the 13th of the month of Daisios, and on the 23rd of the month of Gorpiaios. The current and future initiates also swear by the god, by the rites (orgia), and by the midnight bread to maintain the above ritual according to the bequest.

The initiates recorded below also consecrated two thirds of the five plethra. They will share in the income during their lifetime in the presence of the god and subsequently enrolled initiates will receive the same. The whole vineyard must remain unsold. The initiates have sworn accordingly to help to maintain the things agreed together.

(column 1) Lucius Fulvius Felix, priest, Marcus Ombrius Eros, Nikandros son of Nikandros, Herakeides son of Korragos, Gaius Julius Felix, Marcus Ombrius Makedon, Titus Sextius, Nonus Terraeus Hyacinthos, Antigonos son of Nikephoros, Marcus Lollius Attikus,

(column 2) Gaius Julius Agathopous, Avidius . . . Nonus Terraeus Firmanus, Marcus Lollius Sabinus, Gaius Raius Zosimos, Marcus Marius Cerealis, Marcus Antonius Primus.

This was set up with the consent of Straton son of Epikrates, by birth son of Dionysios, priest for a second time.

Translation by: Ascough

[vac. ἀγαθῆ]ι̣ τ̣ύ̣χηι Διὸς | Δ̣ι̣ο̣νύσ̣ου vac. Γονγύλου. | Ἰούλιος ΒΗ̣ϹΑ̣Ρ̣ΤΗϹ ἀνέθηκεν τῷ θ̣ε̣ῷ κ<α>ὶ | ἔδωκεν ἐν δόσε̣ι τοῖς τε νῦν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐ̣σομένοις̣ || μύστα̣ις, ἕως ἂν συνιστῶ̣νται, ἀμπέλων ἐν τῇ | Πε̣ρ̣δυλίᾳ <ἕν>· ἔν τ̣ε̣ ἄστυι πλέθρων πέντε τὸ τρίτον | μέρος ἐπὶ τῷδε· ἐφ’ ᾧ τὴν κ̣α̣ρπήα̣ν ἐχόντων | κα̣θ’ ἕτος γείνητα̣ι ἡ ἐπὶ τῶν θρεψάντων | [α]ὐ̣τοῦ ἑστίασις κ̣ατὰ τὸ παραδεδομένον || καὶ τὴν δόσιν, Δύστρου vac. ιθ, Δαισίου vac. ιγ, | Γορπιαίου vac. κγ vac. ὀμνύντων τῶν τε νῦν καὶ | τῶν ἐσομένον(!) μυστο̑ν(!) τὸν θεὸν καὶ τὰ ὅρ[κ]ια | καὶ τὸ μεσανύκτιον ἄ<ρ>τ̣οῦ διαφυλάτειν(!) τὴν | ἐ̣π̣ά̣νοθ<ε>ν(!) <οἰκί>αν κατὰ τὴν δόσιν. ἀνέθηκαν || δ̣ὲ̣ κ̣α̣ὶ̣ οἱ ὑπογε̣γρα̣μμένοι μύσται, ἐφ’ ὁ̑(!) τῆς καρ|πήα̣ς̣ μετέχουσιν τὸν τοῦ ζῇν χρόνον αὐτοὶ ἐπὶ | τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ μεταπαραλαμβάνωσιν οἱ <ὁποῖοι> | ὄντες μύσται τοῦ αὐτοῦ πεντα̣πλ̣έθρ̣ου τὰ δύο | μέρη ἐφ’ ᾧ ἄπρατα διενεκῶς μ̣ε̣ίνῃ, ὀμοσάν||των κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ συνδιαφυλά̣ξειν. col. I Λ(ούκιος) Φουλούιος Φῆλιξ | ἱερεύς | Λ(ούκιος) Δομί̣τειος Ἔρως | Ν̣ε̣ί̣κ̣ανδρος Νεικάνδρου || Ἡ̣ρ̣α̣κλείδης Κορράγου | Γ(άϊος) ∙ Ἰούλιος Φῆλιξ | Μ̣(ᾶρκος) ∙ Ὄμβρειος ∙ Μακεδών | Τ(ίτος) ∙ Σέξτιος | Ν(εμέριος) ∙ Τερραῖος ∙ Ὑάκυνθος || Ἀντίγονος Νεικηφόρου | Μ(ᾶρκος) ∙ Λόλλ̣ι̣ος ∙ Ἀττικός col. II Γ(άϊος) Ἰούλιος Ἀγαθόπους | Ο̣Υ̣Ο̣․c.6․․Κ̣Ι̣Ω̣Ν̣ | Ν(εμέριος) ∙ Τερραῖος Φιρμα̣νό<ς> | Μ(ᾶρκος) ∙ Λόλ<λ>ιος Σα̣β̣ε̣ῖνος || Γ(άϊος) ∙ Ῥάϊος Ζώσιμος | Μ(ᾶρκος) ∙ Μάριος Κερε<ά>λις | Μ(ᾶρκος) ∙ Ἀντώνιος ∙ Πρεῖμος col. I-II ἀνετέθη ἐπιτρέψαντος Στράτωνος τοῦ | Ἐπικράτους, φύσει δὲ Διονυσίου ἱερητεύοντος | τὸ vv βʹ.

RICIS 113/0537. Photo © Laurent Bricault 2005. Reproduced with permission.

Item added: August 9, 2012
Item modified: September 7, 2020
ID number: 2388
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=2388

Category: 1) Greece and Macedonia, Bequest or endowment, Cultic functionary (priest or priestess), d) Macedonia, Dionysos, e) 1st century CE, e) Benefactors / honorees, e) Financing group life, Festivals, i) Images of monuments or buildings, Membership list, Sacrifices / meals, Zeus

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[50] Bequest to an Association of Initiates of Zeus Dionysos Gongylos (I CE) ║ Thessalonike - Macedonia

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