Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

[52] Story of the Foundation of an Association of Sarapis (I-II CE) ║ Thessalonike - Macedonia


Thessalonike (Macedonia, Greece and Macedonia — Pleiades map), I-II CE
AGRW 52 = GRA I 77 = IG X,2.1 255 = NewDocs I 6 = PHI 137437 = AGRW ID# 2422


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Slab of marble found among the ruins of the temple of the Egyptian gods in Thessalonica, now in the Thessalonike Archaeological Museum (inv. no. Μθ 825). This inscription, which is a copy of an inscription from two centuries earlier, records the founding of a household cult of Sarapis in another city, Opus.

. . . during the embassy . . . . . to enter into the shrine (oikos), it seemed in his sleep that Sarapis stood beside him and told him that after having arrived in Opus, he should carry a message to Eurynomos son of Timasitheos to receive Sarapis and his sister Isis, and that he should deliver to him (Eurynomos) the letter under the pillow. And waking up, he (Xenainetos) marveled at the dream and yet he was at a loss about what he should do because he was a political rival to Eurynomos. But, falling asleep again, and seeing the same things, when he awoke he found the letter under the pillow, just as it had been indicated to him. Now when he had returned (to Opus), he gave the letter to Eurynomos and reported the things that were decreed by the god. Now when Eurynomos received the letter and heard the things that Xenainetos said, he was at a loss because they were political rivals towards one other, as was made clear above. After having read the letter and having seen that the things that were written were in agreement with the things first having been said by him (Xenainetos), he (Eurynomos) received Sarapis and Isis. After he provided hospitality in the household (oikos) of Sosinike, she received Sarapis and Isis among the household gods. Sosinike offered the sacrifices for a certain time. And after her death Eunosta, the granddaughter of Sosibas, when she received the office, administered the mysteries of the gods among those not initiated into the sacred rites. When Eunosta finally fell ill . . . sacrificed on her behalf . . . . . . . .

Translation by: Ascough and Kloppenborg



[— — —] | [․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ c.40 ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ]Ι̣Λ̣Ι̣Ϲ̣․ ․ ․ ․ | [․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ c.22 ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ]Ϲ̣Α̣Ε̣ϹΑ․․․․ κατὰ τὰν πρεσβείαν | [․․c.10-12․․] κ̣ο̣μίζε̣σθαι ἐν οἶκον ἔδοξε καθ’ ὕπ<ν>ον ἐ̣πιστάντα | [v παρ’ αὐ]τ̣ὸν Σάραπιν ἐπιτάξαι ὅπως παραγενόμενος ἐν Ὀποῦντα || ἀνανγείλῃ Εὐρυνόμῳ τῷ Τειμασιθέου ὑποδέξασθαι αὐτόν τε καὶ | τὰν ἀδελφὰν αὐτοῦ Εἶσιν, τάν τε ἐπιστολὰν τὰν οὖ̣σαν ὑπὸ τῶι ποτι|κεφαλαίῳ | ἀναδῷ αὐτῷ. τὸν δὲ ἐγερθέντα θ̣αυμάξαι τε τὸν | [ὄ]ν̣ειρον καὶ διαπορεῖν τί̣ ποητέον ἐστὶν διὰ τὸ ὑπάρχεν αὐτῷ ἀντιπο̣|λει̣τείαν ποτὶ Εὐρύνομον. καθυπνώσας δὲ πάλιν καὶ τὰ αὐτὰ ἰδὼν || καὶ ἐπεργεθεὶς τάν τε ἐπιστολὰν εὗρε ὑπὸ τῷ ποτικεφαλαίῳ | καθὼς αὐτῷ ἐτεκμάρθη. ἐπανελθὼν δὲ ἀνέδωκε τὰν ἐπιστολὰν | Εὐρυνόμωι καὶ ἀνήνγειλε τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπιταχθέντα. Ε̣ὐρύνομος δὲ | τ̣ὰ̣ν ἐπιστολὰν λαβ̣ὼν καὶ ἀκούσας τὰ ὑπὸ Ξ̣εναινέτου̣ λ̣εγόμενα | παρ’ αὐτὸν μὲν τὸν κ̣αιρὸν ἀπόρως εἶχε διὰ τὸ καθὼς ἐπάνωι || [διασ]α̣φεῖται εἶμεν αὐτοῖς ἀντιπολειτείαν ποτ’ αὐσωτούς. ἀναγν̣οὺς δὲ | [τὰν ἐπιστ]ολὰν καὶ ἰδὼν τὰ γεγραμμένα σύμφωνα τοῖς̣ 〚․․〛| [ὑπὸ Ξεναινέτ]ου εἰρημένοις ὑπεδέξατο τὸν Σάραπιν καὶ τὰν Εἶσ̣ι̣ν̣ | [․․․․․․c.16․․․․․․]Ο̣Ν̣ ἐ̣ν τᾶι ο̣ἰκίαι τᾶι Σωσινείκας ἐν τοὺς οἰκ[έτας]? | [․․․․․․․․c.21․․․․․․․․․έ]θ̣υε Σωσινείκα τ̣ὰ̣ς̣ θ̣υσίας ΧΡΟΝ․c.5․ || [․․․․․․․․․․c.24․․․․․․․․․․ Εὐν]όστα? ἁ Σωσιβίου θυγατριδᾶ [․ . . . . ․] | [․ ․ ․ ․ ․ . ․ c.27․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․]θεῶν ἐν τοὺς κ[ατ]αμετό̣[χ]ους | [— — —] τοῦ δεῖνος ἐν ἀρρωστ]ί̣α̣ν̣ ἐμπεσό̣[ντο]ς προέθυε̣ | [․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ c.42․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․]․Ρ̣․ ․ ․ ․ ․ | [— — —]

Item added: August 11, 2012
Item modified: March 3, 2015
ID number: 2422
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=2422

Category: 1) Greece and Macedonia, a) Domestic (household) association, d) Macedonia, e) 1st century CE, Isis, Member (or leader) of the group, Mysteries or initiations / initiates, Sarapis, Story / narrative
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