Dedication and Membership List of Tree-bearers (200-201 CE)

Tomis (Scythia and Moesia, Danube and Black Sea areas — Pleiades map), 200-201 CE
ITomis 83 = IMoesiaHitova II 48 = Ruscu 2014 = IGR I 614 = PHI 173182 = AGRW ID# 14631
Copenhagen Inventory info: 1201

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Slab of marble (108 x 50 x 12 cm). Here an association of tree-bearers (collegium of dendrophoroi)–likely associated with the goddess Cybele–dedicate a monument on behalf of the emperors, the imperial family, and the governor in connection with a gift they had received. The list includes 38 names, some with Roman citizenship (16 members). Only two women appear among the surviving names. The group's functionaries and offices include: "mother", "father", priest, chief tree-bearers (male), and a chief rod-bearer (female). Achilleus son of Achilleus, the “father” (pater) of this group, is probably to be identified with a man of the same name who is “father” of a Dionysiac association as well. Eight of the names in our present inscription from Tomis also appear in inscriptions from Histria (see IHistria 99, 100, 197, 193, 218, 225), including those involving other associations. So this inscription is further evidence for multiple memberships in associations, in this case in more than one city. For further discussion, see Ruscu 2014.

To good fortune. This was set up for the most divine genius (tychē) of the emperors, for Lucius Septimius Severus Pertinax and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus’ victory over the Parthians, Medians, and Britons and for their eternal endurance; for the most noble Publius Septimius Geta Caesar, for the mother of the camps, Julia Augusta, and for (10) their entire household; for the consular governor of the province, Vinius Tertullus; and, for the gift which was given to us:

(column 1, beginning at line 13) Titus Flavius Sallustius, Titius Flavius Salvianus, the priest Pollio son of Pollion, the “father” Achilleus son of Achilleus, the chief tree-bearer (archidendrophoros) Alexandros son of Heleis, the chief tree-bearer Alexandros son of Alexandros, and Demetris son of Amphionides, (20) Poseidonios son of (?) Poponius, Tourbon son of Dionysios, Andron son of Longinus, Titus Flavius, . . . Name, Pollion (?) son of Name . . ., Demetris son of . . . Name, Titus Flavius Eutyches, Dionysios son of Dotios, Aurelius . . . Name Heleis, Hermodoros son of Theodotos, (30) Neikostratos son of Marcus, Pontikos son of Hermodoros, Chrysaon son of Achilleus and natural son of Gaukos, Scipio son of Pontikos who is also called Pontikos, Poseidonios son of . . . Poponius (?), Aurelius son of Alexandros, Aurelius Hyginus, Titus Flavius Eutyches.

(column 2, beginning at line 13) The “mother” (mētēr) of the tree-bearers (dendrophoroi) Nanas daughter of Theadon, the chief rod-bearer (archirabdouchos) Publia Aelia Olympia, Basiliskos son of (20) Alexandros, Flavius Symphoros, Aurelius Serapodoros son of Poseidoneios, Publius Aelius Hermeros, Julius Herakleides, Hilarion son of Lucius, Aurelius Julius Chrysogonos, Aurelius Julius Histios, (30) Flavius Histios, Aurelius son of Athenados (?). . . (remainder lost).

Translation by: Harland

ἀγαθῆι τύχηι· | ὑπὲρ τῆς τῶν θειοτάτων Αὐτοκρατό|ρων τύχης τε καὶ νείκης καὶ αἰωνίου | διαμονῆς ∙ Λ(ουκίου) ∙ Σεπτιμίου Σεουήρου Περ||τινακος ∙ καὶ ∙ Μ(άρκου) ∙ Αὐ[ρηλίο]υ Ἀντωνείνου | Π[αρθι]κῶν, Μηδ[ικῶν, Βριτα]ν̣νικῶν | [[καὶ Π(ουπλίου) Σεπτιμίου Γέτα ἐπιφανεστάτου]] | [[Καίσαρος]]] καὶ τῆς [μητρὸς κάστρων Ἰου]|λίας Αὐγούστης καὶ τοῦ σύνπ̣α̣[ντος αὐ]||τῶν οἴκου καὶ ὑπὲρ τοῦ διέποντος [τ]ὴν̣ | ἐπαρχείον ὑπατικοῦ Ὀουινίου Τερτύλ|λου τῶν ἡμεῖν τὴν δωρεὰν δεδωκότων· |

{column 1, beginning at line 13) Τ(ίτος) ∙ Φλ(άουιος) ∙ Σαλλούστιος | Τ(ίτος) ∙ Φλ(άουιος) ∙ Σαλβιανός || Πολλίων Πολλίωνος ἱερεύς | Ἀχιλλεὺς Ἀχιλλᾶ πατήρ | Ἀλέξανδρος Ἤλει ἀρχιδενδροφόρος | Ἀλέξανδρος Ἀλεξάνδρου ἀρχιδενδροφόρος | Δημήτρις Ἀμφιονίδ[ο]υ ∙ || Ποσειδώνιος Πωπών̣ιος | Τούρβων Διονυσί̣[ου] | Ἄνδρων Λονγ[είνο]υ | Τ(ίτος) Φλ(άουιος) ∙ Θ[— —]ς | Πωλ[λίων — — —]ιου ∙ || Δημήτ[ρις — —]σίωνος | Τ(ίτος) Φλ(άουιος) ∙ Εὐ[τυ]χ̣ής | Διονύσ[ιος] Δωτίου | Αὐ․[—]ων Ἤλει | Ἑρμόδωρος Θεοδότου || Νεικόστρατος Μάρκου | Ποντικὸς Ἑρμοδώρου | Χρυσάων Ἀχιλλᾶ φύσι δὲ Γαύκου | Σκειπίων Ποντικοῦ || ὁ καὶ Ποντικός | Ποσειδώνιος Π[ωπώνιος?] | Αὐρ(ήλιος) ∙ Ἀλεξάνδρο̣[υ] | Αὐρ(ήλιος) ∙ Ὑγεῖνος | Τ(ίτος) ∙ Φλ(άουιος) Εὐτυχή̣[ς]

{column 2, beginning at line 13) Νάνας Θεάδωνος | μήτηρ δενδροφόρων || Π(ουπλία) Αἰλία Ὀλυμ|π[ία] ἀρχιραβ|δουχῖσα | Βασιλίσκος {ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΟΣ [facs., Točilescu]} || Ἀλεξάνδρου | Φλάβιος Σύμ|φορος. Αὐρ(ήλιος) | Σεραπόδωρος | Ποσειδωνείου || Π(ούπλιος) ∙ Αἴλιος Ἑρμέρως | Ἰούλιος Ἡρακλείδης | Ἱλαρίων Λουκίου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἰούλ(ιος) ∙ Χρυσόγονος | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἰούλ(ιος) ∙ Ἵστιο[ς] || Φλάβιος Ἵστ[ιος] | Αὐρ(ήλιος) ∙ Ἀθη[νάδου?] | [—]Μ[—]Α[— — —]

Item added: November 27, 2015
Item modified: October 1, 2020
ID number: 14631
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=14631

Category: 2) Danube and Black Sea areas, b) Scythia and Moesia, Cybele / Meter / Mother, g) 3rd century CE, Honorary inscription, Membership list, Roman emperor or imperial figure (as a deity)

Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

Dedication and Membership List of Tree-bearers (200-201 CE) ║ Tomis - Scythia and Moesia

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