Doura Europos (Mesopotamia, Greater Syria and the East — Pleiades map), 54 CE
Hopkins 1934, 114 (no. 418, with plate 26)
= E. Lipiński, "Apladad," Orientalia 45 (1976) 53–74 (opening and closing lines without the names)
= Pierre-Louis Gatier, "Installations de sanctuaires du Proche-Orient romain: Pour en finir avec l’andrôn," Topoi 11 (2001) 12 (opening lines only without the names)
= AGRW ID# 23496
Copenhagen Inventory info: 676
Block of gypsum (43 x 41 cm). Found in the Aphlad sanctuary alongside the votive relief of Aphlad set up by Hadadiabos son of Zabdibolos (also a member in the association here). In Damascus in 1934. The members of this association (whose names are Semitic with one exception) are drawn from six families: two sons of Rhachimnaios, two sons of Zabdibolos, three sons of Phalazacheis, and two sons of Sabidadados. Some may be immigrants from Anath, the village on the Euphrates from which the god Aphlad comes. Among the significant theophoric names (referring to Mesopotamian deities) are Hadadiabos (meaning "Hadad gives"), Phalazacheis (meaning "sanctified by Aphlad" or "Aphlad is just"), Zabdibolos (referring to Baal), and Nabousamdos, Naboudaraos, and Nabouazanes (referring to the god Nabu). For further discussion of this group, see Milik 1972, 137-138; Lipiński 1976, 53–74 (on the names); Andrade 2013, 223-225.
In the 365th year on the 20th of the month of Gorpiaios, those whose names are written below from the association (hetaireia) collected the funds to dedicate this banqueting-hall (andrōn) to the god Aphlad (spelled Apalados here): Baribagnaios son of Rhachimnaios, Nabousamdos son of Abemmos, Sabdisamsos son of Zabdibolos, Naboudaraos son of Phalazacheis, Abouis son of Zabidados, Salapis son of Phalazacheis, Rhoumes son of Ochanos, Nabouazanes son of Rhachimnaios, Theogenes son of Zabidadados, Hadadiabos son of Zabdibolos, and Addaios son of Phalacheis. They did this for the salvation of Seleukos the governor, themselves, and their children.
Translation by: Harland
ἔτους εξτ´ Γορπι|αίου κ´ οἱ ὑπογεγραμ|μένοι ἀπὸ τῆς ἑταιρείας | ἀνήγειραν τὸν ἀνδρῶνα || τοῦτον Απαλαδωι θεῶι | Βαριβαγναῖος Ῥαχιμναίου, | Ναβουσαμδος Αβέμμου, Σαβδι|σαμσος Ζαβδιβωλου, Ναβουδάραος | Φαλαζζαχεις, Ἀβουις Ζαβιδαδάδου, || Σαλαπις Φαλαζαχεις, Ῥούμης Οχχανου, | Ναβουαζζανης Ῥαχιμναίου, Θεο|γένης Ζαβιδαδάδου, Ἁδαδίαδβος {Ἁδαδίαβος} | Ζαβδιβωλου, Αδδαιος Φαλαζαχεις | ὑπὲρ τῆς Σελεύκου στρατηγοῦ καὶ ἑαυτῶν καὶ | τέκνων σωτερίας.
Photo of dedication inscription from the Sanctuary of Aphlad.
Hopkins 1934 (no. 418), plate 26.
Item added: March 10, 2016
Item modified: May 26, 2021
ID number: 23496
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=23496
Category: 5) Greater Syria and the East,
Aphlad,
Baal,
Building dedication or inscription,
c) Ethnic / immigrant association,
Dedication inscription,
e) 1st century CE,
e) Mesopotamia and Parthia,
Hadad,
i) Images of monuments or buildings,
List of contributors / contributions,
Membership list,
Nabu