Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

Dedication with List of Participants in Dionysos’ Mysteries (241-224 CE) Kellai - Thrace


Kellai (Thrace, Danube and Black Sea areas — Pleiades map), 241-44 CE
IGBulg 1517 = PHI 169604 = AGRW ID# 14188
Copenhagen Inventory info: 650


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Slab of limestone (215 x 112 x 20 cm). After its discovery it was transported to the History Museum in Chirpan. This group most likely engaged in mysteries for Dionysos, but the Augusti (emperors as gods) were also part of the rituals (hence the sebastophants). There were at least 11 female members among the 56 members of the company. The title kourēs (attested for three members here) may be a reference to functionaries who played the role of the Kouretes (Curetes) in protecting the infant Dionysos as attested in some mythology. For discussion of the functionaries in this inscription, see Slavova 2002. Kellai (or: Cillae, Cillis) was located about 40km east of Philippopolis.

To good fortune.  On behalf of the victory of our lord the emperor Marcus Antonius Gordianus (III) and Furia Sabina Tranquillina Augusta, Aurelius Claudianus son of Dionysios, leader of the company (speirarchēs), dedicated the monument (telamōn) from his own resources for the sake of the priesthood (hierōsynē).  This was done when Aurelius Mucianus was priest and Celsus son of Sosandros was supervising.

(column I) Aurelius Mucianus son of Dorzas the priest (hiereus), Aurelius Claudianus the leader of the company, (10) Aurelius Straton the revealer of the Augusti (sebastophantēs), Aurelius Herodes the revealer of the Augusti, Aurelius Mucianus the fennel-bearer (narthēkophoros; i.e. wand-bearer), (column II) Mucianus son of Doles the civic councilor, Aurelius Louppos son of Louppos, Aurelius Heliodoros son of Julius, Claudius Maschalos son of Aurelianus, Aurelius Mucianus son of Dionysios the privileged soldier (?) (beneficiarius) and his wife Aurelius Potamilla daughter of Potamon, Claudius Eutychianos who is also called Synplikis, (column I continued) Aurelius Celer the chief-cowherd (archiboukolos), Aurelius Aristenetos the chief-initiate (archimystēs), Aurelius Eukarpos the chief-gallos (archigallos), (20) Aurelius Mucianus the youthful warrior (kourēs; one of the protective Kouretes / Curetes [?]), Aurelius Asklepiades son of Asklepiades the leader of the sub-group (seistēmarchēs systēmarchēs), Aurelius Candidus the youthful warrior (kourēs), Aurelius Chrestos the youthful warrior (kourēs), Aurelius Asklepiades the avenger (ekdikos; or: legal advocate) and son of Celer, Aurelius Mucianus the sign-bearer (semeiophoros), Aurelius Celsus the chief of the spears (?; kraniarchēs), Aurelius Dorzas son of Mucianus, Aurelius Diogenes son of Dionysios, Aurelius Mucianus, Maschlos (?) son of Tyros, Aurelia Artemidora. . . (30) Aurelia Artemidora the lighter of the wick (?; lyknoaptria), Aurelia Maxima the basket-bearer (kistaphoros), Aurelia Chione the winnowing-basket-bearer (liknaphoros), Aurelia Herais the bacchant (bakchē), Aurelia Herais the bacchant (sic.), Julia Artemidora the winnowing-basket-bearer, Aurelia Netiaze the bacchant, Aurelia Chione the bacchant, Aurelios Straton . . . , Aurelia Herais the bacchant, Aurelius Marcianus son fo Piso, Aurelius Theagenes son of Kosmos, Aurelius Eptaikenthos son of Eptaikenthos, (40) Aurelius Kenthiaros son of Pison, Aurelius Ason son of Aurelius, Aurelius Kardenthes son of Mucianus, Aurelius Kalandion son of Kandidos, Aurelius Kenthiaros son of Herais, Aurelius Rufinus son of Asklepiades, Aurelius Keriskes son of Straton, Aurelius Alexandros son of Alexandros, Aurelius Eutyches son of Bassos, Aurelius Heraklianos son of Sosandros, (50) Aurelius Heraklianos son of Mucianus, Aurelius Kelaidosa son of Tolmearios, Aurelius Tates son of Rufinus, Aurelius. . . son of Ason, Syros, Aurelius Tataros son of Kalandion, Heliodoros son of Alexandros, Aurelius Mucianus son of Diodoros.

Translation by: Harland



ἀγαθῆι τύχηι. | ὑπὲρ νείκης τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Αὐτοκράτορος Μ(άρκου) Ἀ̣ν̣[τω]|νίου 〚Γο̣ρ̣διαν̣[ο]ῦ καὶ Φο̣υ̣ρία̣ς̣ Σ̣α̣β̣είνη̣ς̣〛Τρανκυλλίν[ης] | Σεβ(αστῆς) Αὐρ(ήλιος) Κλαυδιανὸς Διονυσίου σπε̣ι̣ράρχης τὸν τελαμῶ||να ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων ἀνέστησεν ἱεροσύνης {ἱερωσύνης} χάρε̣ιν, ἱερατεύοντος Αὐρ(ηλίου) | Μουκιανοῦ Δορζα | vac. ἐπιμελουμένου Κέλσου Σωσάνδρου.

{column I, beginning at line 7}

Αὐρ(ήλιος) Μουκιανὸς Δορζα ἱερ̣εύς | vac. | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Κλαυδιανὸς σπειράρχης || vac. | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Στράτων σεβαστοφάντης | vac. | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἡρώδης σεβαστοφάντης | vac. || Αὐρ(ήλιος) Μουκιανὸς ναρθηκοφόρος | vac.

{column II, beginning at line 7}

Μουκιανὸς Δοληους βου̣[λ(ευτής)] | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Λοῦππος Λούππου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἡλιόδωρος Ἰουλίου || Κλαύ(διος) Μάσχλος Αὐρηλιανοῦ | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Μουκιανὸς Διονυσίου β(ενε)φ(ικιάριος) | καὶ ἡ σύνβιος αὐτοῦ Αὐρ(ηλία) Ποταμίλλα Ποτάμωνος || Κλαύ(διος) Εὐτυχιανὸς ὁ καὶ Συνπλίκις | vac.

{column I, continuing at line 17}

Αὐρ(ήλιος) Κέλερ ἀρχιβουκόλος | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἀριστένετος ἀρχιμύστης | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Εὔκαρπος ἀρχιγ̣άλλαρος | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Μουκιανὸς κουρής, Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἀσκ<λ>ηπιάδης | Ἀσκληπιάδου | σ̣ε̣ι̣στημάρχης | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Κάνδιδος κουρής vac. | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Χρῆστος κουρής vac. | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἀσκληπιάδης ἔκδικος, υἱὸς Κέλερ | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Μουκιανὸς σιμιοφόρος {σημειοφόρος} || Αὐρ(ήλιος) Κέλσος κρανιάρχης | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Δορζας Μουκιανοῦ | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Διογένης Διονυσίου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Μουκιαν[ό]ς̣, [Μάσ]χ̣λος Τηρου | Αὐρ(ηλία) Ἀρτεμιδώρα [— —]νητης || Αὐρ(ηλία) Ἀρτεμιδώρα λυχνοάπτρια | Αὐρ(ηλία) Μαξιμῖνα κισταφόρος | Αὐρ(ηλία) Χιόνη λικναφόρος | Αὐρ(ηλία) Ἡραῒς βάκ<χη> | Αὐρ(ηλία) Ἡραῒς βάκχη vac. Ἰουλία Ἀρτεμιδώρα λεικναφόρος || Αὐρ(ηλία) Νητιαζη {Νητιαξη(?)} βάκχη Αὐρ(ηλία) Χιόνη βάκχη | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Στράτων ϹΚΙ[— — —] |Αὐρ(ηλία) Ἡραῒς βάκχη | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Μαρκιανὸς Πίσωνος | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Θεαγένης Κόσμου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Επταικενθος Επταικενθου || Αὐρ(ήλιος) Κενθιαρος Πίσωνος | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ασων Αὐρηλίου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Καρδενθης Μουκιανοῦ | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Καλανδίων Κανδίδου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Κενθιαρος Ἡραΐδος || Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ῥουφῖνος Ἀσκληπιάδου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Κ〚․〛ερισκης {Κερισκης} Στράτονος {Στράτωνος} | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἀλέξανδρος Ἀλεξάνδρου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Εὐτύχης Βάσσου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἡρακλιανὸς Σωσάνδρου || Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἡρακλιανὸς Μουκιανοῦ | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Κελαίδ̣οσα Τολμεαρίου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Τατης Ῥουφίνου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) v ΑΙ[—]ΙΛ[—]ϹϹ̣[—]Ι[—] Ασωνος Σύρος | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ταταρος Καλανδίωνος || Ἡλιόδωρος Ἀλεξάνδρου | Αὐρ(ήλιος) Μουκιανὸς Διοδώρου.

 

 

Item added: July 5, 2013
Item modified: November 25, 2021
ID number: 14188
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=14188

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