Philadelphia (Lydia, Asia Minor — Pleiades map), late II-early I BCE
AGRW 121 =
GRA II 117 =
TAM V 1539
= LSAM 20 = SIG³ 985
= ILydiaHoz 1.2
= AGRW ID# 141
To good fortune! For health, … common salvation (?), and the best reputation, … the instructions (?) … which were given to Dionysios in his sleep were written down, … giving access (?) … into his house (oikos) to men … and women (?), free people and household slaves… For in this house altars (?) … have been set up for Zeus Eumenes and Hestia … his consort (?), for the other Saviour gods, and for Eudaimonia (“Prosperity”), Ploutos (“Wealth”), Arete (“Virtue”), … Hygeia (“Health”) (?), (10) Agathe Tyche (“Good Fortune”), Agathos … Daimon (“Good Spirit”) (?), Mneme (“Memory”), the Charitai (“the Graces”), and Nike (“Victory”). Zeus has given instructions to this man for the performance of the purifications, the cleansings, … and the mysteries (?) … in accordance with ancestral custom and in accordance with what has now … been written here (?).
When entering (?) … this house let men … and women (?), free people and household slaves, … swear by all (?) … the gods that they do not know about any deceptive action against a man or … a woman (?) … or about any drug harmful to people, and that they neither know nor … use (?) … (20) harmful spells, a love charm, an abortive drug, or a contraceptive. Nor should they use any other thing fatal to children, or give advice or connive with another person about such things. Now no one should withdraw their goodwill towards this house, and if anyone should do any of these things or plan them, the others are neither to look the other way nor remain silent, but shall expose and avenge the violations.
Beyond his own wife, … a man (?) … is not to seduce someone else’s wife, whether … free or (?) … slave, … nor a boy (?), nor a virgin girl. Nor shall he advise someone else to do so. Should he connive at it with someone, … they shall expose (?) … such a person, (30) both the man and the woman, and … not conceal (?) … it or keep silent about it. Let the woman and the man, … whoever does any (?) … of the things written above, … not enter this house (?). For the gods set up in it are great, and … they watch over these things (?) … and will not tolerate those who transgress … the instructions (?).
A free woman is to be pure … and not know (?) … the bed of another man, … nor have intercourse (?) … with anyone except her own husband. But if she does know the bed of another man, such a woman is not pure, … but defiled (?), full of endemic pollution, and … unworthy to revere (?) … this god whose sacred things have been established here. She is not to be present at … the sacrifices (?), (40) nor cause offence…, nor see … the mysteries (?) … being performed. If she does any of these things after the instructions have been inscribed, she will have evil curses from the gods for disregarding these instructions. … For the god (?) … does not want these things to happen at all, … nor does he wish it (?). Rather, he wants obedience.
The gods will be merciful to those … who obey and will always give (?) … them all good things, whatever things gods give to people whom they love. But if any transgress, the gods (50) … will hate (?) … such people and inflict upon them great punishments. These … instructions (?) … were stored with the goddess Angdistis, … the holiest (?) … guardian and mistress of this … house. May she create good (?) … thoughts in men and women, … free people and (?) … household slaves, so that they may obey the … things written here. During the monthly (?) … and annual sacrifices, may those … men and (?) … women who have confidence in themselves touch this stone on … which the instructions of the god (?) … have been written, so that those who obey these instructions … and those who do not obey (?) … these instructions may become evident.
(60) Zeus (?) … Soter (“Saviour”), the … accept … kindly (?), and … Provide (?) … good rewards, … on land and sea … likewise …
Translation by: HarlandItem added: November 10, 2011
Item modified: June 21, 2016
ID number: 141
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=141