Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

Grave of a Teenaged Initiate of Dionysos (with relief) (240/241 CE) Saittai area [Iaza] - Lydia


Saittai area [Iaza] (Lydia, Asia Minor — Pleiades map), 240/241 CE
TAM V 477 = SGO 04/19/02 = IDionysosJ 112 = PHI 263897 = AGRW ID# 1196


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Slab of marble (96 x 47 x 7.5 cm), found in 1962 in the vicinity Ayazviran, now in the Manisa museum (inv. 404). The relief depicts a boy holding grapes. Forward slashes (/) in the Greek text represent verse breaks. For other graves of young initiates, see AGRW 96, 327, 328.

I, who did not experience Love (Cypris; i.e. Aphrodite) and was an enemy of wickedness, was taken as a companion (hetairos) by Bromios (“Thunderer”) together with the Fates (moirai).  He (Bromios) has me as a fellow–initiate (synmystēs) in his own dances.  My name is Julianus, and I lived 17 years.  My father was Julianus and my mother was Apphias.  When I died, they honoured me with (10) the tomb and this inscribed monument.  His paternal uncle Asklepiades, his aunt Juliane, his maternal uncle Dionysios, Ammianos, and Stratoneikos honoured him.  Year 325 (of the Sullan era), 12th of the month of Peritios.

Translation by: Harland



τὸν ἀδαῆ Κύπριδος καὶ ἀλǀλότριον κακότητος εἵλα ǀ τό με Βρόμιος σὺν Μοίραισιν ǀ τὸν ἑταῖρον, συνμύστην εἵǀǀν’ ἔχῃ με χορείαις ταῖς ἰδίαιǀσιν. οὔνομά μοι Ἰουλιανός, ǀ ἔτη δὲ ἔζησα δέχ’ ἑπτά. Ἰουǀλιανὸς δὲ πατήρ, μήτηρ δέ ǀ μου Ἄφφιον ἦεν, οἵ με θανόνǀǀτα τάφῳ καὶ στήλλῃ τῇδε ἐνέǀγραψαν. Ἀσκληπιάδης ὁ πάǀτρως καὶ Ἰουλιανὴ ἡ πάτρα καὶ ǀ Διονύσιος ὁ μήτρων καὶ Ἀμμιαǀνὸς καὶ Στρατόνεικος ἐτείμησα[ν]. ǀǀ ἔτους τκεʹ, μη(νὸς) Περιτίου βιʹ.

Item added: December 3, 2011
Item modified: December 3, 2015
ID number: 1196
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=1196

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