Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

Honorary Decree of a Society of Agathe Thea for Bakchis from Kallatis (214 BCE) Athens - Attica


Athens (Attica, Greece and Macedonia — Pleiades map), 214 BCE
Ioanna Tsirigoti-Drakotou, "Τιμητικό ψήφισμα από την Ιερά οδό," in N. C. Stampolides, ed., Γενέθλιον. Ίδρυμα Ν. Π. Γουλάνδρη Μουσείο Κυκλαδικής Τέχνης (Athens, 2006) 285–294 = SEG 56 (2006), no. 203 = AGRW ID# 23360
Copenhagen Inventory info: 284


bibliography            

Slab of grey marble with a triangular top (pediment). Found in excavations of the Greek Archaeological Service at the intersection of the Sacred Way to Eleusis and Piraeus Street. Cf. EBGR (2008), no. 155.

Gods!  Ktesias son of Dionysias from Semachidai subdivision made the proposal:  Since Bakchis–who had been appointed supervisor (epimelētria) by the association (koinon) of society-members (thiasōtai = thiasitai) and by the priest (hiereus) and the head of the contributors (archeranistēs) in the assembly (synodos) of Agathe Thea (“Good Goddess”) in the year when Diokles was civic leader (archon)–supervised in a good and honor-loving manner the adornment of the throne and the table and she set up the torch for the goddess at every assembly (synodoi), spending much from her own resources–namely double of what was distributed to her from the common fund (koinon).  She also provided accounts of the expenses.  Furthermore, since the time arrived for the supervision of the sacrifices to the goddess and, preparing as she was able, she most beautifully welcomed all the society-members in front of the temple.

Therefore, in order that there may be a rivalry among those in the assembly (synodos) who want to be honor-loving, knowing that whoever displays love of honor will receive appropriate favors–to good fortune–it was resolved by the society-members to praise Bakchis daughter of Philtos from Kallatis, to crown her with an olive crown because of her piety towards the deities and her love of honor towards us, and to have the appointed performers of the sacrifices (hieropoioi) announce that crown forever whenever the sacrifices are announced and they proclaim the crowning of the head of the contributors . . . (remainder lost).

Translation by: Harland



Θεοί· | Κτησίας Διονυσίου Σημαχίδης εἶπεν· ἐπειδὴ | Βακχὶς κατασταθεῖσα ἐπιμελήτρια ὑπὸ τοῦ κοι|νοῦ τῶν θιασωτῶν καὶ τοῦ ἱερέως καὶ ἀρχερανιστοῦ || ἐν τεῖ τῆς Ἀγαθῆς Θεοῦ συνόδωι τὸν ἐνιαυτὸν τὸν ἐπὶ | Διοκλέους ἄρχοντος ἐπεμελήθη καλῶς καὶ φιλοτί|μως τῆς τε στρώσεως τοῦ θρόνου καὶ τῆς ἐπιτραπεζώ|σεως καὶ δᾶιδα ἔστησεν τῆι θεῶι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς συνό|δοις ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων προσαναλώσα[σ]α πλεῖον ἢ τὸ διπλά||σιον τοῦ μερισθέντος αὐτεῖ ἐκ τ[ο]ῦ κοινοῦ καὶ λό|γους τῶν ὠικονομημένων ἀποδέδωκεν καὶ ἐπειδὴ | αὐτεῖ ὁ χρόνος ἐξῆκεν ὁ τῆς ἐπιμελεί̣[ας θ]ύσασα | τεῖ θεῶι καὶ παρασκευασαμένη ὡς ἠδύνα[το] κάλλιστα | ὑπεδέξατο τοὺς θιασώ̣τ̣ας πάντας ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι [πρ]ώτη· || ὅπως ἂν οὖν ἐφάμιλλο̣ν ἦι πάσι τοῖς βουλομένοις̣ [ἐν] τ̣εῖ̣ | συνόδωι φιλοτιμε̣ῖσθαι εἰδόσιν ὅτι χάριτας ἀξ̣ίας κομ̣[ι]|οῦνται ὧν ἂν φιλοτιμηθῶσιν· ἀγαθεῖ τύχει, δεδόχθαι | τοῖς θιασώταις ἐπαινέσαι Β̣ακχίδα Φίλτου Καλλατια|νὴν καὶ στεφανῶσαι αὐτὴν θαλλοῦ στεφάνωι εὐσεβεί||ας ἕνεκεν τῆς πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς καὶ φιλοτιμίας τῆς̣ εἰς | ἑαυτοὺς καὶ ἀναγορεύειν τὸν στέφανον τοῦτον ἀεὶ τοὺς̣ | καθι̣σταμένους ἱεροποιοὺς ὅταν τὰ ἱερὰ ἀπαν̣γγελθεῖ | καὶ τὸν τοῦ ἀρχερανι̣στοῦ στέφανον ἀν̣αγορ̣εύσωσιν· | [. . . . . . . . ca.15-18. . . . . . . . .]ξ̣ησ[. . .]θ̣α̣ καὶ γε̣[. . . . .ca.8-9. . . .]τ̣εροις πρ[.] | {remainder lost}.

Item added: February 29, 2016
Item modified: February 29, 2020
ID number: 23360
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=23360

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