Honors by Apolloniasts and Others for a Naval Commander (ca. 84 BCE)

Rhodos on Rhodes (Southeastern islands, Aegean Islands — Pleiades map), after 84 BCE
IRhodM 18 = PHI 191461 = AGRW ID# 14965
Copenhagen Inventory info: 2012

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Large block of grey marble (73 x 57 x 28 cm). This honorary inscription was set up by several grandchildren for their grandfather, Polykles, who had held numerous important naval positions on Rhodes. The inscription also catalogues previous honors by civic bodies and by associations. The associations include groups of soldiers (devoted to Aphrodite and Apollo), members of brotherhoods (p(h)ratriōtai), and associations based on neighbourhood or district (diagonia). On the context of this inscription after the first Mithradatic war (88-84 BCE) under Mithridates VI of Pontus, see L. Ruscu, "Eine Episode der Beziehungen der westpontischen Griechenstädte zu Mithridates VI. Eupator, König von Pontos," Tyche 15 (2000) 119-135, at 126-127.

Sosos, Polykles, Kalliarista daughter of Sosos, and Polykles son of Polykles and grandson of Polykles set this up for their grandfather (Polykles). He was a soldier in fortified and unfortified ships during the war; an unpaid leader over the territory of Lindos; a head of the gymnasium for the tribes; a victor in the festivals of Poseidon, Roma, and Helios; a head of the gymnasium of the youths (neōteroi); one of the chosen judges; and a leader of unfortified ships and leader of a ship with five sets of oars (quinquiremes) during the war. He was appointed leader of leaders by the People, having fought battles by sea and having commanded on the opposite shore (i.e. in the Rhodian Peraia). He was confirmed by vote a second time and confirmed by vote a third time. He was head of the gymnasium and ambassador of the secretary of the Council. He was crowned by his fellow-leaders (synarchontes) when he was president during the war and he was crowned by his fellow-leaders when he was advisor to the commander of the fleet, Damagoras. He was chief of his tribe and victorious in the funerary contests (epitaphia). He was leader of a ship with four sets of oars (tetrereme); victor in the exhibition of the temple; provider for the chorus for the war-dance; leader of a ship with four sets of oars during the war; provider for the chorus for the tragic performers (tragōdoi); victor in the Alexandreian and Dionysian contests. He was honored and crowned with two gold crowns by the association (koinon) of celebrators of the Panathenaia festival (Panathenaistai) who are soldiers (strateutai); by the members of the Aristokleian, Heliatidian brotherhood (patriōtai = phatriōtai) and the association of the Kydagoreian neighbourhood (diagonia); by the members of the association of Epektoridian brotherhood; by the members of the association of the Euthalidian brotherhood who are in Oiai; by the association of Polykleian Aphrodite-devotees (Aphrodisiastai) who are comrades (hēlikōtai); by the association of Ierombroteian Klysimeian Polycharmeians; by the association of those who engage in the sacrifices (hierothytai) in the sanctuary of Erethimos (Apollo Erethimios). He was honored by the association of Antiocheian Apollo-devotees (Apolloniastai) who are fellow-soldiers (sysstrateutai). He was honored by the association of Polykleian Boarsians with a gold crown and statues. He was honored by the association of Teisagoreian Boarsians. He was honored twice by all those fighting alongside one another who were brought into formation by the People. He was honored by the city of the Astypalaians with the status of civic guest, with a gold crown, with a bronze image. He was honored by the city of the Milesians with the status of civic guest, with a praising commendation, with a gold crown, and with a bronze image. He was honored by the city of the Hyllarimians with the status of civic guest, with a gold crown, and with a bronze image. He was honored by the city of the Kysians with the status of civic guest, with a gold crown, and with a bronze image. This is dedicated to the gods.

Translation by: Harland

Σῶσος καὶ Πολυκλῆς [κ]αὶ Καλλιαρίστα Σώσου, | Πολυκλῆς Πολυκλεῦς τοῦ Πολυκλεῦς τὸν πάππον | [σ]τρατευσά[μ]ενον ἔν τε τοῖς ἀφράκτοις καὶ ἐν ταῖς καταφράκτοις | [να]υσὶ κατὰ πόλεμον καὶ γενόμενον ἁγεμόνα ἄμισθον ἐπὶ τᾶς || [χώ]ρας τᾶς Λινδίας καὶ γυμνασιαρχήσαντα φυλᾶ[ς] καὶ νικάσαντα | [Π]οσειδάνια καὶ Ῥωμαῖα καὶ Ἁλίεια καὶ γυμνασιαρχήσαντα νεώτερον | [καὶ κ]λαρωτὰν δικαστᾶν γενόμενον καὶ ἄρξαντα ἀφράκτων καὶ | [ἁγ]ησάμενον πεντηρέων κατὰ πόλεμον καὶ ἀποδειχθέντα ὑπὸ τοῦ | δάμου ἁγεμόνα τῶν ἁγεμόνων καὶ ναυμαχήσαντα καὶ στραταγή||σαντα ἐν τῶι πέραν καὶ ἐπιχειροτονηθέντα τὸ δεύτερον καὶ ἐπιχειρο|τονηθέντα τὸ τρίτον καὶ γυμνασιαρχήσαντα πρεσβύτερον καὶ | γραμματῆ βουλᾶς γενόμενον καὶ στεφανωθέντα ὑπὸ τῶν συναρχόντων | καὶ πρυτανεύσαντα ἐν τῶι πολέμωι καὶ στεφανωθέντα ὑπὸ τῶν συναρ|χόντων καὶ γενόμενον σύμβουλον ναυάρχωι Δαμαγόραι καὶ φυλαρ||χήσαντα καὶ νικάσαντα ἐπιτάφια καὶ τριηραρχήσαντα τετρήρευς | καὶ νικάσαντα τᾶι ἀποδείξει τᾶς ναὸς καὶ χ[ορ]αγήσαντα πυρρίχαι | καὶ τριηραρχήσαντα τετρήρευς κατὰ πόλεμον καὶ χοραγήσαντα | τραγωιδοῖς καὶ νικάσαντα Ἀλεξάνδρεια καὶ Διονύσια καὶ τιμαθέντα | καὶ στεφανωθέντα χρυσέοις στεφάνοις δυσὶ ὑπὸ Παναθηναϊστᾶν || στρατευομένων κοινοῦ καὶ ὑπὸ Ἁλιαταδᾶν πατριωτᾶν | Ἀριστοκλείων καὶ Κυδαγορείων διαγονιᾶν κοινοῦ καὶ ὑπὸ | Ἐπεκτοριδᾶν πατριωτᾶν κοινοῦ καὶ ὑπὸ Εὐθαλιδᾶν πατριωτᾶν | τῶν ἐν Οἴαις κοινοῦ καὶ ὑπὸ Ἀφροδισιαστᾶν ἁλικιωτᾶν Πολυ|κλείων κοινοῦ καὶ ὑπὸ Ἰερομβροτείων Κλυσιμείων Πολυχαρ||μείων κοινοῦ καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἰεροθυτησάντων ἐν Ἐρεθίμοις κοινοῦ | καὶ τιμαθέντα ὑπὸ Ἀπολλωνιαστᾶν Ἀντιοχείων συσστρατευσαμέ|[ν]ων κοινοῦ καὶ τιμαθέντα ὑπὸ Πολυκλείων Βοαρσᾶν κοινοῦ | χρυσέωι στεφάνωι καὶ ἀνδριάντι καὶ τιμαθέντα ὑπὸ Βοαρσᾶν | [Τει]σαγορείων κοινοῦ καὶ τιμαθέντα ὑπὸ τῶν συμμάχων πάντων || τῶν τασσομένων ὑπὸ τὸν δᾶμον δίς, καὶ τιμαθέντα ὑπὸ τᾶς πόλιος | τῶν Ἀστυπαλαιέων προξενίαι πολιτείαι χρυσέωι στεφάνωι εἰκόνι | χαλκέαι καὶ τιμαθέντα ὑπὸ τᾶς πόλιος τῶν Μιλησίων προξενίαι | πολιτείαι ἐπαίνωι χρυσέωι στεφάνωι εἰκόνι χαλκέαι καὶ τιμαθέντα | ὑπὸ τᾶς πόλιος τᾶς Ὑλλαριμέων προξενίαι πολιτείαι χρυσέωι στεφάνωι || εἰκόνι χαλκέαι καὶ τιμαθέντα ὑπὸ τᾶς πόλιος τᾶς Κυιτᾶν προξενίαι | [π]ολιτείαι χρυσέωι στεφάνωι εἰκόνι χαλκέαι, θεοῖς.

Photo of IRhodM 18 (from Maiuri).

Item added: March 11, 2015
Item modified: February 23, 2021
ID number: 14965
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=14965

Category: 4) Greek Islands, Aphrodite, Apollo, b) Neighbourhood group, b) Southeastern islands (off Caria and Cilicia), c) Deities or heroes, Column, d) 1st century BCE, d) Group with a deity in its name (e.g. Demetriasts), Dionysos, h) Groups of performers, athletes, or gladiators, Helios, i) Groups of soldiers, i) Images of monuments or buildings, Military person, Poseidon, Roma

Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

Honors by Apolloniasts and Others for a Naval Commander (ca. 84 BCE) ║ Rhodos on Rhodes - Southeastern islands

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