Honors by Sacrificing Associates of Aphrodite for their Supervisor (138/137 BCE)

Athens (Attica, Greece and Macedonia — Pleiades map), 138/7 BCE
GRA I 39 = AM 66 (1941) 228 (no. 4) = PHI 236282 = AGRW ID# 3940
Copenhagen Inventory info: 228

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Three fragments of marble stele restored (82 x 54-42.5 x 12-13 cm; letter height: 0.5-0.7 cm). A large figure on the right, partially preserved, is probably Aphrodite, with a sceptre resting on her shoulder. Two smaller figures face her to the left, probably Sarapion and either his wife or a priestess. Between the two figures on the left and Aphrodite is an altar.

For good fortune. In the year that Timarchos was leader (archon), the month of Thargelion at the regular assembly, the following was approved by the sacrificing associates (orgeōnes). Whereas Sarapion son of Poseidonion of Herakleia, who was appointed as supervisor in the year that Diokles was leader (archon), has both sacrificed the customary sacrifices to the gods in the temple and has obtained good omens on behalf of the association of sacrificing associates, on behalf of the children and women and on behalf of the Athenian People. And whereas he took care of the sacrificing associates in a generous and honorable fashion throughout the entire year, he performed services for the gods at his own expense, and he plastered both the pedestals which stand in the temple and the men’s bathhouse. Persevering in his oversight, he contributed to the sacrificing associates in a generous and honorable fashion, considering most significant piety towards the gods and zeal towards the sacrificing associates. In order that the sacrificing associates be seen to be honoring those who give benefactions to the gods and themselves, the sacrificing associates have agreed to commend Sarapion son of Poseidonios of Herakleia, and to crown him with an olive wreath and a woolen fillet — in accord with ancestral custom — on account of the piety that he has shown to the gods. Furthermore, they have agreed that the secretary and the supervisor shall announce the crowning along with the other honors following the libations in the temple. If they should fail to make the announcement or to crown him, they will be fined fifty drachmas sacred to Aphrodite. This decree shall be inscribed on a monument (stele) and erected in the temple.

Translation by: Kloppenborg

[ἀγ]αθεῖ τύχει. ἐπὶ Τιμάρχου ἄρχοντος, Θαργηλιῶνος ἀγορᾶι κυρ[ίαι]. | [ἔ]δοξεν τοῖς ὀργεῶσιν· ἐπειδὴ Σεραπίων Ποσειδωνίου Ἡρακλεώτ[ης] | ἐπιμελητὴς κατασταθεὶς εἰς τὸν ἐπὶ Διοκλέους ἄρχοντος ἐνιαυτ[ὸν] | τάς τε θυσίας ἔθυσεν τοῖς θεοῖς τὰς καθηκούσας ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι καὶ [ἐ]||καλλιέρησεν ὑπέρ τε τοῦ κοινοῦ τῶν ὀργεώνων καὶ παίδων καὶ γ[υναι]|κῶν καὶ τοῦ δήμου τοῦ Ἀθηναίων, ἐπεμελήθη δὲ καὶ ὀργε[ώνων] | καλῶς καὶ εὐσχημόνως ἐν ὅλωι τῶι ἐνιαυτῶι, ἐθεράπευσεν [δὲ καὶ τοὺς] | θεοὺς ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων, ἐκονίασεν δὲ καὶ τὰ βάθρα τὰ ἐν τῶι ἱε[ρῶι σταθέντα] | καὶ τὸν λουτρῶνα τὸν ἀνδρεῖον, ὑπομείνας δὲ καὶ πᾶσα[ν τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν] || ἐπέδωκεν τοῖς ὀργεῶσιν καλῶς καὶ εὐσχημόνω[ς περὶ πλείστου ποι]|ούμενος τὴν εἰς τοὺς θεοὺς εὐσέβειαν καὶ τὴ[ν πρὸς τοὺς ὀργεῶνας] | φιλοτιμίαν· ἵνα οὖν καὶ οἱ ὀργεῶνες φαίνωντ[αι τιμῶντες τοὺς πρός τε] | θεοὺς φιλοτιμουμένους καὶ εἰς ἑαυτούς· [δεδόχθαι τοῖς ὀργεῶσιν ἐπαινέσαι Σεραπίωνα] | Ποσειδωνίου Ἡρακλεώτην καὶ στεφανῶ[σαι αὐτὸν θαλλοῦ στεφά]||νωι καὶ λημνίσκωι ὧι πάτριόν ἐστιν εὐσε[βείας ἕνεκεν τῆς πρὸς τοὺς] | θεοὺς καὶ ἀναγορεύειν καὶ τοῦτον τ[ὸν στέφανον τὸν γραμμα]|τέα καὶ τὸν ἐπιμελητὴν καθάπερ καὶ [τοὺς ἄλλους μετὰ τὰς σπονδὰς] | ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι, ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀναγορεύσω[σιν ἢ μὴ στεφανώσωσιν, ἀποτεῖσαι] | [δρ]α[χμ]ὰς ἱερὰς τῆι Ἀφροδίτε[ι, ἀναγράψαι δὲ τόδε τὸ ψήφισμα] || [εἰς στήλη]ν λιθίνην κα[ὶ] στ[ῆσαι ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι].

Item added: October 27, 2012
Item modified: April 2, 2020
ID number: 3940
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=3940

Category: a) Attica, Aphrodite, c) 2nd century BCE, Honorary inscription, Member (or leader) of the group, Sacrifices / meals

Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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Honors by Sacrificing Associates of Aphrodite for their Supervisor (138/137 BCE) ║ Athens - Attica

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