Honors for a Priestess of Men by the Ritual-purifiers (159 CE)

Saittai area (Lydia, Asia Minor — Pleiades map), 159/160 CE
TAM V 490 = PHI 263913 = AGRW ID# 975
Copenhagen Inventory info: 355

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Oblong stone of marble (28 x 62 x 38 cm), found in 1962 and transported to the museum in Manisa. The kataloustikoi, who are also attested in TAM V 351, were an association who named themselves after their concern for ritual purification (from καταλούειν, to bathe or purify) in connection with the cult of the god Men.

The ritual-purifiers (kataloustikoi) honored Tatia Bassa daughter of Hermokrates, the priestess of Men Axiottenos (i.e. Men of Axiotta), because of her piety and service for the gods and her loving-goodness towards all people, having given back to the god without seeking gain her entire life for the sake of her people. This was set up in the 244th year (of the Sullen era) on the 12th of the month of Gorpiaios, when Philoxenos II the secretary (grammateus) was supervising (epimelēsamenou). The ritual-purifiers had the honor made from their own resources while she was alive.

Translation by: Harland

Τατιαν Ἑρμοκράτους Βάσσαν ἱέρειαν Μηνὸ[ς Ἀξι]|οττηνοῦ οἱ καταλουστικοὶ ἐτείμησαν διά τε τὴν ἰς [τοὺς] | θεοὺς εὐσέβειαν καὶ θρησκείαν καὶ τὴν πρὸς π[άντας] | ἀνθρώπους φιλοκἀγαθίαν, ἀναστραφεῖσαν ἐπὶ τῷ θε||ῷ ἀφιλοκέρδως παντὶ τῷ βίῳ διὰ γένους. ἀνεστάθη | δὲ ἔτους σμδ', μη(νὸς) Γορπιαίου βι', ἐπιμελησαμένου | Φιλοξένου βʹ γραμματέως, ζώσης ποιήσαν|τες τὴν τειμὴν οἱ καταλουστικοὶ | ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων.

Item added: November 30, 2011
Item modified: October 9, 2020
ID number: 975
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=975

Category: Cultic functionary (priest or priestess), d) Lydia, f) 2nd century CE, Honorary inscription, Men, Purifications

Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

Honors for a Priestess of Men by the Ritual-purifiers (159 CE) ║ Saittai area - Lydia

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