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 Alkibiades the Founder of a “Collegium” of Nysaians at Rome (ca. 142 CE) Nysa - Caria


Nysa (Caria, Asia Minor — Pleiades map), ca. 142 CE
INysaMcCabe 2 = M. Clerc, "Inscription de Nysa," BCH 9 (1885) 124-31 = SEG 4 (1929), no. 418 = PHI 261504 = AGRW ID# 13024


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Rectangular block of white marble (photo below). Now in the archaeological museum at Izmir (Smyrna). IEph 22 (honors for Alkibiades by Dionysiac performers) is on the other side of this same stone.

After Tiberius Claudius Sakerdotos made the announcement and Publius Aelius Hermodoros put it to the vote, it was resolved by the Council and the People of Nysaians on the motion of the commanders (stratēgoi) and secretary of the People, Titus Aelius Ploution:  Whereas Titus Aelius Alkibiades is (10) the most affectionate citizen ever because of all his favours and he is a virtuous man who always eagerly contributes more with respect to the homeland and love of honor.  Even competing with himself, his subsequent contributions exceeded the earlier ones.  The irresistable desire of the People for him (20) did not measure up to his own generosity as he provided favours and gifts–one upon another–in making distributions to each individual person, to everyone together, and to institutions of the People by tribes (phylai), councils (synedria), and divisions (symmoriai).  In this way, every assembly (ekklēsia), every Council, and every gathering experienced some aspect of Alkibiades’ great ambition and gift-giving.  Regarding (30) the remainder of his achievements, if someone tried to relate them in detail, an entire lifetime would not be sufficient.  Even still, he searched for new benefactions in relation to his homeland, organizing (systēsamenos) a so-called “collegium” (kollēgion) consisting of his fellow citizens (of Nysa) in the royal city of the Romans and dedicating communal properties.  Many (40) great honors were established by him in order that a certain “colony,” so to speak, might not be a stranger to our People and might also continue to belong in the country of the Romans rather than be foreign there.  He presented the city (of Nysa) with an eternal crown, since none of the indebted citizens may find it possible to repay (?) this foundation.  Likewise we may have never-ending (50) public service covered by the funds which were established by this and the citizens. . . (remainder lost).

Translation by: Harland



[ἐπα]γγείλαντος Τιβερίου | [Κ]λαυδίου Σακέρδωτος ἐπ|[ιψη]φισαμένου δὲ Ποπλίου | [Α]ἰλίου Ἑρμοδώρου, ἔδοξε || Νυσαέων τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ | δήμωι, στρατηγῶν γνώμη | καὶ γραμματέως τοῦ δήμου | Τίτου Αἰλίου Πλουτίωνος· | ἐπεὶ Τίτος Αἴλιος Ἀλκιβιάδη[ς] || ὁ φιλοστοργότατος πολεί|[τη]ς τῶν ἐκ παλαιοτάτου γε[γε]|[νη]μένων ἀνθρώπων πάντα [διὰ] | [χαρί]των ἄριστος ἀεί τι τῇ π[ε]|[ρὶ τ]ὴν πατρίδα σπουδῇ καὶ [φι]||[λο]τειμίᾳ προστίθησι καὶ κ[αί]|[π]ερ αὐτὸς πρὸς [ἑ]αυτὸν ἀ[γωνι]|ζόμενος τοῖς δευτέροις ὑπε[ρ]|βάλλει τὰ [πρό]τερα καὶ τὴν τοῦ | [δ]ήμου προθυμίαν εἰς αὐτὸν [ἀ]||νανταγώνιστον οὖσαν ἐλά[σσω] | τῆς αὐτοῦ μεγαλοψυχίας ἀ[πο]|δείκνυσιν ἄλλας ἐπ’ ἄλλαις [χά]|[ρ]ιτας καὶ δωρεὰς ἰδίᾳ τε ἑκάστο[ις] | [κ]αὶ δημοσίᾳ κατὰ φυλὰς καὶ συ[ν]||έδρια καὶ συμμορίας διανέμων | [ὡ]ς πᾶσαν μὲν ἐκκλησίαν, πᾶ|[σ]αν δὲ βουλήν, πάντα δὲ συναθ[ροισ]|[μὸ]ν̣ ἔχειν τι φιλοτείμημα μέγα | καὶ δῶρον Ἀλκιβιάδου· πρὸς δὲ || τοῖς ἄλλοις ἅπασιν ὧν εἰ καθ’ ἓ[ν] | ἕκαστον ἐπιχειροίη τις διεξε[λ]|θεῖν, οὐκ ἂν ὁ σύμπας αὐτῷ βίος | ἀρκέσειεν, ἔτι καὶ ταύτας ἐ[ξεῦ]|ρεν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα καινὰς εὐ[ερ]||γεσίας τό τε κολλήγιον καλούμε|νον ἐκ τῶν αὐτοῦ πολειτῶν ἐν τῇ | βασιλευούσῃ Ῥωμαίων πόλει συ|στησάμενος καὶ χρήματα κοινὰ | παρ’ αὑτοῦ καθιερώσας καὶ πολλὰς || καὶ μεγάλας ἐπ’ αὐτῷ τειμὰς κατα|[σ]τησάμενος ἵν’ ὥσπερ ἀποικία | τις ᾖ δῆμος ἡμέτερος οὐ ξένος | οὐδὲ ἀλλότριος ἀλλὰ ἐγχώριος πα|ρὰ Ῥωμαίοις διατελῇ, καὶ τῇ πόλει || τὴν στεφανηφορίαν ἀθάνατον πα|ρασχών, ὅταν μηδεὶς̣ τῶν πολειτῶν | τῶν ὀφειλόντων τὴν ἀρχὴν ταύτην | ἀναδέχεσθαι δυνατὸς εὑρεθῆι, | ὅμου μὲν ἄπαυστον ἔχωμεν τὴν || λειτουργίαν ἐκ τῶν παρὰ τούτου | [κ]αθιερωμένων εἰς αὐτὴν χρη[μά]|[των,] ὅμου δὲ καὶ τοῖς πολείτ[αις] | [—]

Honours for Aelius Alcibiades by Nysa, now in the Izmir Museum.  AGRW 184 (= IEph 22) is on the other side of this monument (photo by Harland).

Honours for Aelius Alkibiades by Nysa, now in the Izmir Museum. AGRW 184 = IEph 22 is on the other side of this monument (photo by Harland).

Item added: December 15, 2015
Item modified: December 15, 2015
ID number: 13024
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=13024

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