Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

Honors (frag.) by a Synod of Egyptian Immigrants for Benefactors (200-166 BCE) Delos - Southwestern islands


Delos (Southwestern islands, Aegean Islands — Pleiades map), 200-166 BCE
IDelos 1521 = RICIS 202/0419 = PHI 63957 = AGRW ID# 21065
Copenhagen Inventory info: 895


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Seven fragments of a slab of white marble (totally 47 x 35.5 cm; letter height: 5 cm). In the Delos Museum in 1937 (inv. Δ 452). The reference to the (Egyptian) month of Mecheir clearly suggests that this association consisted of immigrants from Egypt, who here continue to maintain contacts with the homeland.

. . . This was dedicated to Sarapis, Isis, Anubis, (?) . . . and Apollo . . . (missing lines naming two different benefactors) . . . he behaved in a pleasing way and gave still more in the same pious manner and, at the same time, established a generous example for other foreigners to follow.  Because he behaves in a good manner and is just, he has a share in suitable honors.

To good fortune.  It was resolved to praise both of them and crown each of them individually with a gold crown and a bronze image, and to set these up wherever they choose.  It was also resolved to admit them (as members) into the synod (synodos)–with the exception of the regular meeting–giving them a couch of honor (at the banquet).  Both of them are to be free of service from every type of service (leitourgiai) and to be crowned along with a public proclamation at each meeting for drinks in the association (koinon).  Furthermore, an anniversary day is to be celebrated on the 18th of Mecheir, for which 50 silver coins from the common fund are to be provided for overseeing the sacred rites.  A copy of this decree is to be sent to the homeland and to the league (koinon) . . . . of our citizens and set up publicly so that others who sail by and see the everlasting honor that is granted to good men might become emulators of them and they may also be much more eager to increase the importance of the temple (hieron); and, so that the eagerness of the synod to exchange favors is made known.  The expense for the crowns and the images is to be drawn from the common funds.

Translation by: Harland



[— — — Σαράπιδι,] | [Εἴσιδι, Ἀνούβι]δι καὶ Ἀπό[λλωνι] | [— —]ς̣ ὑ̣π̣ά̣ρ̣χ̣ω̣ν ․․ | [— — — ε]ὐφημίαν καὶ | [․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․ ․] προε̣[κλ]ήθη καὶ αὐτὸς || [χαρί]σ̣ασθαι κα[ὶ ἐ]πιδοῦναι κατὰ | τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον ε̣ὐ̣σεβὲς ἅμα καὶ με|γαλόψυχον ὑπόδειγμα καὶ τοῖς ἄλ|λοις τοῖς ἐπ’ ἀλλοδημίας καταβαλ|λόμενος· διὸ καλῶς ἔχον ἐστὶν κ[αὶ] || δίκαιον μεταλαβεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν τῶι | μέρει τῶν ἁρμοζουσῶν τιμῶν· vac. | ἀγαθῆι τύχηι· δεδόχθαι ἐπαινέσαι τε | ἀμφοτέρους αὐτοὺς καὶ στεφανῶ|σαι ἑκάτερον αὐτῶν χρυσῶι στεφάνω<ι> || καὶ εἰκόνι χαλκῆ<ι> κα[ὶ] ἀναθεῖναι οὗ ἂν προ|[α]ιρῶνται· προσλάβεσθαί τε αὐτοὺς εἰς | τὴν σύνοδον ἄνευ τοῦ καθήκοντος εἰσο|δίου, κλισίαν ἔχ[ον]τας ἔντιμον, ἀλειτουρ|[γήτ]ους ὄντας πάσης λειτουργίας καὶ καθ’ ἑ||κάστην πόσιν στεφανοῦσθαι ἀμφοτέρους | ἐν τῶι κοινῶι μετὰ ἀναγορεύσεως· ἄγεσθαι | δὲ αὐτῶν κατ’ ἐνιαυτὸν ἡμέραν τὴν <ι>ηʹ τοῦ Με|χεὶρ εἰς ἣν καὶ δίδοσθαι ἱεροποικ[ὸν] ἐκ τοῦ κ[οι]|νοῦ ἀργυρίου νʹ· π[ε]μφθῆ[ναι δὲ τοῦ ψηφίσμα]||τος τούτου τὸ ἀντίγρ̣[αφον καὶ εἰς τὴν πατρί]|δα καὶ τῶι κοινῶι τῶι [ἐν — — — τῶν ἡμε]|τέρων πολιτῶν καὶ αὐτὸ [ἀναγραφῆναι ὅπως οἱ] | λοιποὶ θεωροῦντες τὴν μ̣[ερι]ζομένην ἀείμνη|στον τιμὴν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς ἀνδράσιν ζηλωταὶ || τῶν παραπλη̣[σί]ω̣ν γίνωνται καὶ αὐτοὶ δὲ | πολὺ προθ[υμ]ότερον ἐπαύξωσιν τὸ ἱερόν, | γνωρ[ίσαντε]ς τὴν τῆς συνόδου σπουδὴν πρὸς | [ἀντάμ]ε̣ι̣ψιν χάριτος· τὸ δὲ ἐσόμενον εἰς τοὺς | [στεφά]νους καὶ τὰς εἰκόνας ἀνήλωμα δοθῆ||[ναι ἐ]κ τῶν κοινῶν χρημάτων.

Item added: January 3, 2016
Item modified: November 14, 2020
ID number: 21065
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=21065

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