AIO 2893 Dossier on the association of the musical artists of the Dancer

Dossier on the association of the musical artists of the Dancer

AIO 2893 Date: ca. 140 AD

Face A (front)

Fragment ab

ὁ ἱερεὺς το̣ῦ Χορείου [ἐκ τεχνειτῶν καὶ ☙ ἱερεὺς τῆς] ὁμονο[ία]ς τῶν Ἑλ[λήνων ☙ Τιβ ∙ Κλ ∙ Ἄτταλος Ἀν]- [δ]ράγαθ[ος Σφ]ήττιος [- - - - - -] [. . .]κτη[. . .]του καὶ π[- - - - - -] (5)[. . .]λο[. . . ⁵ . .]σπο̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ρ̣[- - - - - -]

Fragment c

Document I (7)[- - - - - -]. .[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] vac. [- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] τοιούτων Ι̣[- - - - - -] (10)[- - - - - - τῆς σ]υνόδου ἤρτηται πρω[τεύων(?) - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]δον καί τινος τέχνης [- - - - - -] [- - - - - - Αὐτοκ]ρ̣άτωρ Καῖσαρ Τραιανὸς [Ἁδριανὸς Σεβαστὸς - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]χο̣ν̣ ο̣ἱ τὴ̣ν σύν[οδον - - - - - -]

Fragment de

Document II [☙ Αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ] θ̣εοῦ̣ Τ̣ρ̣αιανοῦ [Παρθικοῦ υἱὸς θεοῦ Νέρουα υἱωνὸς Τραιανὸς Ἁδρι]- (15)[ανὸς Σεβαστὸς ἀρχ]ιερεὺς μέγιστος [δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ . ὕπατος τὸ Γ πατὴρ πα]- [τρίδος συνόδῳ τῶν] π̣ερὶ τὸν Χο[ρ]εῖον τ̣[εχνειτῶν μουσικῶν ^vv χαίρειν ^vv - - - - - -] [- - - - - - ὁ]π̣οία ἡ πομπὴ ἔστα̣[ι - - - - - -] [- - - - - -] δέησθε ἔργῳ βεβα[ι- - - - - - -] [εὐτυχεῖτε. (Document III) ☙ Αὐτο]κράτωρ Καῖσαρ θε[οῦ Τραιανοῦ Παρθικοῦ υἱὸς θεοῦ Νέρουα υἱωνὸς Τραια]- (20)[νὸς Ἁδριανὸς Σεβαστ]ὸς ἀρχιερεὺς μέγισ[τος δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ . ὕπατος τὸ Γ πατὴρ] [πατρίδος συνόδῳ τῶν π]ερὶ τὸν Χορεῖον τ[εχνειτῶν μουσικῶν ^vv χαίρειν ^vv - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ΩΤΩ αὐτοῦ ΦΗΣ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - - - - - - - -] [- - - - - - σ]υνο̣[δ - - - - - -] (25)[- - - - - -]ΠΑΤ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ΝΕΠ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - - το]ῦ̣ χορ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] εστι Μ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - - εὐτυχεῖτε. (Document IV) ☙ Αὐτ]οκράτω[ρ Καῖσαρ θεοῦ Τραιανοῦ Παρθικοῦ υἱὸς θεοῦ Νέρουα υἱωνὸς] (30)[Τραιανὸς Ἁδριανὸς Σεβασ]τ̣ὸς ἀρχιερ̣[εὺς μέγιστος δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ . ὕπατος τὸ ] [τρίτον πατὴρ πατρ]ί̣δος συνόδῳ τῶν̣ [περὶ τὸν Χορεῖον τεχνειτῶν μουσικῶν ^vv χαίρειν] [- - - - - -]σθη ὁ λόγος καὶ ωσ̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] περιμενο̣ν̣τ̣α̣ [- - - - - -]

Fragment fgh

Document V [- - - - - -]Ξ̣[- - - - - -] (35)[- - - - - - συνόδῳ τῶν περὶ τὸν Χορεῖον τεχ]νειτῶν μο[υσικῶν - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ην Κέλσου περ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]π̣εν ὑμῖν τῆς ἐπιστ̣[ολῆς - - - - - -] [- - - - - -] Αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσα̣[ρ - - - - - -] [- - - - - - ἐ]νταῦθα γραφῆναι ἐξ[- - - - - -] (40)[- - - - - -]π̣α ἐν αὐτῷ εἰ δέ τι Λ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]α πράξει δικαίως Ι̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - - εὐτυχεῖτε. (Document VI) ☙ Αὐτοκράτω]ρ Καῖσαρ θεοῦ Τραιαν[οῦ Παρθικοῦ υἱὸς] [Τραιανὸς Ἁδριανὸς Σεβαστὸς ἀρχιερεὺς μέγ]ιστος δημαρχικῆ[ς ἐξουσίας τὸ .. ὕπατος] [τὸ Γ πατὴρ πατρίδος συνόδῳ τῶν περὶ] τὸν Χορεῖον τεχνει[τῶν μουσικῶν ^vv χαίρειν ^vv ] (45)[. . . . . . . ¹⁴ . . . . . . . ?Κλαύδιος Ἄτταλο]ς ὁ κράτιστος φίλ̣ο̣ς μο̣[υ - - - - - -] [π]α̣τ̣ρ[. . . . . . . . . . . ²² . . . . . . . . . . .]α ποτὲ ἐν τῇ πατρίδι ἀν[- - - - - -] καὶ τὰ [. . . . . . . . . . . . ²⁴ . . . . . . . . . . . . ἡ]γεμόνων μετέσ̣τω[- - - - - -] τοῖς [.]β̣ουλ[. . . . . . . . . . . ²¹ . . . . . . . . . .] εὐτυχεῖτε. (Document VII) ☙ Αὐτοκ[ράτωρ Καῖσαρ] θεοῦ [Τ]ραια[νοῦ Παρθικοῦ υἱὸς Τραιαν]ὸς Ἁδριανὸς Σεβαστὸ̣[ς ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος] (50)δημ[αρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ . ὕπατος] τὸ Γ πατὴρ πα̣τρίδ̣[ος συνόδῳ τῶν περὶ] τὸν̣ [Χο]ρεῖ[ον τεχνειτῶν μουσικῶν ^vv χαίρειν ^vv - - - - - -] ἱεροφαν[τ]ην [- - - - - - ^vv εὐτυχεῖτε. (Document VIII) ☙ Αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ θεοῦ Τραια]-- νοῦ Παρθ[ι]κοῦ [υἱὸς Τραιανὸς Ἁδριανὸς Σεβαστὸς ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος δημαρχικῆς] ἐξουσία[ς] τ̣ὸ ΚΑ [ὕπατος τὸ Γ πατὴρ (136/7 p.) πατρίδος συνόδῳ τῶν περὶ τὸν Χορεῖον] (55)τεχν̣ειτ̣ῶ̣ν μ[ουσικῶν ^vv χαίρειν ^vv - - - - - -] ἀνδρῶν [κ]αὶ τὰ [- - - - - -] τὴν γεν[έθ]λιο[ν - - - - - -] παρασκ[ευ- - - - - - -] Document IX ☙ Αὐτοκ[ράτωρ Καῖσαρ θεοῦ Τραιανοῦ Παρθικοῦ υἱὸς Τραιανὸς Ἁδριανὸς Σεβαστὸς] (60)[ἀ]ρ̣[χιερεὺς μέγιστος δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ .. ὕπατος τὸ Γ πατὴρ πατρίδος συνόδῳ ] [τῶν περὶ τὸν Χορεῖον τεχνειτῶν μουσικῶν ^vv χαίρειν ^vv - - - - - -]

Fragment i

(1)[- - - - - -]Ο̣Σ̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ΟΣΤ[- - - - - -]Ι̣Ο̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]Ε̣ΣΤΗ̣Θ̣[- - - - - -]νου[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]Λ̣[- - - - - -]ΤΣ̣[- - - - - -] (5)[- - - - - -]ΣΘΕΤ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ΕΜ[.]Ε[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ΠΑ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ΗΣ[- - - - - -]

Face B (back)

Fragment ab

[ὁ ἐκ τεχνειτῶν ἱερεὺς τοῦ Χορεί]ου ☙ ἱε[ρεὺ]ς̣ τ̣ῆ̣ς̣ [ὁμονοίας τῶν Ἑλλήνων ☙ Τιβ ∙] Κλ ∙ Ἄτταλος [Ἀν]- [δράγαθος Σφήττιος - - - - - -]ΓΩ τοῖς περὶ τὸν [Χορεῖον καὶ τὸν θεὸν Ἁδριανὸν μουσι]κ̣οῖς τεχν̣ε̣ίταις (5)[- - - - - -]ι̣ας vac. Document X [- - - - - -]Α̣Ι̣Σ̣[- - - - - -]ων [- - - - - - - - -]ος

Fragment c

Document XI (8)[- - - - - -]ΙΜΙΣ̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]οιτο καὶ ὑμε̣ῖν αυ̣τ̣[- - - - - -] (10)[- - - - - -]τῷ μὴ προσποίητον τ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] ὁ αὐτὸς δὲ ἄλλα γεινώσκ[ω - - - - - -] Document XII [- - - - - - μου]σικοῖς τεχνείταις ^vv χαίρε[ιν - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ιστα ἐπρέσβευσεν Σαλ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]Ο̣Σ̣ΙΟ̣Τ̣Ι[- - - - - -]

Fragment de

Document XIII (15)[- - - - - - θεὸν Ἁδρι]α̣νὸν καὶ Αὐτ̣ο̣κρά[τ]ορ̣[α Τίτον Αἴλιον Ἀντωνῖνον Εὐσεβῆ] Document XIV [- - - - - -]τάτοις ^vv χαίρειν ^vv εισ̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - - τηλ]ικούτων· ἣν ἂν οὖν ἐθεμ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - - ο]ὕτως αἰσχρὰ καὶ ἀνάξια κα[ὶ - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]νας μισθοῦ καὶ ἔγωγε οὐκ ἂ[ν - - - - - -] (20)[- - - - - -] γ̣ένοιτο ὁ δημοσίᾳ τοιουτ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] διαβο⟨λ⟩ὴν ἡ σύνοδος λαμ[βαν- - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]νων οὖν τὰ ἡμῖν τῆς συν̣[όδου - - - - - -] [- - - - - -] ἐπ̣αινέσεται ὑμᾶς καὶ συμπ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - - ἐρρῶσθα]ι̣ εὔχομαι. vac. (Document XV) παρὰ Ἀτ[τάλου - - - - - -] (25)[- - - - - -]μην φέρουσαν πολλὴν [- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]Α̣Ρ πρὸς τὸν ἀδικεῖν [- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] κ[α]λ̣ὸν μὲν οὖν [- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ΛΗΓ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]Ν̣ δὲ ἅπαξ το̣[- - - - - -] (30)[- - - - - - ?γρά]ψαντα ὑμᾶς ε̣ι̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]αι ἄξιον ἃ ἅλωντο̣ [- - - - - -] [- - - - - - ξ]όανον· ἐγὼ δ’ ὁ στρ[ατηγὸς? - - - - - -] [- - - - - - δο]κεῖ δ’ ἐμοὶ πονηρὸ[ν - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]σας καὶ τὰς ἑορτὰς ειτ[- - - - - -] (35)[- - - - - -]θε ὑμ⟨ε⟩ῖς ^v καὶ γὰρ τὸ μ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]τ̣ῆς παρούσης διαιτῆ̣[ς - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ειδην ἐμαυτοῦ κρα[τιστ- - - - - - -] [- - - - - -] πολλάκις ἄλλοις με[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] μὲν τούτοις ἑαυτοὺς̣ [- - - - - -] (40)[- - - - - - στρατηγ- ἐπὶ] τὰ ὅπλα μετὰ ταύτη[ν - - - - - -] [- - - - - - πεπ]οίηκά τε μακρότερο̣[ν - - - - - -] [- - - - - -] ἕ̣τε̣ρον χορὸ̣[ν - - - - - -]

Fragment fgh

Document XVI (43)[- - - - - - μὲ]ν οὖν ἐπεὶ̣ [- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]εις γινόμενοι καὶ̣ [- - - - - -] (45)[- - - - - -]Ε τῷ καλῶς ἔχοντι και̣[ρῷ - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]Ν ^v τὸ μὲν οὖν πρέπον ἐνκώ[μιον - - - - - -] [- - - - - - τοῖς εὐ]φρονοῦσιν πᾶς καιρὸς εὐ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]νου τοῖς ἁρμονίαν τε καὶ συ[μφωνίαν - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ων οὐδ’ ἂν Ἄτταλός μοι δ[οκεῖ? - - - - - -] (50)[- - - - - -]αι τῶν δικαίων ἀκριβεῖς Π[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ον ἐξενηνόχατε Μουσῶ[ν - - - - - -] [- - - - - -] πατρίδι πάντα μὲν μέλη Λ̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - - πολ]λῶν μὲν δειθυράμβ̣[ων - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ο̣ς ἄξιον νομίσαντες [- - - - - -] (55)[- - - - - -]ων καὶ πονηρῶν Κ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]αι πανταχοῦ ταὐτὸ [- - - - - -] [- - - - - - εὐερ]γέτην θεὸν Ἁδρια[νὸν - - - - - -] Document XVII [- - - - - - μουσικ]οῖς τεχνείταις ^vv [χαίρειν - - - - - -] [- - - - - - τ]ὴν τοῦ ἱερέως ΗΠ[- - - - - -]Ι̣Ο̣[- - - - - - - - -] (60)[- - - - - - Ἄτ]ταλον δὲ ἐπαινεῖ μ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]αμεν καὶ παραχρῆ[μα - - - - - -]Ε̣Ω̣Ο̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] τὸν νοῦν πρόθυ[μον - - - - - -] κ̣α̣ι̣ [- - - - - -]α̣του καὶ κορ̣υ̣φ[- - - - - -]Σ [- - - - - -] vac.

Fragment i

(1)[- - - - - -]ΟΜ̣[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]Ι̣ δίκης ἄ̣[ξι]ον ἀλλὰ Σ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]νοι π[ά]ντας δὲ ῥυθμοὺ[ς - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ατων τὸ τὴν γνώμην [- - - - - -] (5)[- - - - - - ?στή]λ̣ην παρ’ ἑνὸς ὑμῶν τόσα[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] καὶ ἀποπομπὴν ἐκ τῆ[ς - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]Υ νῦν̣ π̣ρῶτον ὤφθ̣η vac. [- - - - - -] [- - - - - -] Τίτον Αἴλιον [Ἁ]δριανὸν Ἀ[ντωνῖνον Σεβαστὸν Εὐσεβῆ] [- - - - - -]ν̣τες φαίνεσθε̣ οἷς Κλα[ύδιος Ἄτταλος - - - - - -] (10)[- - - - - -]τ̣ος τὸν ὀρθότ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - - το]ὺ̣ς̣ ΜΕ̣[.]ΤΟ[- - - - - -] [- - - - - -]ε̣ν ὑμ[ῖν - - - - - -] [- - - - - -]Σ[- - - - - -]

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Translated text

References:

AIO 2893 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG II² 1105 (PHI)

IG II² 4795 (PHI)

SEG 30.86 (PHI)

SEG 21.507

Oliver, Constitutions 98-104

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Stele (inscribed on both sides)

Inscription type: Letter (emperor)

Fr. a - Findspot: Unknown (EM 3942)
Fr. b - Findspot: Unknown (EM 396)
Fr. c - Findspot: Athens, St. Demetrios (EM 8390)
Fr. d - Findspot: Unknown (EM 8391)
Fr. e - Findspot: Agora (EM 13350 = Ag. I 397)
Fr. f - Findspot: Unknown (EM 8389)
Fr. g - Findspot: Acropolis (EM 8388)
Fr. h - Findspot: Unknown (EM 3277)
Fr. i - Findspot: Unknown (EM 4649)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Textual note: AIO follows the text of D. Geagan, TAPA 103 (1972), 133-160 (= SEG 30.86) for Face B, and the text of Oliver Constitutions for Face A, who adds fragment h at ll. 52-54 (supplying the specific date for Document VIII) and restores the Imperial title πατὴρ πατρίδος ("father of the fatherland") in ll. 15-16, 20-21, which probably indicates a date after 128 AD. Follet plausibly identifies Face B of Fragment i as part of Documents XIII and XIV, but without specifically locating the fragment relative to Fragment de (BCH 143, 2019).

This fragmentary dossier of letters deals with a dispute regarding the "association of the musical artists of the Dancer." It was inscribed on both sides of a stele by Tiberius Claudius Attalos Andragathos, priest of "the Dancer" (see below). Face A contains at least nine letters mostly from Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 AD). Hadrian's titulature shows that these letters were all written after 128 AD and Document VIII can be dated precisely to 137 AD (see n. 2). On the relationship between Hadrian and Athens generally, see IG II² 5185 with notes. Face B includes up to seven documents from the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD, see n. 4). The lettering of the two sides is different, showing that they were inscribed at different times.

An inscribed theatre seat (IG II³ 4, 1901) states that "the Dancer" was Antinoos, the young lover of Hadrian, who was deified throughout the Roman Empire after he drowned in Egypt in 130 AD. The name identifies Antinoos with Dionysos, for whom “the Dancer” was a literary epithet (Plut. Tab. Talk 5.6). This association of the Dancer seems similar to the Artists of Dionysos (on whom, see IG II² 1320 and AIUK 4.3A (BM Decrees) 9, with notes), but must be distinct, since the latter appears in another letter from Hadrian from the same period as these letters (SEG 33.139). It plays a role in the organisation of a festival which includes processions (A l. 17), choruses (B, l. 42), and performance of dithyrambs (B, ll. 50-53). The use of future tense in A, l. 17 suggests that the festival was still being established. The association also maintains a cult statue (B, l. 32), has some connection with the Eleusinian cult (A, l. 52) and celebrates a birthday (A, l. 57, see note 3). Perhaps all of these activities are part of the Athenian cult of Antinoos. Worship of Antinoos was also connected with the Eleusinian cult and the ephebes, who celebrated festivals in his honour in the city of Athens and at Eleusis (cf. IG II³ 4, 566, AIUK 11 (Ashmolean), 10, cf. R. R. R. Smith, Antinous: Boy made God 2018).

The inscriber, Attalos Andragathos, was originally from Synnada in Phrygia, but spent many years in Athens, where he played a central role in securing membership in the Panhellenion for his hometown (cf. Sardes et Synnada 2 with notes). He received Athenian citizenship and was archon in 140/1 AD (Byrne, Roman Citizens of Athens 2003, 508). His priesthood of the Harmony of the Greeks was perhaps based at Plataia (Geagan TAPA 103, 1972, 156-160, cf. IG II² 1352; SEG 28.364). He seems to have been central to the dispute discussed in the dossier (cf. A, ll. 42-48; B, ll. 49, 60). [2] Most of the documents on Face A are letters from Hadrian, some very short, marked off from one another by a small carved leaf. Document I (ll. 7-13) is authored by someone else – perhaps it recorded the decision of the association to inscribe the dossier – and Document V (ll. 34-42) must be from an imperial official, probably a governor, since it refers to the emperor in the third person. There seem to be two key themes: the arrangement of the new festival(s) administered by the association and a dispute. In Document V, this dispute is forwarded to someone, who will act justly (Hadrian?). In Document VI, Hadrian strongly confirms Attalos Andragathos' pre-eminent position within the association (A, ll. 42-48), suggesting that his role in the association was at the heart of the dispute (cf. B, ll. 49, 60). This might be related to IG II² 1348, a letter from Hadrian or Antoninus Pius to the artists of Dionysos dealing with a dispute regarding the Eleusinia and Hadrianeia festivals [3] Commemoration of the Emperor's birthday or the anniversary of his accession was a common feature of Imperial cult (cf. Agora XVI 336 and Agora XV 460), but in this case it might be the birthday of Antinoos rather than Hadrian. [4] Face B, which was not inscribed at the same time as Face A, records a continuation of the dispute or a new dispute after Hadrian's death. Document XIII reports a successful embassy by one Sal-, perhaps to request imperial intervention (ll. 12-16). Document XIV laid out the association's complaint in forceful terms (ll. 16-24). Document XV presents Attalos Andragathos' testimony, perhaps while serving as hoplite general (ll. 24-42). In Document XVI, Andragathos is mentioned in the third person and the tone is very positive, so this might be a judgement in favour of him (ll. 43-57), while Document XVII praises Andragathos personally (ll. 58-63, cf. the praise of Herodes Atticus at the end of a later judgement by Marcus Aurelius in SEG 29.127, ll. 87-94).

Added: 17 Aug 2024
Updated: 17 Aug 2024
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ID: AIO_2893