AIUK45 no. 1 Dedication commemorating a priesthood of Pandion

Dedication commemorating a priesthood of Pandion

AIUK 4.5 (BM, Dedications) no. 1 Date: ca. 360-325 BC

The priest of Pandion Antisthenes^[1] son of Antiphates of Kytherros dedicated (this). The tribesmen.

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Greek text

References:

AIUK 4.5 (BM, Dedications) no. 1 (Translated text) (AIUK) (AIO)

IG II² 2828 (PHI)

IG II³ 4 230 (IG Online)

GIBM I 51

Davies, APF pp. 38-39

Translation by: Peter Liddel, Julian Schneider, Polly Low

AIO Images: 1

Monument type: Plaque

Inscription type: Dedication (priest of Pandion)

Original location: [Acropolis, sanctuary of Pandion]

Findspot: Athens (BM 1816,0610.374)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This was among the objects acquired in Athens by Lord Elgin (cf. AIUK 4.1, no. 2). Like most of the inscriptions he collected, there is no record of its findspot. However, before Elgin, it was seen by Richard Chandler (1738-1810) on the Acropolis: it is likely that it was originally set up there, at the heroon (hero-shrine) of Pandion which served as the sanctuary of the tribe Pandionis. This was the place of erection of other dedications by members of that tribe including IG II³ 4, 21.

The named dedicant is to be identified with Antisthenes son of Antiphates of Kytherros, the victorious sponsor (choregos) for Pandionis and Akamantis in the boys’ dithyramb at the Thargelia in 360/59 BC (IG II² 1138 ll. 27-29; IG II³ 4, 485). He is attested as a trierarch in the early 330s and died probably before 326/5 BC: see Davies APF pp. 38-39. Accordingly, this inscription can be dated to ca. 360-325 BC.

Little is known about the appointment and tenure of the tribal priesthoods, none of which is attested before the fourth century BC (see Lambert, Historia 59, 2010, 150). Probably allotment was used, as was normal for Athenian priesthoods (Blok and Lambert, ZPE 169, 2009, 95-121, at 98); but while the older priesthoods, supplied by the gene, were held for life, tenure of the newer, “democratic”, priesthoods, at least the male ones, was annual (see Lambert, Historia 59, 2010, 156-60). Unfortunately it is unclear to which of these categories the tribal priesthood of Pandionis belonged.

It was usual in the fourth century for dedications commemorating successful terms of office to be made by the office-holder named in the nominative case (see, for instance IG II³ 4, 42); it is possible that Antisthenes had also made a financial donation while serving as priest of Pandion, and that this dedication in effect commemorated that. It is also possible, given the mention of "the tribesmen" in line 3 (in smaller letters), that he had been honoured by the tribesmen of Pandionis for his contribution. There is a possible parallel in IG II² 1140, in which, in 386/5 BC, another priest of Pandion, Demon of Paiania, was honoured by his tribe (on the likely origin of these honours in a benefaction by the priest, see Davies, APF p. 115). Reticence about referring explicitly to voluntary financial contributions as grounds for honours accords with the democratic ideology of this period.

It is possible that this block was part of a larger monument. Indeed, its smooth back suggests that the stone as preserved is the front face of a thicker block which was sawn off in Athens in order to facilitate transportation to the UK.

For fuller discussion of this inscription see AIUK 4.5 (BM, Dedications), no. 1.

Added: 28 Jun 2018
Updated: 15 Feb 2022
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ID: AIO_1547