Keesling2012 468 Statue base for Lysimache, priestess of Athena Polias

Statue base for Lysimache, priestess of Athena Polias

Keesling, Syeris, 468 Date: Ca. 360 BC

[Λυσιμάχη? . . . . ἥδ]ε̣ Δρακο[ντί]δ̣ο ἦν [τὸ γέ]ν̣ος μέν, [ὀγδώκοντ’ ὀκτ]ὼ̣ δ̣’ ἐξεπέρασ̣εν ἔτη· [- - ^{3 - 4} -]ιν̣ [ἑξή]κ̣ο̣ντα δ’ ἔτη καὶ τέσσαρα Ἀθάναι [λατρεύσ’ ἠδὲ γένη] τέσσαρ’ ἐπεῖδε τέκνων. vacat (5)[Λυσιμάχη - - -]έος Φλυέως μήτηρ. vacat [Δημήτριος ἐ]π̣όησεν.

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Translated text

References:

Keesling, Syeris, 468 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG II² 3453 (PHI)

SEG 62.99

CEG 2, no. 757

Löhr, Familienweihungen 69

Translation by: Stephen Lambert

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Statue base (private)

Original location: [Acropolis]

Findspot: Acropolis

Transliterations on Places on

[1] The priestess (Blok-Lambert, ZPE 169 [2009], 105 priestess of Athena Polias no. 1) can be identified from Pliny Nat. Hist. 34.76, who, clearly referring to this monument, states that the sculptor Demetrios made a portrait of Lysimache, priestess of Athena for 64 years. She may have been alluded to in Ar. Peace 992 (produced 421) and in the character of Lysistrata in Aristophanes' play of that name (produced 411; for a cautious view of this supposed "identification" see R. B. Rutherford, CQ 65, 2015, 62-63, for a recent development of the theory see P. Thonemann, JHS 140, 2020, 128-42). For other allusions to contemporary priestesses in Lysistrata see IG I³ 953 and IG I³ 1330. Her assistant (diakonos), Syeris, was commemorated by IG II² 3464. Textual note AIO's text follows that of Keesling, which itself follows CEG except in l. 5. We do not, however, print the speculative restoration, ?γραῖ’? after [Λυσιμάχη . . .] in l. 1 ("[This old woman Lysimache]"). [2] Though "genos" is used here with the broader connotation "descent" (and in l. 4 to mean "generation") it also alludes to Lysimache's membership of the genos (in the sense of privileged descent group, cf. RO 37) Eteoboutadai, specifically of the branch of the genos based in the deme Bate, which supplied the priestesses of Athena Polias. Her brother can be identified as Lysikles son of Drakontides of Bate, secretary of the treasurers of Athena in 416/5, IG I³ 306, l. 24 etc.. The other branch of this genos, based in Boutadai, supplied the priest of Poseidon Erechtheus. Cf. IG II² 457 + 3207. [3] This man, who may well have been Lysimache's kyrios at the time of her death, was probably responsible for the erection of this statue. Penteteris daughter of Hierokles of Phlya, priestess of Athena in the mid-3rd century (Blok-Lambert 106, no. 6), was perhaps a descendant.

Added: 20 Jan 2016
Updated: 27 Jun 2024
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