IGII34 252 Anthippasia dedication of Pandionis

Anthippasia dedication of Pandionis

IG II³ 4 252 Date: mid-iv BC

The commanders of the tribal contingent of cavalry (phularchountes) who were victorious in the anthippasia:^[1] Demainetos son of Demeas of Paiania Demeas son of Demainetos of Paiania Demosthenes son of Demainetos of Paiania.^[2] (5) Bryaxis made it.^[3]

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References:

IG II³ 4 252 (Translated text) (IG Online)

IG II² 3130 (PHI)

Syll.³ 1074

Löhr, Familienweihungen 108

DNO 2360

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Images: Agora Excavations - (1, 2, 3, 4)

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Dedication (phylarchs)

Original location: [Agora, between the Royal Stoa and the Stoa of Zeus]

Findspot: Agora, between the Royal Stoa and the Stoa of Zeus (NM 1733)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This inscription, known as the Bryaxis base, is a square base with a relief on each of three sides depicting a horseman cantering towards a tripod, and an inscription on the fourth side. There is a depression on the top for a triangular pedestal, now lost, which would have supported a tripod. The structure stood on a square podium which was found in situ. The anthippasia was a cavalry contest at the Panathenaia and, from at least the late-fourth cent. BC, the Athenian Olympieia festival in Mounichion (at which there was also probably a cavalry procession, Plut. Phok. 37.1, cf. Parker, Polytheism, 477), in which the young horsemen from five tribes charged and fled from the other five tribes, led by the two cavalry commanders (hipparchs) and the commanders of the tribal cavalry contingents (phylarchs). On these officials cf. IG II³ 1, 949 and 1281, with notes. Victory was awarded to a single tribe; it is unclear how this was determined. On this competition, see Xen. Hipparch. 3.11-13; Bugh, Horsemen of Athens (1988), 59-60. Another inscription commemorating victory in the contest (IG II³ 4, 243) was found nearby, suggesting that a space had been set aside for anthippasia victory dedications in the northwest of the agora, perhaps because the Hipparcheion, the headquarters of the cavalry, was located in this area (Camp, The Athenian Agora, 1986, 118-22; Parker, Polytheism, 392 n. 23; see now also AIUK 9 (Brocklesby), no. 1). For the commemoration of victory in the anthippasia with a tripod, see Agora XVI 203. For other inscriptions relating to the anthippasia, IG II² 379, 261?, 263, 265, 528, AIUK 9 (Brocklesby), no. 1, Bardani 2019, Epimetro, 114-19. [2] Each tribe elected only one phylarch per year, so these three members of the same family (or two members and their father) must have been victorious in different years (unless they shared the office of phylarch). Although the family shares names/name elements and a deme with the famous orators Demosthenes and Demades, it is unclear how, if at all, they were related (Davies, APF pp. 102-4). [3] This is written in much smaller letters and refers to the sculptor of the tripod and/or the reliefs. For Bryaxis, who also worked on the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos, see DNO 2342‒2366.

Added: 2 Apr 2019
Updated: 22 Sep 2022
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ID: AIO_1695