IGII34 212 Dedication by Xenokles of Sphettos, manager of the Mysteries, 321/0 or 318/7 BC

Dedication by Xenokles of Sphettos, manager of the Mysteries, 321/0 or 318/7 BC

IG II³ 4 212 Date: 321/0 or 318/7 BC

To Demeter and Kore^[1] Xenokles son of Xeinis of Sphettos^[2] dedicated (this), having been manager (epimelētēs) of the Mysteries.^[3] (5) Aristopeithes son of -nymos of Phyle made it.^[4]

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References:

IG II³ 4 212 (Translated text) (IG Online)

IG II² 2840 (PHI)

I Eleusis 98 (PHI)

DNO 2371 A

Translation by: Stephen Lambert, David Weidgenannt

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Dedication (manager (epimeletes) of the Mysteries), Dedication (Demeter and Kore)

Findspot: Eleusis (Eleusis Museum E 531)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This base and the identical IG II³ 4, 213 clearly carried related statues, perhaps of Demeter and Kore. Originally, they stood at the entrance of the sanctuary at Eleusis. [2] During his time as epimeletes of the Mysteries Xenokles financed the building of a bridge over the river Kephisos at Eleusis, attested by the decree of the deme Eleusis and soldiers garrisoned there in 321/0 or 318/7 (archon Archippos) honouring him, I Eleusis 95, and by an epigram, Anth. Pal. 9.147, which was apparently originally inscribed on the bridge. The careers of the wealthy Xenokles of Sphettos and his brother Androkles are very well documented and our knowledge of them has expanded significantly in recent years. For the latest references see Athenian Onomasticon s.v. Androkles (cf. IG II³ 4, 518 with notes), Xenokles (cf. IG II³ 4, 519 with notes). Xenokles apparently deputised for Lykourgos in charge of public finances (epi tei dioikesei) when Lykourgos was disqualified from holding the office for successive terms (I Eleusis 87 with n. 3, cf. [Plut.] Mor. 841 C). Among many other references to him, he is mentioned (as a rhetor) by Matro of Pitane, Attic Dinner-Party, Fr. 1.2, 8 = SH 534.2, 8, ap. Ath. 4.134d-7c. See S. D. Olson and A. Sens, Matro of Pitane and the Tradition of Epic Parody in the Fourth Century BCE (1999), pp. 30-33, and p. 53 with commentary p. 76. See also IG II³ 4, 430 and IG II³ 4, 434. [3] On this office see Ath. Pol. 57.1 with I Eleusis 138A, 29-31; and for later Assembly decrees honouring tenants of this office, AIO Papers 4, 20-21, 26-28. [4] Not otherwise known.

Added: 4 May 2018
Updated: 18 Oct 2021
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ID: AIO_1483