IEleus 201 Decree of Kerykes and Eumolpidai honouring the hierophant, Chairetios of Eleusis

Decree of Kerykes and Eumolpidai honouring the hierophant, Chairetios of Eleusis

I Eleusis 201 Date: 229/8-203 BC

Gods. Thrasyphon son of Hierokleides of Xypete proposed: since Chairetios the hierophant continues to be well-disposed to the genos, both that of the Kerykes and the Eumolpidai, (5) and says and does what good he can on their behalf, and continues to prepare the announcement with good-will for those travelling abroad for the conveyance of the truce (spondophorias), and conducts himself decorously (euschēmonōs) also in the office of hierophant, (10) behaving unimpeachably; so therefore that the genē may be seen to honour those who are well-disposed to and worthy of themselves, for good fortune, the Kerykes and Eumolpidai shall decide, to praise the hierophant Chairetios son of Prophetes (15) of Eleusis and crown him with a myrtle crown, which is traditional for those who continuously show good-will towards the genē; and to announce this crown at the traditional competition at Eleusis in the theatre; and the archons (20) in office from both genē shall take care of the announcement of the crown; and to inscribe this decree on a stone stele and stand it in Eleusis in the courtyard of the sanctuary; and the archons of the genē shall take care (25)of the making and dedication of the stele.^[1]

in myrtle crown The Kerykes and Eumolpidai (crown) the hierophant Chairetios (30) of Eleusis.

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References:

I Eleusis 201 (Translated text) (PHI)

IG II² 1235 (PHI)

SEG 29.134

Syll.³ 1019

Translation by: Stephen Lambert

Images: Krateros - (1)
Ohio - (1)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Decree (Genē Kerykes and Eumolpidai)

Original location: Eleusis, courtyard of sanctuary

Findspot: Eleusis, courtyard of sanctuary (Eleusis Museum E 1133)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This inscription is a work of Tracy’s “Cutter of IG II² 1706”, 229/8-ca. 203 BC (for the dates see Tracy, ALC, 44-54, with Horos 26-31, 2014-2019, 45). Clinton notes that since Thrasyphon also proposed I Eleusis 192, honouring the managers of the Mysteries in 249/8 BC, this inscription probably dates to the upper end of this Cutter’s range. On Chairetios the hierophant, appointed from the genos Eumolpidai, who is attested only here, see Blok and Lambert, ZPE 169, 2009, 114. The Eumolpidai passed this decree jointly with the Kerykes, the other major Eleusinian genos, which supplied the torchbearer (dadouch), perhaps suggesting that, though he was a Eumolpid, the initiative for the decree came from the Kerykes (note they are invariably mentioned first) (Dow). On these two genē and their decrees cf. I Eleusis 87. The arrangement also reflects the fact that representatives of both the Kerykes and the Eumolpidai participated in the announcement around the Greek world of the sacred truce for the Mysteries (spondophoria), referred to at ll. 6-8, and the genos Kerykes = “Heralds”, was perhaps especially associated with that role. On the spondophoria, cf. OR 106; RO 35. The spondophoria also features prominently in another joint decree of the Kerykes and Eumolpidai, I Eleusis 221. The announcement of the crown at the “traditional competition” at the local celebration of the Dionysia in the theatre at Eleusis is unusual for an honour not bestowed by the deme (on decrees of the deme Eleusis see I Eleusis 68, with notes). It is probably to be explained by the fact that Chairetios, uniquely among known priests of the Eumolpidai and Kerykes, was a member of the deme Eleusis (Clinton). By virtue of his office as hierophant he also probably enjoyed a seat of honour (proedria) in the theatre, cf. I Eleusis 72.

Added: 14 Apr 2021
Updated: 21 May 2021
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