IEleus 486 Dedication to the saviour gods and goddesses of the emperors by the city

Dedication to the saviour gods and goddesses of the emperors by the city

I Eleusis 486 Date: 166 AD or slightly later

Face A

To the saviour gods of the brother-loving emperors^[1] the city (dedicated this), with Herodes managing it.^[2]

Face B

To the saviour goddesses of the brother-loving emperors the city (dedicated this), with Herodes managing it.

Previous - I Eleusis 484 Next - I Eleusis 489

References:

I Eleusis 486 (Translated text) (PHI)

IG II² 4779 (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Images: Cornell - (1, 2)

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Dedication (emperor), Dedication (city)

Fr. a - Findspot: Eleusis (Lost)
Fr. b - Findspot: Eleusis (Eleusis Museum E 955)
Fr. c - Findspot: Eleusis (Eleusis Museum E 954)
Fr. d - Findspot: Eleusis (Eleusis Museum E 956)
Fr. e - Findspot: Eleusis (Eleusis Museum E 1149)
Fr. f - Findspot: Eleusis (Eleusis Museum E 1150)
Fr. g - Findspot: Eleusis (Eleusis Museum E 1151)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Seven fragments are preserved of one or two very large statue bases. These fragments were found to the east of the Telesterion within the sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Eleusis, which suggests that they stood next to the processional way, near the entrance into the Telesterion. They might have supported statues of Demeter and Kore or perhaps sets of male and female gods (e.g. Dionysos and Triptolemos on A and Demeter and Kore on B). The monument probably formed part of a monument commemorating the Roman victory in the Parthian War of 161-166 AD. Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius were (adoptive) brothers and co-regents from 161 to 169 AD, so the monument commemorates them together, although Lucius Verus had led the fighting. He had visited Athens and been initiated into the Mysteries on his way to Parthia in 162 AD (I Eleusis 483, ll. 23-25). The association of the victory with the Eleusinian deities is probably meant to recall this event and perhaps also their role in the Athenian victory over the Persians at Salamis in 479 BC (Herodotos 8.65, cf. Clinton, I Eleusis II, p. 365). On Lucius Verus’ relationship to Athens and the epithet ‘brother-loving’ (Philadelphoi), see Agora XVIII 315 with notes. [2] On Herodes Atticus, see AIUK 11 (Ashmolean), no. 15 with notes.

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_3596