AIO 1422 Dedication of booty by the cavalry and honours for Germanicus

Dedication of booty by the cavalry and honours for Germanicus

AIO 1422 Date: A: 450-430 BC? B: ca. 18 AD

Face A

ℎοι ℎι[ππ]ῆς [⋮] ἀπὸ τ̣ο͂ν [πο]λεμίον ⋮ ℎιππαρ[χ]ό[ν]- τον ⋮ Λακεδ̣αιμονίο [⋮] Ξ̣[ε]νοφο͂ντος ⋮ Προν[ά]π[ο]- ς ⋮ Λύκιο[ς ⋮ ἐ]ποίησεν [⋮] Ἐλευθερεὺς [⋮ Μ]ύ̣[ρ]ο̣ν̣[ος]

Face B

hοι hιππῆς ἀπὸ το͂ν πολεμίον hιππαρχ[όν]- [τον Λακεδα]ιμονίο, Ξ[ε]νοφο͂ντο,ς Προνά[πο]- [ς. Λύκιος ἐποίησεν Ἐλε]υθερεὺς Μύρον[ος].

On another block ὁ δῆμος (5)Γερ[μ]ανικ[ὸν Κα]ίσαρα θεοῦ Σε[βαστοῦ ἔγγονον].

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Translated text

References:

AIO 1422 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG II² 3260 (PHI)

IG I³ 511 (IG Online) (PHI)

Raubitschek, Dedications 135

Raubitschek, Dedications 135a

DNO 1082

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Dedication (cavalry), Artists' signature, Statue base (People)

Findspot: Acropolis

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Textual note: AIO follows IG I³ for the text of Face A, Raubitschek, Dedications 135a for the text of Face B, ll. 1-3, and IG II² 3260 for Face B, ll. 4-6.

The original inscription, on Face A is on the the base of a statue group, seen by Pausanias in front of the Propylaia (1.22.4). There are two big and two small holes on the top of the base, for a bronze statue group, depicting a horse looking to the right (with or without rider) and a man standing next to it holding the reins. The three cavalry commanders indicate that the dedication postdates the creation of a force of 300 cavalry mentioned by Andokides (3.5) and predates 431, when there were 1000 cavalry, but only two cavalry commanders (Thucydides 2.13.8). Andokides seems to place the creation of the force of 300 after Kimon’s truce with Sparta in 451 BC, in which case the enemies would perhaps be the Euboians, who revolted in 446 BC. Andokides’ testimony is open to challenge, however, because all the other events that he assigns to this period of truce actually occurred much earlier. Bugh argues that historical context favours the Battle of Oinophyta in 458/7 BC, proposing that the force of 300 was instituted after the Athenian defeat at Tanagra earlier in 458/7 (Horsemen of Athens, 1988, 45-52; what else is known of the commanders, however, perhaps suggests a later date, cf. n. 2). In the first century AD, the base was flipped over, reinscribed on another side with an exact copy of the original dedication in archaising letters (Face B = Raubitschek, Dedications 135a) and a new sculpture of a very similar type was placed on top (there are six dowel holes for this image in the new top surface of the block). This new base was provided with a twin (Raubitschek, Dedications 135b) which bears the same archaising inscription, but appears to have been new.

Perhaps at the same time, an additional inscription (Face B, ll. 3-5) was placed on another block of this pedestal, presenting the statue as a dedication to Germanicus Caesar, the adopted son and heir of Emperor Tiberius (IG II² 3260). This complicated history perhaps helps to explain why Pausanias was so confused by the monument when he saw it on his way up to the Propylaia (1.22.4). He suggests without much conviction that it was made for the sons of Xenophon the historian ‘or just for decoration’. [2] The keeping of horses was generally associated with wealth and the three cavalry commanders all came from very wealthy backgrounds. We should expect them to have been at least thirty at the time that they served as commanders. It is quite plausible that they would have served as cavalry commanders before, in at least two cases, later going on to serve as generals. Lakedaimonios, son of Kimon and grandson of Miltiades was one of the three generals sent to Korkyra in 433/2 (OR 148). Xenophon son of Euripides was one of the generals sent against the Samians in 441/0 and probably in 439/8 (Androtion FGrH 324 F38; OR 139). In 430/29, he was sent as general to Potidaia (Thuc. 2.70.1) and he was killed the next year at the Battle of Spartolos (Thuc. 2.79.1; Diod. 12.47.3). Pronapes son of Pronapides is also known from a large monument on the Acropolis, dating to the 440s BC (?) and commemorating his victories in the Nemean, Isthmian, Panathenaian Games (IG I³ 880). [3] Lykios inherited his workshop from the famous sculptor, Myron, and was himself a prominent sculptor (DNO 1077-1085). [4] For other statues of Germanicus at Athens, see IG II² 3258 with notes.

Added: 13 Mar 2018
Updated: 7 Sep 2026
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ID: AIO_1422