IGII2 3313 Officiants (<i>theokoloi</i>) honour Hadrian

Officiants (theokoloi) honour Hadrian

IG II² 3313 Date: ca. 132 AD

(This statue of) Emperor Hadrian Olympios (was erected by) the first officiants (theēkoloi )^[1]

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References:

IG II² 3313 (Translated text) (PHI)

Højte, Statue Bases 229

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Statue base (officiants)

Findspot: Olympieion (Unknown)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This is one of over fifty statue bases for the Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 AD) attested from Athens (on Hadrian and his relationship with Athens, see IG II² 5185 with notes). It was erected by Athens’ inaugural cohort of officiants (theēkoloi or theokoloi) in the precinct of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, shortly after Hadrian completed and consecrated it in 132 AD (see IG II² 3290 with notes). In most cities where they are attested, theēkoloi were a type of priest involved in sacrifices. They are attested at many cities in central Greece and the Peloponnese, particularly Olympia (IvO 1, 4, 59-133, 287, see L. Robert, Revue des Études Grecques 79, 1966, 745-746). In Athens, they appear for the first time in this inscription, so, probably, they were established when Hadrian consecrated the temple and erected this statue to thank him for creating their posts. A later inscription says that they were young boys who served in the cult of Zeus Olympios (IG II² 3606, ll. 16-17). A bench was reserved for them in the Theatre of Dionysos (IG II³ 4, 2013) and an individual theēkolos appears among the ephebes in 211/2 AD (IG II² 2208, l. 128).

Added: 17 Aug 2024
Updated: 29 Oct 2024
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