IGII2 6397 Funerary stele for Abaskantos, trainer of the ephebes

Funerary stele for Abaskantos, trainer of the ephebes

IG II² 6397 Date: before 169/70 AD

Abaskantos son of Eumolpos of Kephisia, he is alive, (5) trainer (paidotribēs) of the free children.^[1]

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References:

IG II² 6397 (Translated text) (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Funerary

Findspot: Athens (EM 10370)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This is the funerary stele of Abaskantos the ephebes’ trainer (paidotribes) for thirty-four years from 136/7 until his death in 169/70 AD (see IG II² 3737). The Classical ephebate had been restricted to citizen children (see RO 89), but in the late Hellenistic and Roman period it was open to some non-citizens, hence the reference to his charges as “the free children.” This is an interesting reflection on what gave the ephebes their common identity. Ephebic service, it seems, was not so much a mark of citizenship as of free status. ζῇ (4) should apparently be interpreted as indicative, "he is alive", i.e. indicating a monument erected in the lifetime of the person commemorated, rather than (as has sometimes been thought), subjunctive, "let him live". See AIUK 4.6 no. 43, with detailed discussion in the AIUK volume [SDL].

Added: 14 Jan 2021
Updated: 1 Apr 2022
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