IGII34 1058 Dedication to Artemis Soteira

Dedication to Artemis Soteira

IG II³ 4 1058 Date: 4th century BC

For Artemis Soteira^[1] Apoll- . . .

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References:

IG II³ 4 1058 (Translated text) (IG Online)

IG II² 4631 (PHI)

Translation by: Danielle Mackay

Monument type: Capital

Inscription type: Dedication (private, Artemis)

Original location: Sanctuary of Artemis Soteira

Findspot: Athens (EM 6119)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] The epithet Saviour (Soteira) relates to Artemis’ capacity as a goddess of childbirth, see (T.S.F. Jim, Saviour Gods and Soteria , 2022, 108). This quality is most well-known from the birth narrative of Artemis and Apollo in which Artemis assisted her mother, Leto, in giving birth to her brother Apollo (Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.21). Artemis was further regarded as the protector of nursing infants (e.g. Orphic Hymn 2 to Prothyraia) and female children (Homer, Od. 6.151ff.), while Apollo is the protector of male children.

Pausanias 1.29.2 records a sanctuary of Artemis in the Kerameikos area, but the exact location has not been located precisely. Graml proposes to identify it with an archaeologically attested sanctuary, which has conventionally been assigned to Hekate (C. Graml. The Sanctuary of Artemis Soteira in the Kerameikos of Athens, 2020). Several other inscriptions dedicated to Artemis Soteira have also been found in this area (IG II³ 1067, 1071, IG II² 1298 and 1343), although Graml notes that only two of these unambiguously relate to a sanctuary to the goddess (C. Graml. The Sanctuary of Artemis Soteira in the Kerameikos of Athens, 2020, 121). Line 3 might be the beginning of the dedicator's name (e.g. Apollonios) or a reference to the god Apollo.

Added: 15 May 2025
Updated: 15 May 2025
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