IGII34 1159 Dedication to Herakles

Dedication to Herakles

IG II³ 4 1159 Date: end of the 4th century BC

Lysistrate . . . for the little children dedicated (this) to Herakles.^[1] Relief

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References:

IG II³ 4 1159 (Translated text) (IG Online)

IG II² 4613 (PHI)

Translation by: Liubov Eliseeva

Monument type: Plaque

Inscription type: Dedication (private, Herakles)

Findspot: Acropolis (south slope) (EM 8793)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Textual note: instead of 'little children' (παιδ[ίων]) in the l. 2, it is possible to restore simply 'children' (παίδ[ων]); cf. E. Tagalidou, Weihreliefs an Herakles aus klassischer Zeit (1993), 203–204, no. 15.

This is a Pentelic marble dedication shaped like an egg; its lower part functioned as a tenon. It is dated on the basis of the letter forms, which are consistent with the possible dating of the relief. On the left of the relief, Herakles is portrayed wearing a lionskin, his right arm outstretched and holding a round object, probably a bowl, over an altar. The preserved traces above the altar could be interpreted as flames of the sacrificial fire. On the right, there is a procession of worshippers, who are smaller than the deity. The largest figure is female and is probably the dedicator, Lysistrate. Behind her, there are two smaller female figures. The last figure, who is male, could be a slave (e.g., paidagogos). In front of them, there are three small figures; their interpretation varies. According to one view, all three of them are Lysistrate's children, and the first one is leading a pig or a sheep to the altar as a sacrificial animal. Alternatively, the figure leading the sacrificial animal could be a servant of the sanctuary, and the other two would be Lysistrata's children. For more on the relief see Tagalidou 1993, 203–204, no. 15; M. C. Monaco, Halirrhothios (2015), 139–141.

As with the dedication made by Straton to Herakles (IG II³ 4, 1158), Lysistrate acted as her family's spokesperson. She performed a sacrifice and dedicated this votive relief on behalf of her children in order to save them from possible threats in the future and/or to fulfill a vow; see F. S. Naiden, Smoke Signals for the Gods (2015), 198–199. Herakles was chosen not only as a healing god, but as a protector (cf. IG II³ 4, 1155 and 1158); see Parker 2007, 438–439.

The findspot of this dedication may indicate that Herakles was worshipped within the Sanctuary of Asklepios on the south slope of the Acropolis or perhaps that there was a separate sanctuary of Herakles on the south slope; see IG II³ 4, 1157 with notes and R. Parker, Polytheism and Society at Athens (2007), 412, n. 100.

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_3629