IGII34 1344 Dedication to Hermes Enagonios by Lykinos of Pallene

Dedication to Hermes Enagonios by Lykinos of Pallene

IG II³ 4 1344 Date: ca. 350 BC

Lykinos of Pallene (dedicated this) to Hermes Enagonios uninscribed space

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References:

IG II³ 4 1344 (Translated text) (IG Online)

IG II² 4572 (PHI)

Translation by: Charlie Downing

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Dedication (private, Hermes Enagonios)

Findspot: Theatre of Dionysos, east parados (EM 10701)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This base of Hymettan marble was dedicated to Hermes Enagonios ("of competition") by Lykinos of Pallene, and was found in the Theatre of Dionysus alongside IG II³ 4, 537, a dedication to Nike dated to 200-150 BC, which explicitly responds to this one. Hermes Enagonios was a deity to whom offerings were made by contestants before athletic competition (cf. IG II³ 4, 431 with notes) and was listed amongst the deities that received sacrifices at the Eleusinia (IG I³ 5, l. 3). The title Enagonios reflects Hermes' association with competition, attested as early as the fifth-century BC (Pind. Olym. 6.79, Pyth. 2.10, Isth. 1.10), and he was associated with the athletic training of youths (e.g. Aeschin. 1.12). There was a competition named for Hermes, the Hermaia, which can be dated to the early fourth-century BC, to which the dedication may relate (cf. IG II³ 1, 1281 with notes). Perhaps Lykinos was the gymnasiarch, who had funded the victorious team in this competition. On dedications by gymnasiarchs, cf. IG II³ 4, 426 with notes. The base has a cutting of 0.5m depth on top for the insertion of a statue that would probably have depicted Hermes.

A Lykinos of Pallene is also mentioned in charge of a warship in 360 BC by Demosthenes 50.53 and another as a trierarch in IG II² 1631, dated to 323/2 BC. Davies suggests that these are all the same individual or at least members of the same family (Davies, Athenian Propertied Families, 345).

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_3523