IGII34 317 Lampadedromia dedication

Lampadedromia dedication

IG II³ 4 317 Date: late ii BC – early i BC

On capital Xanthippos son of Phantokritos of Sounion, twice elected general in charge of Rhamnous and the coastal countryside, dedicated this to Zeus Soter and Athena Soteira and Themis and Nemesis.^[1]

On pillar (5) From the citizens (the victor in the) [Diogeneia]: Eugeiton son of Demetrios of Eitea. From the soldiers (the victor in the) Diogeneia:^[2] Phalakrion son of Ktesios of Lamptrai. From the paroikoi (the victor in the) Ptolemaia:^[3] (10) Sokles son of Lades of Miletos.

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References:

IG II³ 4 317 (Translated text) (IG Online)

SEG 49.200

I Rhamnous 151 (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Column

Inscription type: Dedication (general (strategos) in charge of Rhamnous and the coastal countryside)), Dedication (Zeus Soter), Dedication (Athena Soteira), Dedication (Themis and Nemesis)

Capital - Findspot: Skala Oropou, Nea Palatia suburb (Rhamnous Fortress 2187 Φ)
Pillar - Findspot: Rhamnous fortress (Rhamnous Fortress 2183 Φ)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This is the most complete example of a series of pilasters commemorating torch races (lampadedromiai) at Rhamnous. The first part of the inscription is on the abacus of a rectangular capital, which is decorated with a floral design and inscribed with a dedication by the general of the coastal countryside (on whom see I Rham. 3, with notes). A socket on the bottom of the capital attached it to a pillar, which bore the second part of the inscription with the names of the victors in the year's torch races. Most examples have sockets in the upper surface of the capital which once held bronze torches. The earliest dedication commemorating the Rhamnousian torch races is IG II³ 4, 308, from 175/4 BC, but the pilaster format is first attested only in 117/6 (IG II³ 4, 311). Almost all examples have been found in the area of the military headquarters (strategion) near the east gate. This suggests that they were originally dedicated there and that a naiskos in the structure should be identified as the sanctuary of Zeus Soter and Athena Soteira. Later examples of these pillars, starting with IG II³ 4, 314, in 101/0 BC, are also dedicated to the principal deities of Rhamnous, Themis and Nemesis. To date, the latest example in the series is IG II³ 4, 318 of 99/8 BC. The whole series may thus have lasted less than twenty years. [2] For the Diogeneia, see IG II³ 1, 1160 n. 4. All attested victors “from the soldiers” are Athenian citizens (contrast IG II³ 4, 282 n. 3). [3] The Ptolemaia was a festival in honour of Ptolemy III Euergetes, established in 224/3 BC, following the creation of the tribe of Ptolemais (I Eleusis 207; J. D. Mikalson, Religion in Hellenistic Athens, 1998, 178‒9). The paroikoi are probably mercenaries; in IG II³ 4, 311 they are called xenoi, the usual term for mercenary troops in this period.

Added: 2 Apr 2019
Updated: 21 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_1776