IGII34 557 Choregic dedication of Quintus Vibius Crispus for the City Dionysia

Choregic dedication of Quintus Vibius Crispus for the City Dionysia

IG II³ 4 557 Date: 84-90 AD

When Quintus Vibius Crispus of [Marathon was archon and sponsor (chorēgountos)],^[1] Asklepiades son of Hygeinos of [Anaphlystos was competition-director (ēgōnothetei), Deiogenes . . . ] was director, Philode[mos] was pipe-player.^[2] [ . . . Aiantis was victorious in the men's competition]. [Crispus], three-time consul of Rome, [and as archon was also sponsor], (5) When Asklepiades [was competition-director for Dionysos], Deiogenes directed [a chorus of young men (kourōn), with which] Aiantis [was victorious], and [Philodemos set a rhythm] for the flutes.^[3]

Previous - IG II³ 4 556 Next - IG II³ 4 558

References:

IG II³ 4 557 (Translated text) (IG Online)

SEG 29.165 (PHI)

Peek, AVI 35

Follet and Peppas Delmousou, Dedicaces chorégiques 6

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Dedication (choregic), Dedication (archon), Metrical (dactylic hexameter)

Findspot: Roman Agora (Athens Ephoria ΡΑ 741/741a)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This triangular base is a Roman-period choregic dedication, commemorating the victory of a chorus from the tribe Aiantis at the Dionysia. On choregic dedications in this period, see IG II³ 4, 558 with notes. The base was originally over three metres high and supported a tripod. The dedicator, Q. Vibius Crispus (PIR¹ V 379), appears to have been both archon and sponsor (choregos) of the victorious team. He was a prominent Roman Senator who served as Consul in 60 or 61, in 74, and in 82 or 83 AD. This inscription shows that he was granted Athenian citizenship and served as archon sometime after these consulships, but before his death in 90 AD (Follet and Peppas Delmousou). This makes the inscription one of the earliest choregic dedications of the Roman period, along with IG II³ 4, 556 and 558. [2] Asklepiades is not otherwise attested, but a homonymous grandson funded his tribe's prytany in 135/6 and 138/9 (Agora XV 330 and 333), served as court president (SEG 36.213, l. 10), and was honoured with a statue (IG II² 5653). On the post of competition-director (agonothetes), see IG II³ 4, 518. It is unusual for the competition-director to be listed on choregic dedications in the Roman period, but IG II³ 4, 559, from around the same date, provides a parallel. Deiogenes and Philodemos are not otherwise attested. [3] The hexameter epigram in ll. 4-7 repeats the information given in prose in ll. 1-3. IG II³ restores “men’s competition” in l. 3, but in l. 6 “chorus of kouroi”, which usually means "youths", but could refer to any male under thirty. Peek restores “boys” in both lines, which also fits the meter. Follet and Peppas-Delmousou suggest that a victory in the men’s contest is more likely, since, in the Classical Period, choregic dedications for the boys’ contest were usually substantially smaller than this monument.

Added: 30 Sep 2022
Updated: 18 Mar 2025
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