IGII34 995 Dedication to Demeter and the Girl by the mother of Epigenes

Dedication to Demeter and the Girl by the mother of Epigenes

IG II³ 4 995 Date: 400-350 BC

The priestess of Demeter and the Girl mother of Epigenes of Acharnai dedicated this^[1] . . . -os son of Aristeides made it.

Previous - IG II³ 4 994 Next - IG II³ 4 996

References:

IG II³ 4 995 (Translated text) (IG Online)

SEG 16.160 (PHI)

Agora XVIII 584

Translation by: Danielle Mackay

Images: Agora Excavations - (1)

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Dedication (Demeter and Kore), Dedication (priestess)

Original location: City Eleusinion

Fr. a - Findspot: southwest of the Eleusinion (Ag. I 5802)
Fr. b - Findspot: east of the Areopagos (EM 12416)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This inscription consists of two fragments of a marble base, found near the City Eleusinion, where it was dedicated by the priestess (on which see AIUK 4.1 (BM: Cult Provisions) no. 1 and Agora XXXI). The dedicator's name does not appear in the surviving fragments; the most likely explanation is that the name appeared on the upper part of the base, which is now lost. Priestesses are often mentioned in inscriptions along with a male relative, perhaps to be understood as their kyrios (legal guardian), particularly when their eligibility for the priesthood was inherited within a particular genos (descent group). The presence of a son is unusual, but perhaps the dedicator's father and husband were dead (J. H. Blok and S. D. Lambert, ZPE 169, 2009, 119 n. 120). Cf. IG II² 3453.

Dow suggests that Epigenes was the envoy who was imprisoned by the Aitolians while announcing the sacred truce for the Eleusinian Mysteries in 367/6 BC (Agora XVI 48, l. 13), though the sacred truce was announced by members of the Eumolpidai and the Kerykes, and the priestess of Demeter and Kore did not belong to either of those genē.

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
Feedback

ID: AIO_3646