IRhamn 157 Altar for Augustus and Claudius

Altar for Augustus and Claudius

I Rhamnous 157 Date: 27 BC-14 AD and 41-54 AD

On the abacus To Caesar [Emperor . . . ]^[1] On body of the altar . . . those sharing in . . . (dedicated this)^[2] . . . Augustus . . . to Caesar son of the god . . . (5) . . . . . . . . . to Tiberius Claudius [Caesar] . . . [ . . . Augustus] Germanicus . . .

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References:

I Rhamnous 157 (Translated text) (PHI)

IG II² 3275 (PHI)

SEG 34.181 (PHI)

SEG 31.165 (PHI)

Schmalz 149

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Altar

Inscription type: Dedication (Public, emperor)

Findspot: Rhamnous (Rhamnous Fortress 1002 Ν)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Textual note: Schmalz suggests Καίσαρι Ἁ[δριανῷ] ("to Caesar Ha[drian]") as an alternative for l. 1. This seems too short.

This altar at Rhamnous has been reinscribed several times. It seems to have originally been dedicated to Augustus shortly after he assumed that title in 27 BC (ll. 3-4). Later Claudius' name was added (ll. 7-8). Schmalz suggests that the text on the capping block (l. 1) rededicated it a third time, to Hadrian (see textual note), but the formula he proposes is not the normal one for altars of Hadrian and his restored text seems too short for the available space (see Benjamin Altars of Hadrian 7 with notes). The altar might be linked to the rededication of the Temple of Nemesis at Rhamnous to Livia, which has been dated under either Augustus or Claudius (see I Rhamnous 156 with notes). [2] The identity of the dedicators, "those sharing in" [something], may be the people of Rhamnous or the tribe Aiantis (cf. "those sharing in (the tribe of) Leontidians" in SEG 66.153). J. Pouilloux suggests that it was a group that had collaborated with Claudius in refurbishing the Temple of Nemesis (La forteresse de Rhamnonte 1954, 157).

Added: 24 Jul 2026
Updated: 24 Jul 2026
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ID: AIO_3852