SEG 28.223 Statue base for Vedia Io

Statue base for Vedia Io

SEG 28.223 Date: 132-ca. 250 AD

The Council of the Areopagos erected (this statue of) Vedia Io daughter of Vedius Prophantos of Argos, (5)Panhellene, who was competition director (agonothetēsantos) of the Nemea, and of Claudia Artemo, (10)her father having requested it.

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References:

SEG 28.223 (Translated text) (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Statue base (Areopagos)

Findspot: Library of Hadrian

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This base of a statue of Vedia Io of Argos found in excavations of Hadrian's library dates to the mid- or late second century AD. She is named after Io, a mythical princess of Argos. Names recalling local mythical figures were fairly common in Imperial period Greece and often co-existed with claims of direct descent from them (cf. Oxylos in IG II² 1072). It was normal in the Imperial period to request permission from the Areopagos, Council, and/or People when one wished to erect a statue, but it is unusual for the Areopagos to respond by erecting the statue in its own right. Perhaps it did so as part of a consolation decree after Eio died young (cf. IG IV² 82-84). Vedius Prophantos was a delegate to the Panhellenion (see IG II³ 4, 215 with notes). Panhellenes from Argos also appear in IG IV 590 and 592. Argos had mythical links with many Greek cities, which were a source of prestige in the Imperial period and in the Panhellenion, whose membership was based on mythical kinship links (A. J. Spawforth and S. Walker, JRS, 1986, 101-104). The Nemean Games, one of the four traditional Panhellenic Games, took place every four years in the winter following the Olympics. In the Imperial period, it took place in Argos rather than Nemea.

Added: 21 Jan 2024
Updated: 27 Jun 2024
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