SEG 41.143 Flavia Philadelphia honours Hadrian

Flavia Philadelphia honours Hadrian

SEG 41.143 Date: ca. 132 AD

(This statue of) Emperor [Caesar Trajan] Hadrian Augustus [Olympios] (was erected by) [the city] of the Flavia Ph[iladelphians] . . . . . . through the [most sacred - Council] (5) and the most pious [People . . . due to both their] - for the God New Dionysos . . . and their [friendship and] kinship with the Athenians [since the time of the ancestors].^[1] The envoys were . . . father of boys who were Olympic victors . . . (10) in the first Olympiad (132/3 AD) . . . [and]^[2] Antonius Cornelianus . . . having been managed (epimelēthentōn) by . . . Marcellus Council-guard (boulophulakos) . . . Tryphon and Eisidoros the . . . (15) hierophants and fellow-sacrificers of their own fatherland for . . . life, we being honoured with citizenship . . . ^[3]

References:

SEG 41.143 (Translated text) (PHI) (PHI)

IG II² 3966a (PHI)

Højte, Statue Bases 203

TAM V,3 1456a (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Statue base (Other city)

Findspot: Acropolis (Unknown)
Findspot: Acropolis (Unknown)
Findspot: Athens (EM 3260)
Findspot: Athens (EM 4046)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Textual note: AIO’s text is that of H. Karapa-Molisani, Πρακτικά τοῦ η' Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου Ἐλληνικής και Λατινικής Επιγραφικής (1984), II 308-311 with all modifications proposed by S. Follet, Bulletin Épigraphique 1989, no. 405 (=SEG 41.143), except for her restoration of τῶν πεντακοσίων (“of Five Hundred”) in l. 4 (the inscription should be referring to the Council of Flavia Philadelphia, not the Athenian Council of Five Hundred).

This is probably part of a group of statues erected for the Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 AD) in the precinct of the Temple of Olympian Zeus by delegations from cities throughout the eastern Roman Empire to celebrate Hadrian's consecration of the temple in 132 AD (see IG II² 3290 with notes). Hadrian is probably the New Dionysos in l. 6 (cf. SEG 47.222), but his lover Antinoos is also possible (Karapa-Molisani). On epigraphic evidence for Hadrian at Athens, see IG II² 5185 with notes.

The dedicator, Flavia Philadelphia, was located in Lydia in the province of Asia. The city also honours Hadrian in TAM V.3 1456. A late source refers to Philadelphia as “Little Athens” due to shared festivals and sacrifices, a connection which might go back to this period (Proklos in John Lydos, Liber de mensibus 4.58 with Karapa-Molisani). [2] At least two ambassadors are listed at ll. 8-11 (the father of the boys, whose name is lost, and Antonius Cornelianus), who probably came to Athens to attend the inauguration of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It seems that the sons had accompanied their father on the embassy and competed in the Olympia festival that was established at Athens to celebrate the inauguration of the temple (cf. IG II² 3303). [3] The managers of the erection of the statue, named in ll. 12-16, are distinct from the ambassadors, perhaps indicating that the decision to erect it was taken some time after the original embassy. They are apparently the group who have received (Athenian?) citizenship in l. 16. It is unclear what a "council guard" (boulophylax) was.

Added: 17 Aug 2024
Updated: 19 Aug 2024
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ID: AIO_3017