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Translations of Hellenistic Inscriptions: 222


DEDICATIONS BY SOLDIERS IN EGYPT



Date:   137-101 B.C.
Format:   see key to translations

Soldiers could make dedications to a local god for various reasons. The dedicant of A had an exceptionally long military career, which culminated in a royal visit. Agathodoros gained promotion in between his dedications in B and C. And Heliodoros records in D an unusual collection of official titles; the names added at the end may possibly be other members of his family.

The translations of A-C are taken from C. Fischer-Bovet, in "The Epigraphy of Ptolemaic Egypt", pp.141 & 151 ( Google Books ). For D, see the comments of the same author in "Army and Society in Ptolemaic Egypt", p. 351 ( Google Books ).


[A]   Greek text;   DeThèbes_322 ,   Philae ,   115 B.C.

...aios, son of Ammonios, of the diadochoi, being garrison commander of the place for 42 years and having been irreproachable vis-à-vis those who inhabit the place and similarly vis-à-vis the foreigners who are currently in residence here, who has received praise during the visits of the strategoi and during the present approach of our lord the king Ptolemaios, the god Philometor Soter, during his second year, in receipt of recognition, has made this dedication as a votive offering and thank-offering.

[B]   Greek text;   IFayoum_2.107 ,   Theadelpheia ,   137 B.C.

For king Ptolemaios and queen Kleopatra his sister and queen Kleopatra his wife, gods Euergetai, and their children,   Agathodoros of Alexandria, son of Agathodoros, of the second hipparchy, and Isidora, daughter of Dionysios, his wife and his children have dedicated the propylon and paved dromos to Pnepheros, Twice-Great God, as a votive-offering. Year 34, Thoth 9.

[C]   Greek text;   IFayoum_2.108 ,   Theadelpheia ,   137-116 B.C.

For king Ptolemaios and queen Kleopatra his sister and queen Kleopatra his wife, gods Euergetai, and their children,   Agathodoros, son of Agathodoros, Alexandrian, hipparch over the men {ep' andrōn} of the katoikoi cavalry, and his wife and children, have dedicated the door and its bolt to Pnepheros the great god, as a votive offering. [Year ..], Mecheir 1.

[D]   Greek text;   IFayoum_3.209 ,   ? Theadelpheia ,   107-101 B.C.

For queen Kleopatra, the goddess [Euergetis, and king Ptolemaios] called Alexandros, her son, the god Philometor Soter,   Heliodoros son of Ptolemaios, Macedonian, hundred-aroura man {hekatontarouros} and epistatēs and commander of the police and local scribe of the village, dedicated the stone propylon to Pnepherōs, the very great god who listens to prayers, [as a votive offering].
Similarly, Ptolemaios also called Mestasytmis, son of Didymos, and . . . [and] their mother Aunchis and Orsenouphis son of Orsenouphis . . .

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