Description: Archive Wall: column 5, lowest course. The blocks at the left side are intact; those at the right side are damaged, but are
substantially restored with small
fragments found fallen in front of the wall
Text:
Inscribed area specially prepared, w: 2.38 × h: 0.31. Line 1 outspaced.
Letters: Third century CE; ave 0.017; less carefully cut than 8.27, 8.28, 8.29, 8.30, 8.31, 8.32, 8.33, 8.34, 8.35, 8.36, 8.37 and 8.99. Circular stops in lines 2, 8; star for stop in l.8; bars above the figures in line 2 and above ΟΥ in line 7.
Date: 243 C.E. (titulature, lettering)
Findspot: Aphrodisias:
Theatre: north parodos wall, and fragments found fallen
Original location: Theatre: North parodos
Last recorded location: Findspot; fragments in Museum
Interpretive
Αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ Μᾶρκος Ἀντώνιος Γορδιανὸς Εὐσεβὴς Εὐτυ̣[χὴς Σεβ]αστός ἀ[ρχιε]ρεὺς μέγιστος δη̣[μαρχι-]
κῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ Ϛ ὕπατος τὸ β πατὴρ πατρίδος ἀνθύπατος ((stop)) Ἀφροδ[εισιέω]ν̣ τ̣ο̣[ῖς] ἄ̣ρ̣[χο]υ̣σι καὶ τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ
χαίρειν ( vac. 1) Τὸ τῆς Ἀσίας βούλευμα τὸ καὶ ὑμᾶς καταστῆσαν εἰς κο[ινωνί]αν τῆς π̣ρ̣[ὸς] τ̣ο̣ὺ̣ς̣ ἀτυχήσαντας
ἐπικουρίας οὐκ ἐπίταγμ̣α ἦν οὐδὲ γὰρ οἷόν τε ἐπιτάγματι χρῆσθ̣αι π[ρὸς το]ὺ̣ς̣ ἐλευθ̣έ̣ρους ἀλ̣λ̣ὰ πολείτευμα
5 χρηστὸν ἐν μετουσίᾳ καθιστᾶν ὑμᾶς φιλανθρώπου πράξεως καὶ ο[ἵη]ς καὶ καθ’ ὑμᾶς πράττετε ἐν κατ̣α̣-
σκευῇ τινος ο̣ἰ̣κοδομήματος συνεπιλαμβανόμενοι τῆς ἀναστάσε̣[ω]ς τοῖ̣ς̣ δεομένοις ὑπὲρ δὲ τοῦ μέλ-
λοντος ἥκιστα χρὴ δεδιέναι τοῖς γὰρ ἐλευθέροις οὗ πλεῖστον με[τέ]χετε μόνος ἐστὶν πρὸς τὰ το[ι]α̣ῦτα
( vac. 4) νόμος τὸ ἑκούσιον ( vac. 1) ((star)) ( vac. 1) ἐπρέσβευον Αὐρήλιος Κτησίας ((stop)) καὶ Α[ἴ]λιος Καλλικράτης ((star)) εὐτυχε[ῖτε]
θεῖα ἀντιγραφὴ κ̣ατὰ Λαοδικ̣εῖς ἡ προτεταγμένη ( vac. )
Diplomatic
ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡΚΑΙΣΑΡΜΑΡΚΟΣΑΝΤΩΝΙΟΣΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟΣΕΥΣΕΒΗΣΕΥΤ.[......]ΑΣΤΟΣΑ[....]ΡΕΥΣΜΕΓΙΣΤΟΣΔ.[.....-]
ΚΗΣΕΞΟΥΣΙΑΣΤΟϚΥΠΑΤΟΣΤΟΒΠΑΤΗΡΠΑΤΡΙΔΟΣΑΝΘΥΠΑΤΟΣ • ΑΦΡΟΔ[......]...[..]..[..].ΣΙΚΑΙΤΗΒΟΥΛΗΚΑΙΤΩΔΗΜΩ
ΧΑΙΡΕΙΝ ΤΟΤΗΣΑΣΙΑΣΒΟΥΛΕΥΜΑΤΟΚΑΙΥΜΑΣΚΑΤΑΣΤΗΣΑΝΕΙΣΚΟ[.....]ΑΝΤΗΣ..[..]....ΑΤΥΧΗΣΑΝΤΑΣ
ΕΠΙΚΟΥΡΙΑΣΟΥΚΕΠΙΤΑΓ.ΑΗΝΟΥΔΕΓΑΡΟΙΟΝΤΕΕΠΙΤΑΓΜΑΤΙΧΡΗΣ.ΑΙΠ[.....]..ΕΛΕΥ..ΡΟΥΣΑ..ΑΠΟΛΕΙΤΕΥΜΑ
5ΧΡΗΣΤΟΝΕΝΜΕΤΟΥΣΙΑΚΑΘΙΣΤΑΝΥΜΑΣΦΙΛΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥΠΡΑΞΕΩΣΚΑΙΟ[..]ΣΚΑΙΚΑΘΥΜΑΣΠΡΑΤΤΕΤΕΕΝΚΑ..
ΣΚΕΥΗΤΙΝΟΣ..ΚΟΔΟΜΗΜΑΤΟΣΣΥΝΕΠΙΛΑΜΒΑΝΟΜΕΝΟΙΤΗΣΑΝΑΣΤΑΣ.[.]ΣΤΟ..ΔΕΟΜΕΝΟΙΣΥΠΕΡΔΕΤΟΥΜΕΛ
ΛΟΝΤΟΣΗΚΙΣΤΑΧΡΗΔΕΔΙΕΝΑΙΤΟΙΣΓΑΡΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΙΣΟΥΠΛΕΙΣΤΟΝΜΕ[..]ΧΕΤΕΜΟΝΟΣΕΣΤΙΝΠΡΟΣΤΑΤΟ[.].ΥΤΑ
ΝΟΜΟΣΤΟΕΚΟΥΣΙΟΝ * ΕΠΡΕΣΒΕΥΟΝΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΣΚΤΗΣΙΑΣ • ΚΑΙΑ[.]ΛΙΟΣΚΑΛΛΙΚΡΑΤΗΣ * ΕΥΤΥΧΕ[...]
ΘΕΙΑΑΝΤΙΓΡΑΦΗ.ΑΤΑΛΑΟΔΙ.ΕΙΣΗΠΡΟΤΕΤΑΓΜΕΝΗ
English translation
Translation source: Reynolds, 1982
Imperator Caesar M. Antonius Gordianus, Pius, Felix, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, holding the tribunician power for the sixth
time, consul for the second, father of his country, proconsul, to the Magistrates, Council and People of the Aphrodisians,
greetings.
The resolution of Asia which associated you too with those assisting the victims of misfortune was not a command, for it is
not possible to issue a command to those who are free, but a good administrative act placing you among those who take part
in beneficent activity of a type which you undertake also among yourselves when you help with preparations for the erection
of a house for those in need. And for the future there is no necessity for fear; for among free men, and you have a very great
share of freedom, the only law in such matters is what you are willing to do. Aurelius Ktesias and Aelius Kallikrates carried
out the duties of ambassadors. Farewell
The above (?) is the divine (imperial) reply in the matter of (?) the Laodiceans.
Bibliography
Transcription: New York University expedition 66.608 69.468 and unnumbered fragments.
Publication: Reynolds, 1982 21 whence SEG 32.1097 , Robert, Bulletin Épigraphique 1983.382 , AE 1984.875 , McCabe, PHI, 1996 60 ; IAph2007 8.103.
