10.04.2013 Views

1 Earliest Rome

1 Earliest Rome

1 Earliest Rome

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

12.3 Jupiter Dolichenus<br />

12.3 Jupiter Dolichenus<br />

Jupiter Dolichenus was a god whose name proclaimed his origin in the small<br />

town of Doliche in northern Syria. About seventeen of his sanctuaries have<br />

been found, ranging from eastern Syria (Dura Europus) to Germany, and over<br />

550 inscriptions, plaques and statues relating to the cult have survived. The<br />

best known sanctuary in the empire is that on the Avcmine hill in <strong>Rome</strong> (Vol.<br />

1 Map 2 no.12), and the two texts that follow illuminate the organization or<br />

the cult there. In other places, however, the cult may not have had such a complex<br />

structure.<br />

See further: Vol. 1, 275, 281; Merlat (1960) 190-7; H6rig(1984).<br />

12.3a Patrons and Initiates (A.D. 200-250)<br />

This text presents a list of the initiates ('brothers') of the sanctuary. After the<br />

heading there follow six columns with the names of a patron and candidates.<br />

The terminology of the hierarchy is important. The candidates seem to form an<br />

intermediate category between the ordinary worshippers and the priesthood to<br />

which they aspire. The patrons, whose names were written in larger letters<br />

(immediately under the title 'Patron'), were themselves candidates, but of superior<br />

wealth and social status to those listed under them. The father of the candidates<br />

mentioned in the hist paragraph was responsible for their initiation.<br />

The names are the mixture of Roman, Greek and other (Semitic: Bacradis,<br />

lor Barcadis; perhaps Celtic: Aturmarurius) characteristic of <strong>Rome</strong> at this<br />

period (cf. Vol. 1, 245-7, 293-4). Three, with single names, were slaves, the<br />

rest citizens (whether freebom or ex-slave is unclear).<br />

/i£(1940) 75; Horig and Schwertheim (1987) no.373<br />

Good Fortune<br />

By order of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Dolichenus eternal preserver, Annius Julianus and<br />

Annius Victor, patrons of this place, put up a marble plaque as a gift in honour of their<br />

brothers, both patrons and candidates, through Marcus Aurelius Oenopio Acacius, priest<br />

and father of the candidates. 1<br />

Patron<br />

Aurelius Magnesius<br />

Lamrpias <br />

Patron<br />

Memmius Leo 2<br />

Patron<br />

Aurelius Sarapiacus<br />

Geminus Felix<br />

Vibius Eutycianus<br />

Cornelius Crescentianus<br />

Aurelius Victorianus<br />

Aurelius Timotheus<br />

Patron<br />

Aurelius Asclepiodotus<br />

Marcus Aurelius Eutyces<br />

Aturmarurius<br />

Titus Annius Nicevitus<br />

Florus Aelianus<br />

Campanus Iunior<br />

295

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!