Αναθηματικαί επιγραφαί εξ Άτραγος και Φαρσάλων
Part of : Αρχαιολογικά ανάλεκτα εξ Αθηνών ; Vol.VII, No.2, 1974, pages 273-286
Issue:
Pages:
273-286
Parallel Title:
Votive inscriptions from Atrax and Pharsalos
Section Title:
Σύμμεικτα
Author:
Abstract:
Of the three votive inscriptions published here, two were discovered at the ancient site of Atrax, in October 1971, and the third was unearthed in the city of Pharsalos, in December1972. Of the first two, which were found close together, the one is dedicated to ’Αγοραία Θέμις (figs. 1 and 2 ) and the other to ’Αγοραία Άθηνα ( f i g s. 3 and 4 ). The main text of the inscriptions, which includes the names of the tagoi and archontes, is dated to the beginning and to the second half of the 5th century B.C. respectively. In both inscriptions the first line, which records the name of the goddess to whom each stele was dedicated, was added at a later date, in the first half of the 4th century B.C., most probably by the same engraver. Although the stelae were not found in situ, the place where they were discovered ( field of G. Zarimbas ) belongs in all probability to the site of the ancient agora of Atrax. The later addition of the name of the goddess on both stelae at the same time, long after they were originally set up, is particularly significant for the study of the evolution of religion in the ancient cities of Thessaly.The votive stele from Pharsalos (figs. 5 and 6 ) came to light by themodern Demarcheion Square, which corresponds to the site of the ancient agora of Pharsalos. According to the text of the inscription, which is written in verse, the stele was dedicated by Polycharmos, son of Agathon, to Zeus Olympios, whose altar stood nearby. Although the name Olympios’ is quite commonly attributed to Zeus by ancient authors, this is —to my knowledge— the first instance of a votive inscription dedicated to Zeus Olympios by a Thessalian city. The only other locality in Thessaly that has yielded votive inscriptions to Zeus Olympios, is the peak 'Haghios Antonios’ of Mount Olympos itself ( Arch. Delt. 22 : Mel., 6 ). The name of Zeus Olympios also occurs in two inscriptions from Dion {Arch. Delt. 21 : Chron., 347 ). The inscription from Pharsalos is dated to the beginning of the 4th century B.C. One may well wonder whether the dedicant of this inscription is the Pharsalian Polycharmos, who was killed in the battle of Narthakion, in 394 B.G., fighting at the head of the Thessalian cavalry against Agesilaos ( Xenoph. Hellen. IV, 3, 8 ).
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Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Λάρισα
Notes:
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