8.86. Restoration of statues by Grypos

Description:: Parts of the combined architrave and frieze from the north side of the Doric entablature of the theatre stage. Four pieces from three white marble frieze blocks. a: a complete block (length W. 1.43) b two fragments, (W. 0.64 and W. 0.62); c broken, length W. 0.585. d is the left, recessed end of the block bearing the opening of (unpublished).
Text:: Inscribed in one line on the fascia, height H. 0.055
Letters:: Capitals of the second century A.D.0.04. ΗΝ in ligature.
Date:: A.D. 167-8 (prosopography: Maximus recorded as quaestor Asiae)
Findspot:: Theatre: fallen on the north side of the stage; close to other elements of the entablature.
Original Location:: Theatre proskeneion frieze, at north end. Inscribed on the blocks which make up the cornice, of the Doric order, above 8.1, the inscription of Zoilos, across the back of the Theatre stage. The blocks have simple moulding above, supporting water spouts in the form of lions' heads; the underside has a decoration of mutules.
Last recorded location:: Findspot, restored at the north end of the entablature.
History of discovery:: Excavated by the NYU expedition in 1967 (a: 67.548, b: 67.547, c: 67.546, d: 67.540).
Bibliography:: Published byReynolds, Aphrodisias & Rome, doc. 53, whence SEG 1982.1097, BullEp 1983.391, AnnEpig 1984.882, McCabe PHI Aphrodisias 196
Text constituted from:: Transcription (Reynolds); publications This edition Reynolds (1982).

1 vac. κατὰ τὴν Ἰουνίου Μαξίμου τοῦ κρατίσ|του ταμίου κρίσιν τοὺς δύο ἀνδριάντα̣|[ς Γρ]ύ̣πος Ἀρτεμιδώρου ἀποκαθέστη|[σ]ε̣ν

1 ΚΑΤΑΤΗΝΙΟΥΝΙΟΥΜΑΞΙΜΟΥΤΟΥΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΟΥΤΑΜΙΟΥΚΡΙΣΙΝΤΟΥΣΔΥΟΑΝΔΡΙΑΝΤ·[···]·ΠΟΣΑΡΤΕΜΙΔΩΡΟΥΑΠΟΚΑΘΕΣΤΗ[·]·Ν

<ab>

κατὰ

τὴν

Ἰουνίου

Μαξίμου

τοῦ

κρατίσ

του

ταμίου

κρίσιν

τοὺς

δύο

ἀνδριάντ

</unclear>

</supplied>

Γρ

</supplied>

ύ

</unclear>

πος

Ἀρτεμιδώρου

ἀποκαθέστη

</supplied>

</unclear>

</ab>

Apparatus

Upright lines indicate block ends.

Restoration of the entablature appears to indicate that the whole ttext was contained on these three blocks, although the absence of names for those represented by the statues is surprising.

Translation:

According to the decision of Iunius Maximus the eminent Quaestor,[Gr]ypos son of Artemidoros restored the two statues .

Commentary:

For the quaestor, Junius Maximus, see PIR2 I 0774, and G. Alföldy/H. Halfman ZPE 35 (1979), 195f., Reynolds, Aphrodisias Papers 2, 19. As tribune in 165-6 he brought news of vistory in Partia to Rome, and was rewarded by the quaestorship held in Asia in 167-8. This text suggests that he was treated there as one whose actions conferred éclat on those involved with him, since the Aphrodisians seem to have invited his judgement on a matter on which, as far as we know, they were under no obligation to do so

Grypos son of Artemidoros belonged to a family attested as active in the city from the Flavian period to the late second century A.D., but at present we have no other record of his activities.

The statues restored may have had names on their bases, or possibly represented not persons but deities or concepts too obvious to need them.