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The Cults of Olbia (Part II.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2013

G. M. Hirst
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Extract

Neither literature nor coins bear any witness to the cult of Aphrodite at Olbia, but we have an inscription which is of the highest interest.

[᾿Αφρο]δίτηι Εὐπλοίαι

[Ποσ]ιδεος Ποσιδείου

χαριστήριον

This inscription is of the first century after Christ; Posideos the son of Posideos is no doubt the same individual who dedicated offerings at Neapolis to Zeus Atabyrios, Athene Lindia, and ᾿ Αχιλλεῖ νήσου [μεδέοντι] Boeckh conjectures him to have been a Rhodian, no doubt because of the dedications to Athene Lindia and Zeus Atabyrios, and also because Aphrodite Euploia was worshipped at Cnidus.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Hellenic Studies , Volume 23 , November 1903 , pp. 24 - 53
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies 1903

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References

1 Latyschev, i. 94.

2 Latyschev, i. 242, 243, 244.

3 C.I.G. ii. 2103 b.

4 i. 1, 3.

5 Note that Farnell, (Gk. Cults, ii. p. 689 Google Scholar) supports the view that the Cnidian statue by Praxiteles represented Aphrodite Εὔπλοια

6 C.I.A. ii.3 1206.

7 Notice Farnell's, curious error (Greek Cults, ii. p. 733 Google Scholar) in dating this inscription in the latter part of the fourth century B.C.

8 C.I.G. 4443.

9 καὶ, Μονσ. Βιβλιοθ. Σμύρνης, 1875, p. 50 Google Scholar; B.C.H. v. 1880, 108; xii. 1888, 30.

10 Collitz, , Dial.-Inschr. 3364 b, 1. 14.Google Scholar

11 Latyschev, ii. 25.

12 For this connection with Poseidon compare Paus. vii. 24, 2, πρὸς θαλάσσης Αφροδίτης ἰερὸν ἐν Αίγίῳ καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτὸ Ποσειδῶνοσ and also Compte Rendu 1881, 134–5; 1877, 246 et seq. with the Atlas, Plate v. No. 1, where Aphrodite appears with a dolphin on a vase. C.I.G. 7390, gives the inscription on a black figured vase in which Poseidon appears with a female in a chariot, Αφροδίτης Ποσειδῶνος Πυθοκλῆσ καλόσ

13 C.I.G. 7309, on which Boechh comments, ‘pertinuit ad navigationem in pelago amoris.’

14 C.I.G. 8514.

15 Is it worth while to note, in view of the supposition that Posideos was a Rhodian, that the head of the sun appears on this lamp? ‘in extrema navicula caput radiatum Solis, quale esse solet in nummis Rhodiorum’ (Boeckh).

16 Gr. Götterlehre, ii. p. 706.

17 Zeitschr.f. d. Alterth. 1845. S. 166.

18 C.I.G. ii. 2133, Lat. ii. 469.

19 Lat. ii. 352.

20 Lat. ii. 19.

21 Lat. ii. 28.

22 Lat. ii. 349, C.I.G. 2120. Another, Lat. iv. 419 (fourth century B.C.).

23 Gr. Myth. i. p. 378.

24 The word Απάτουροσ is of course derived from the Ionic festival of the Apatouria.

25 Gk. Cults, ii, p. 656 et seq.

26 See references in Pauly-Wissowa, , under Apaturion. I. p. 2680 Google Scholar. One of the Olbian months had this title, Lat. i. 28.

27 Compte Rendu, 1859, p. 126. Atlas, plate iv. No. 1, Farnell, Gk. Cults, ii. p. 686 Google Scholar, note.

28 Compte Rendu, 1871, plate v. No. 3, and p. 138, 184.

29 Lat. iv. 28 a.

30 Lat. ii. 343, 347, iv. 419.

31 Lat. ii. 19, 28.

33 Gk. Cults, ii. p. 629.

33 Mus. du P. K. i. 59.

34 Die Antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands, i. 1. Plate X. No. 6.

35 loc. cit. pp. 62, 63.

36 Lat. ii. 344.

37 Brit. Mus. Cat. Pontus, , p. 3 Google Scholar, Pl. I. 6.

38 Lat. ii. 11, Dittenoerger, Syll,2 No. 326, see also, Paus. 4. 31. 8. Εφεσίαν δὲ ᾿´ Αρτεμιν πόλεις τε νομίζουσιν αἰ πᾶσαι καὶ ἄνδρας ιδίᾳ θεῶν μἀλιστα ἄγουσιν ἐν τιμῆ

39 Lat. ii. 421.

40 Lat. i. 184, 185.

41 See Berlin, Catalogue under Chersonesus, and note especially Taf. i. 6 Google Scholar.

42 Quoted by Farnell, , Gk. Culls, ii. 567 Google Scholar from Revue des Études Grecques, 1891, p. 338.

43 iv. 103.

44 Greek Gulls, ii. 452, 3.

45 ii. 35, 1.

46 Early Age of Greece, vol. i. p. 182.

47 Lat. iv. 82.

48 Lat. i. 243.

49 Cp. Lenormaut, , La Monnaie dans l'Antiquité, vol. i. p. 157.Google Scholar

50 Lat. i. 11.

51 Lat. i. 12. These need not necessarily liave been coins of Olbia, but may have been from Panticapaeum or Cyzicus.

52 Herod, iv. 17.

53 De Koehne assigns them to the beginning of the fifth century or even earlier.

54 Pick, Pl. viii. 1.

55 Pl. x. 17.

56 Myth, and Monum. of Ancient Athens, Harrison, and Verrall, , p. 454 Google Scholar.

57 Gk. Cults, i. p. 259.

58 Herod, i. 19.

59 Ion, 987 et seq.

60 He regards the two references to the Gorgoneion, in the Iliad, (xi. 35–6, y. 741)Google Scholar as interpolations.

61 Bull. Corr. Hell. xii. (1888), p. 471. Pl. xii.

62 Daremberg-Saglio, Fig. 3633.

63 Daremb.-Sagl., Fig. 3639.

64 Comete Rendū, 1877, Pl. ii. 1, and p. 7.

65 See J.H.S. xiii. 1892, p. 236, Fig. 4; p. 238, Fig. 10. (note that hore Fig. 4 is assigned to the sixth century).

66 Antiq. dio Bosp. Cimm. Pl. xxi. 12, etc.

67 An example of the beautiful head, without wings, is given in Compte Rendu, 1876, Pl. iii. 28, p. 147.

68 loc. cit. Pl. viii. 4. It is given in the Berlin Catalogue, p. 19. A specimen has been added to the British Museum collection since the publication of the catalogue of Olbian coins, and is given in the accompanying Fig. 7.

69 Types of Greek Coins, Pl. vi. 22.

70 ibid. Pl. vii. 35.

71 ibid. Pl. x. 46.

72 On the coins bearing full-face heads of Nymphs, the representatives of a very large class, see Gardner, loc. cit. p. 154.

73 Note the occurrence of the town-name in this form.

74 De Koehne (p. 35, No. 6) describes a similar coin as ‘Tête de Méduse, d'un style plus moderne et avec une belle expression.’

75 Zeitschr. f. Num. xiv. 1887, p. 5.

76 Cp. similar coin (not the same) in accompanying Fig. 8.

77 Is this the same coin as Pick's example, Pl. x. 10?

78 Given by De Koehne, loc. cit. p 42 No. 3.

79 Gk. Cults, i. p. 121, 61.

80 Lat. i. 91.

81 Lat. i. 92.

82 Lat. i. 202.

83 Lat. ii. 29.

84 Cp. the dedication to Athene Σώτειρα at Chersonesus, fourth century B.C., Lat. iv. 82.

85 Note that Farnell does not quote any of the above inscriptions in his geographical register.

86 Lat. iv. 458.

87 i. 105.

88 For other references to eult of Zeus βασι λεύς see Pauly-Wissowa, , Real.-Encycl. iii. p. 82 Google Scholar, and especially Mr.Greenwell's, article, J.H.S. vol. ii. p. 78.Google Scholar

89 Lat. i. 101.

90 Gk. Cults, i. p. 161.

91 Lat. i. 21.

92 Gk. Cults, i. p. 55.

93 J.H.S. 1891, p. 226.

94 (Gr. Myth.) 12. 867.

95 See Brit. Mus. Car. of Coins, Lycaunia, p. lvi. note, ‘ολβιος well-known epithet of Zeus, would mean (1) the god of prosperity, (2) the god of Olba,’ [or in this case of Olbia]. ‘The abstract idea of prosperity is represented by the eoncrete god Zeus Olbios.’ The coins of Olba with throne and thunderbolt of Zeus Olbios date probably at the end of the tirst century B.C. and the beginning of the next.

96 Lat. i. 242.

97 Welcker, , Gr. G. ii. 282 Google Scholar, Polyb. xi. 27.

98 Gr. Myth. i.1 136.

99 loc. cit. p. 59.

100 Pl. xi. 4.

101 De Koehne, loc. cit. p. 88.

102 Pl. xi. 22.

103 If the attribution to Zeus is accepted, might it be considered as a representation of Zeus ολβιος in consideration of the reverse type?

104 Preller-Kobeit, , Gr. Myth. i 1. 385.Google Scholar

105 Lat. iv. 459.

106 For references to other places where Hernies and Heracles appear together, see Preller-Robert, i. p. 415, n. 4.

107 Lat. i. 75. 76.

108 Pl. x. 32. 33. See also De Koehne, loc. cit. i. p. 66.

109 Pl. xii. 9.

110 loc. cit. i. 71.

111 Lat. ii. 25.

112 loc. cit. p. 44. 45.

113 This is apparently the coin given by Pick, Pl. ix. 32.

114 Among other references may be given Herod. i. 148, Paus. vii. 24. 5, ( Frazer's, note), Mitth. d. Arch. Inst. 10. (1885), p 32 Google Scholar, Bull. Corr. Hell. 13. (1889), p. 279.

115 Herod, iv. 78, 79.—an important passage in many ways, illustrating as it does the high degree of Greek civilization attained at Olbia, and the impression it produced on the Scythian king. Kawliiison (ad. loc.) says, ‘The Milesian colonists seem to have carried the worship of the Phrygian Bacchus (Sabazius) to Olbia. Hence Olbia itself was called Σαβϊα or Σαυϊα (Peripl. P. Eux. p. 151)’—surely a most improbable derivation.

116 Lat. i. 12.

117 Lat. ii. 18, iv. 199.

118 Compte Rendu (passim) and Anliq. Bosp. Cimm. e.g. Pl. lx.

119 Herod. iv. 59, 62.

120 The cast from which this photograph was made, was obtained through the kindness of Dr. H. Dressel, of the Royal Museum at Berlin, as were others referred to below.

It appears in Pick's plates (xii. i.).

121 Loc, cit. i. p. 84.

122 Pl. xi. 21.

123 Nos. 115, 116 are similar.

124 Pl. ix. 31.

125 loc. cit. p. 58, 59.

126 Note that the Berlin catalogue gives a coin, No. 32, with Heracles as a reverse type, and ‘over the head a small round counter-mark with youthful Helios-head with rays.’

127 Mionnet. Suppl. iv. p. 574, 131.

128 British Museum Catalogue, ‘Pontus,’ Pl. xxii. 15 (date circa. B.C. 290–250).

129 But note tlie possible adoption from Sinope of the eagle standing on fish, as reverse type, referred to under Demeter.

130 Büchsenschütz, , Besitz und Erwerb, p. 422–4Google Scholar. See Inscr. Grace. Insul. Maris Acg. i. p. 175, (appendix on Rhodian jar-handles), also an exhaustive article by Becker, , (Mélanges Gréco-Rom. vol. i. p. 416)Google Scholar.

131 Lat. ii. 54.

132 Lat. ii. 400.

133 i. 98.

134 Dittenberger, , Syll. ii. 837 Google Scholar (2nd edit.).

135 Historia Numorum, p. 235, (under Istros).

136 Latyschev, , i. 18, C.I.G. ii. add. p. 1000 Google Scholar. No. 2083. b.

137 loc. cit. p. 57.

138 Lat. iv. 27. Note that, Lalyschev thinks the absence of the (v) in the 2nd. line is the stonecutter's error, as it would be unusual for the uncle's name to be omitted.

139 C.I.G. 2882.

140 Lat. i. 16, B. 46.

141 loc. cit. p. 7. The relief is given by Uvarov, Recherches sur les Antiquités de la Rassie méridionale, 120 Google Scholar, Taf. 13.

142 Greek Votive Offerings, p. 20. Mr. Rouse is here following the author of the article Heros in Roscher's Lexicon (i. 2571), who suggests the attribution of the relief to Achilles.

143 See Mr. Rouse himself, loc. cit. p. 210–212, on the custom ‘of dedicating models of the diseased part…Votive eyes…make up two-fifths of the whole number. Next to the eye comes the trunk.’

144 Lat. i. 189.

145 Lat. ii. 30.

146 Orat. xxxvi. 439. M.

147 In Pauly-Wissowa, Real.-Encycl. s.v. Achilleus.

148 In Roseher's Lex. s.v. Achilleus.

149 This is the view of Koehler, but Latyschev thinks Leuke is meant (op. cit. i. p. 167). It should be noted that C.I.G. 2. 2076 (= Lat. i. 77), which Fleischer quotes as being found on Berezan, Latyschev says is of uncertain attribution.

150 i. 17.

151 Lat. iv. 63.

152 Note also a fragmentary inscription from Neapolis of the second century B.C.; apparently a dedication to Achilles (Lat. iv. 191).

153 Lat. i. 172.

154 For the form of the dedication cp. the one at Neapolis by Posideos Αχιλλεῖ νήσον [μεδέοντι] Lat. i. 244.

155 Lat, i, 171.

156 Lat. i. 13.

157 Scyl. Peripl. 68; Arrian, . Per. 32 Google Scholar; Anon., Peripl. 66 Google Scholar; Amm. Marc. xxii. 8, 35; Tyr., Max. diss. xx. 7 Google Scholar; Philostr, , Heroic 20, 35Google Scholar.

158 i. 77–83, iv. 17–19.

159 For the dispersion of the stones of Olbia, Latyschev quotes Uvarov, (Rech. p. 32). Lat. iv. 18, is said actually to have been found among the ruins of Olbia.

160 Dittenberger, , Syll. 2 600 Google Scholar; Michel, , Recueil, 839 Google Scholar, B. 2, 27.

161 loc cit. i. p. 84, 85, 88,

162 iv. 8, 9.

163 Herod. iv. 82.

164 loc. cit. i. 99. It should be said also that on the other side is an inscription of mudi later date, given i. 67.

165 Latyschv, i. 16.

166 Lat. iv. 459.

167 Lat. i. 245. from Nikita, probably 3rd century B.C.; Lat. ii. 24, from Panticapaeum of 4th century B.C.; and Lat. ii. 350, from Phanagoria of 2nd century B.C.

168 Lat. ii. 41. There are two similar from Phanagoria, ii. 358, 361.

169 Perhaps the dedication from Panticapaeum (Lat. iv. 200) to Διΐ Γενάρχηι should be compared with this.

170 Pl. x. 18–20; cp. Berlin Catalogue, 32, 117, 118.

171 Pl. x. 21–25; cp. De Koehne, loc. cit. p. 48. No. 54.

172 Of these coins De Koehne says, ‘Les dernières pièces de ce type indiquent déjà une époque de décadence.’

173 Lat. i. 12, 114.

174 Cp. Herod. iv. 47; et seq. and esp. iv. 82, Θωμάσια δὲ ἠ χώρῃ αὔτη οὐκ ἔχει χωρὶς ὄτι ποτα μούς τε πολλῷ μεγίστους καὶ ἀριθμὸν πλείστους

175 Herod. iv. 59.

176 Transactions of Royal Soc. of Literature, vol. xi. second series, p. 174, et seq.

177 Pick, Pl. xi. 23, Berlin Catalogue, 132, De Koehne, loc. cit. p. 84, explains it as referring to the fact that the wealth of Olbia largely consisted in cattle.

178 Pick, Pl. xii. 3.

179 Professor Jebb, on ἤντεσ Sophocles, , Trach. 13 Google Scholar. The Achelous appears thus on an archaic coin of Metapontum in Lucania, , Millingen, , Anc. Coins of Grk. Citics and Kings, Pl. i. 21 Google Scholar. The coin given by Head, , Hist. Num. p. 63 Google Scholar, is not the same.

180 The casts from which these photographs were made were furnished by the kindness of Dr. Dressel.

181 Pick, Pl. ix. 26 (Imhoof-Blumer collection).

182 Pick, ix. 27 (obverse only; the reverse numbered 27, belongs to the third coin (d) in the present illustrations), Imhoof-Blumer collection. An example is in the British Museum, No. 10, cut on p. 12 (Catal. ‘Thrace’).

183 Imhoof-Blumer collection.

184 In the Berlin collection, but not in the catalogue; Pick's coin (Pl. ix. 28) is similar, but not the same.

185 Compte Rendu, 1864, p. 142.

186 Berlin Catalogue, No. 93, Pick's coin, Pl. ix. 29, is not unlike this, but the resemblance is not very close.

187 The coin given by Pick (Pl. ix. 32) already noted as being ascribed by De Koehne to Poseidon should probably be assigned to this series, as the reverse type is the same. The type of the head on the obverse is different from those given; it is very large, almost filling up the surface of the coin, and the horns cannot be seen on the forehead.

188 An Olbian inscription found in 1900 (Lat. iv. 460), of the fourth century B.C., refers to archery contests held at Olbia. These must have been imitated from the Scythians, as Greeks in other places do not seem to have had them.

189 Herod., iv. 18.

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