Inscription

Honourific inscription to Aurelia Oppia by the polis of Sparta

"INSCRIPTION TEXT"

1 Ἡ π̣όλις vac.
[τὴν φιλ]οσοφωτάτην καὶ σωφρο-
[νεστάτη]ν Αὐρηλίαν Ὀππίαν, vac.
[τοῦ] φιλοσοφωτάτου Καλλι-
5 [κράτους?] θυγατέρα, vac.
[γυναῖκα] δὲ τοῦ εὐγενεστάτου vac.
[Μ(άρκου) Αὐρ(ηλίου) Τε]ι̣σαμενοῦ τοῦ Στρατα̣-
[— — — —]ου, καὶ ὡς χρηματίζει̣, vac.
[Ἑστίαν π]ό̣λ̣εως, νέαν Πηνελόπ̣[ει]-
10 [αν καὶ Λαοδα]μία̣ν, ἀ̣ρετῆς πάση̣[ς]
[καὶ εὐνοίας] καὶ τῆς πε̣ρὶ τὰς θεὰ[ς εὐ]-
[σεβείας ἕν]εκα, vac. προσδεξαμέν̣[ου]
[τὸ ἀνάλωμα] vac. Μ(άρκου) Αὐρ(ηλίου) Εὐτυχιανο[ῦ]
[τοῦ καὶ Αὐρ]η̣λιανοῦ τοῦ Εὐτυχ̣[ι]-
15 [ανοῦ, πατρὸς] νόμων καὶ πόλε-
[ως, τοῦ γαμβ]ροῦ αὐτῆς. vac.
vacat
17 [ἔφυ ποιητὴ̣]ς τοὐπιγράμματ̣[ος Κλέων?].
[Ὀππίαν σω]φροσύνη κοσμεῖ περιώ̣[σιον ἄλλων],
[καὶ πινυτ]ὴ σοφίη τήνδε κατηγλάισεν.
20 [ἧ φιλέει μάλ]α δή σε φιλομειδὴς [Ἀφροδίτη],
[σεῖο φιλαν]δ̣ρ̣είης εἴνε[κα κλεινοτάτης]

Inscription Type:	Honourific inscription
Date:	3rd c. CE
Location:	Sparta
Museum (Storage Place:
Inv. no:
Name of Woman	Αυρηλία Οππία
Civic Presence (Social Role Represented):	Received honours - Hestia of the polis - new Penelope – new Laodamia
Comments:	Fragment of a marble column bearing a mutilated honourific inscription set up by the polis of Sparta for the most philosophical and moderate Aurelia Oppia, daughter of the most philosophical Kallikrates and wife of the most noble M. Aurelius Teisamenos in recognition of her virtue, sobriety and piety, for which she was praised as Hestia of the polis and new Penelope and new Laodamia. The inscription comprises an epigram singing her praises (ll. 17-21): more specifically, her moderation, wisdom and love for her husband were praised and Aphrodite is presented to have felt affection for her. On Aurelia Oppia, see Bradford, 327-328. The name Oppia is recorded as a gentilicium in Solin – Salomies, 132, s.v. Oppius.
Bibliography:	IG V 1, 598; RP II, LAC 64, πρβλ. Peek, ZPE 31, 1978, 254 (SEG 28, 1978, 413; BÉ 1979, 198)
Author:	Giorgos Mitropoulos
Added:	2024-08-15
Edited: