Delphi (57 page)

CHAPTER 10. RENAISSANCE

1
. Nicopolis: Strabo 7.7.6. In later years, Nicopolis would dedicate a statue in the Apollo sanctuary at Delphi:
FD
III 1 542 (end first century
AD
). The first attested epimeletai (under Tiberius), and their immediate successors, would also happen to be from the city: Pouilloux 1980: 284–87. Augustus and the Amphictyony: Parke and Wormell 1956a: 283. Epimeletai: Sanchez 2001: 529, Weir 2004: 56. There had been informal epimeletai appointments under the Aetolians. The surviving inscriptions record epimeletai from the time of Tiberius to the end of second century
AD
: Pouilloux 1980: 282. For discussion of the reorganization of the Amphictyony, see Daux 1975: 354–55, 9.

2
. Discussion over the letter E: Plut.
Mor.
384–394. Livia's offering: Plut.
Mor.
385F; Jacquemin 1999: 75.

3
. Spawforth 2012: 147. See Agora XVI 337.7–8.

4
. “Lively interest” in Olympia: see Spawforth 2012: 164. No need for oracles: see Strabo's description of Delphi and its current poor state in the early first century
AD
: 9.3.6–8. Chryselephantine statue: e.g., Langenfeld 1975: 247–48. Strabo's description of Zeus at Olympia: Strabo 8.3.30.

5
. Privileged position of Greece in Roman world: Barrow 1967: 2. Roman misunderstanding of the Amphictyony: Plin.
HN
35.35.59. See Spawforth 2012: 160–61.

6
. Robert 1929: 37, Weir 2004: 109.

7
. Only Delphi and Amphictyony dedications: Jacquemin 1999: 79. Athens honoring Augustus: Jacquemin
079.

8
. Barrow 1967: 2–3.

9
. Tiberius: Amphictyony:
CID
IV 136. City of Delphi: Jacquemin
200.
Agripinna Major:
CID
IV 133.

10
. Statue of Poppaeus: Jacquemin
189.
For discussion of the accompanying inscription and the “saving” referred to, see Eilers 2001. Statue of Theocles: Jacquemin
197
(while in post); Jacquemin
198
(when retired). Epimeletai from Nicopolis: Pouilloux 1980: 293.

11
. Amphictyony: Jacquemin
031
(Caligula),
CID
IV 137 (Drusilla). Koinon: Jacquemin
008
,
IG
VII 2711.

12
. Measures of L. Iunius Gallio:
FD
III 4 286 (AD 52); Pouilloux 1971: 377. Unbroken chain of Imperial communication: see Jacquemin 1999: 274, Weir 2004: 88. Publicly inscribing Claudius's letter on the temple: Weir 2004: 89.

13
. Claudius statues: Jacquemin
155, 156.
Statue of Claudius erected in the third century
AD
by the city of Delphi (reusing a base originally set up in the sanctuary by Pharselis): Jacquemin
157.
Claudius as magistrate at Delphi:
SEG
51.607; Spawforth 2012: 235. The eponymous archon was a member of the city of Delphi's prytaneis, a board of nine magistrates tasked with overseeing the city's role in administering the Delphic sanctuaries, as well as the money given to the sanctuary by the Amphictyony and ruling as judicial magistrates over the city: Arnush 1991: 11–15.

14
. Secretary of the Archives: Weir 2004: 51, 55. Stars of stadium and theater: Jacquemin 1999: 79. Theater refurbishment: Picard 1991: 129, Partida 2009: 306. All this during a time, when, as has been recently highlighted, most cities in Greece were cobbling together both private and public funds to continue hosting their festivals: Camia 2011: 73. Competitions for Maidens:
FD
III 1 534; Weir 2004: 138.

15
. Musical competitions had to be inserted into the games at Olympia for him: Spawforth 2012: 236. Declaring freedom of Greece: Barrow 1967: 2–3.

16
. Reorganizing the Amphictyony: Jacquemin 1999: 229. Statue of Nero:
CID
IV 138 (end
AD
54). Agrippina Minor (AD 54–55): Jacquemin
144.
Nero's consultation of the oracle: Parke and Wormell
461;
Parke and Wormell 1956a: 283.

17
. Settling soldiers on sacred land: Dio Cass. 62.14.2; Dio Chrys. 31.148; Paus. 10.7.1; Rousset 2002a: 275. Removing statues: Plin.
HN
34.36. Pliny is at pains to point out that this still left over three thousand statues at Delphi. For descriptions of Nero's collection in the Domus Aurea (Golden House) in Rome: Tac.
Ann.
15.45, 16.23. Removing a statue from Amphictyonic dedication: Jacquemin 1999: 228.

18
. Parke and Wormell
597, 243.
This story also signifies how prevalent, by the time of Nero, the understanding that the Pythia was inspired by vapors must have been (even though the first time it is mentioned in the sources is the first century
BC
in Diodorus Siculus: see
chapter 1
).

19
. Weir 2004: 133.

20
. Titus/Domitian statue:
Syll
³
817; Spawforth 2012: 238. Statue: Jacquemin
201
Domitian inscription:
Syll
³
821A;
FD
III 4 120; Haussoullier 1882: 451, Jacquemin 1999: 75.Where it was placed, see Weir 2004: 153, Spawforth 2012: 238. What Domitian was repairing: Weir 2004: 93. Plaque from the Cnidian treasury: Courby 1927: 219.

21
. Difficult times for Rome: Weir 2004: 151. Domitian's involvement in procession between Athens and Delphi: Weir 2004: 149–50. Letter from Domitian to Delphi:
Syll
³
821C.2–3; Sanchez 2001: 450–51, Spawforth 2012: 238. Publication and copying of the games: Weir 2004: 166.

22
.
Agonothetes
: these officials had been part of the Soteria festival in the third century
BC
, but not the Pythian:
FD
III 4 125–28. Return to local control: Sanchez 2001: 529, Spawforth 2012: 56–58.

23
. Statue of Domitian by temple:
FD
III 4 444. Thought originally to be for Augustus, this has now been disproved: Jacquemin and Laroche 1986: 785–88. For discussion, see Courby 1927: 277–81. For the niche,
Guide de Delphes
528
; Bommelaer 1991: 171. See Weir 2004: 94, 153.

24
. Additions to the gymnasium: Pouilloux 1980: 289, Bommelaer 1991: 73, 76, Weir 2004: 101–103. New library and dining room: Weir 2004: 101. The new colonnade more likely belonged to the Hadriannic period (AD 117–38). Peristyle house:
Guide de Delphes
299.
Rebuild of Pythia's house:
Syll
³
823A. Discussion: Bousquet 1952b: 28–29.

25
. Dio Chrysostom: Parke and Wormell
462.
Nerva: Jacquemin
185;
Trajan:
CID
IV 149. A citizen of Delphi even erected a statue to Matidia Minor, half-sister of the Empress Sabina and wife of the Emperor Hadrian: Jacquemin
256.
Amphictyony honors proconsul of Asia:
CID
IV 143; City of Delphi honors proconsul: Jacquemin
154
.

26
. Amphictyony honoring an agonothetes: Jacquemin
055;
wife of the epimelete: Jacquemin
174;
Agonothetes: Jacquemin
175;
Grammarian Jacquemin
179.
Gortyn: Jacquemin
304.
Hypata:
Syll
³
925B. Sophists: Jacquemin
470–71.
Memmia Lupa: Bommelaer 1991: 101, 210. Statue: Jacquemin
258.

27
. Letters:
FD
III 4 287–88;
FD
III 4 301. This was perhaps a Delphic initiative to draw the emperor into communication with the sanctuary: Flacelière 1976. Balancing the books: Barrow 1967: 4.

28
.
FD
III 4 290–99; Rousset 2002a: 145, Rousset 2002b: 219, Weir 2004: 50. It is interesting that in these inscriptions the land in question—the sacred land that for centuries could not be cultivated on pain of displeasing Apollo—is referred to simply as the territory of Delphi. It seems that parts of Delphi's sacred history—by the Roman corrector, at least—are being forgotten: Rousset 1996: 47. As a result, the city of Delphi now has full control over a vast area of land it could exploit, divide, and sublet, allowing it much more financial muscle in comparison to most major central Greek cities: Rousset 2002b: 241.

29
. Dio Cass. 69.2.5. The status of a corrector, established first under Trajan, evolves over the course of the second and third centuries
AD
. Established first as a position to help (and control) free cities over which the proconsul of a province had no authority (like Delphi), by the third century
AD
, the same individual
could be proconsul and corrector (e.g., Cn. Claudius Leonticus who is known at Delphi), suggesting the evolution of a greater degree of control over free cities during this time: Vatin 1965: 136–43.

30
. Lamprias:
SEG
1.181; Jones 1971: 10.
Homonoia: Syll
³
843. In the late second century
AD
, citizens of Chaeronea would be made citizens of Delphi:
Syll
³
824. Plutarch's Roman citizenship:
Syll
³
829A; Barrow 1967: 12. Traveling and education: Plutarch was asked when in Sardis for his advice on how to carry out public duties, for which he wrote a treatise on the precepts of government: Plut.
Mor.
798A–825F; Barrow 1967: 132. Friends with Sosius: Plut.
Vit. Thes.
; Barrow 1967: 41. His brother's son: Apul.
Met.
1.2.

31
. First visit to Delphi: Barrow 1967: 30. Roles at Delphi: Barrow 1967: 31. See also
Syll
3 829A (as epimelete supervising the erection of a statue in honor of the Emperor Hadrian). Procurator: Jones 1971: 33–34. Plutarch also held a series of offices in his home town of Chaeronea, and was a
boeotarch
for Boeotia: Barrow 1967: 13. Friendship with Nigrinus: Barrow 1967: 36–40, Jacquemin 1991a: 217. Portrait bust: Jacquemin
106
;
CID
IV 151. There is also a surviving bust (on display at the museum at Delphi), which has been identified with Plutarch: Picard 1991: 135.

32
. See Mossman 1997, Pelling 2002.

33
. Plut.
Mor.
384D. See Barrow 1967: 32.

34
. Plut.
Mor.
384D–394C.

35
. Ibid., 394D–409D.

36
. Ibid.,. 409E–438E.

37
. Particularly in comparison to the claim of Juvenal that the oracle had fallen silent, and rival claims in other Roman literature: Juv. 6.555. Contrast Mart. 9.42 and Stat.
Theb.
3.474.

38
. Ignorant guides: e.g., Plut.
Mor.
386B, 400D. See Jacquemin 1999: 263–64; 269–70. Rhodopis: Plut.
Mor.
401A. For confusion and discussion over the meaning of dedications, such as the frogs and water snakes of the Corinthians and Axes of Tenedus: Plut.
Mor.
399F–400D.

39
. Memory at Delphi: Jacquemin 1991a: 218–20. Treatises on dedications: Jacquemin 1991a: 221–22. Corycian cave: Jacquemin 1984b, Jacquemin 1999: 270.

40
. Division of year between Apollo and Dionysus: Plut.
Mor.
388E; Roux 1976: 175. Pythia: see Roux 1976: 171–73. The traditional laurel wreath prize for victors would be swapped, probably in the time of Hadrian, for a prize of apples (which were supposed to be a special kind of Delphic apple—obtained by mixing an apple and quince tree) to evoke Delphi's Cretan ancestry: Perrot 2009.

41
. Another festival seems only to have been begun by the Hypatians in the second century
AD
, in honor of Neoptolemus at Delphi: Heliod.
Aeth.
2.34; Pouilloux 1983: 274–76.

42
. Roux 1976: 206, Bommelaer 1991: 23.

43
. Theoxenia: Paus. 9.23.3. See the calendar in Bommelaer 1991: 29. For discussion of the Theoxenia: Hoyle 1967: 84. For the involvement of the worship of Neoptolemus as part of the Theoxenia
:
Downie 2004: 155. Worship of Dionysus: Plut.
Mor.
365A; Hoyle 1967: 84–85, Roux 1976: 180.

44
. Thyades of Delphi and Athens: Plut.
Mor.
249E; Hoyle 1967: 91–92, Roux 1976: 178. Herois: Roux 1976: 168–69. Charila: Plut.
Mor.
293D–F; Hoyle 1967: 86–87, Roux 1976: 169–71.

45
. Septerion: Roux 1976: 166–68. Dispute over festivals: Bommelaer 1991: 30, 146. Plut.
Mor.
417F–418D.

46
. Only one priestess: Plut.
Mor.
414B. The banality of questions now asked of the oracle: Plut.
Mor.
386C, 407D, 408C (whether to purchase a slave, about one's job, whether to get married, go on a journey, risk a loan, etc.), see Parke and Wormell 1956a: 393–94. But, there seem to have been people, known as exegetai, on hand in the sanctuary whose role was to instruct those not familiar with the consultation or sacrificial procedure on how to do it (suggesting that people were coming to consult). And even at the end of the third century
AD
, jokes circulated in Athenaeus's writings about how Delphians always had a sacrificial knife in their hands ready to perform ritual (at a price) at any moment: Ath.
Deipnosophists
173D–E
;
Jacquemin 1991a: 221.

47
. The families: the Memmii, Babbii, and Gellii occupied key positions in the Delphic polis: Jacquemin 1991a: 217. Dramatis personae list, which includes members of the Memmii and Mestrii families: Inv. 3569 (unpublished); Weir 2004: 54.

CHAPTER 11. FINAL GLORY?

1
. Letters from Hadrian:
FD
III 4 300; 301. See Flacelière 1971, Weir 2004: 168–73. Statue of Hadrian from Amphictyony:
Syll
³
829 A (
CID
IV 150). The city of Delphi's statue:
Syll
³
829 B.

2
. Honors for Memmius: Vatin 1965: 65–73. Hadrian putting Prudens in charge:
Syll
³
830. Archon of city: See
Syll
³
836: Delphic honors for a Catillius Macer Nicaieus, whose inscription proclaims that Hadrian was archon in that year. Questions for oracle: Parke and Wormell
465;
Anth. Pal.
14.102. This is
despite the fact that some biting texts survive from this period complaining about the uselessness of oracles, e.g., Oenomaus of Gadara complaining about the oracle of Apollo at Clarus in Asia Minor: Parke and Wormell 1956a: 286. Statue for Hadrian:
Syll
³
835B.