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Priest of Apollo (Cyrene)

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The priest of Apollo (Ancient Greek: ἱαρεὺς τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος, romanizedhiareus tou Apollōnos) was the chief priesthood of Ancient Cyrene from the fifth century BC until the third century AD.

The priesthood was held for one year. According to the constitution of Cyrene issued by Ptolemy I in 322 BC, the priest had to be chosen from among the 101 members of the council of elders and had to be over the age of fifty.[1] The priesthood was a highly symbolic role, acting as the chief representative of the city to the gods.[1] The office was highly sought after by members of the Cyrenaean elite.

The priest was required to host several public banquets and carry out sacrifices at his own expense.[1] The priest was the city's eponymous official, meaning that his name was used to date all civic documents produced during his year in office.[1] Some priests also carried out building work within the sanctuary of Apollo. After his year in office the priest became a kind of "elder statesman" with privileged rights to attend various banquets and sacrifices.[1]

List of priests of Apollo at Cyrene

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The dates and details for the priests of the 5th-1st centuries BC derive from Rosamilia 2023, pp. 99–106; IGCyr refers to the Inscriptions of Greek Cyrenaica (available here); IRCyr refers to the Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica (available here).

Name Date Primary source Note
Philon End of 5th century BC IGCyr 81200, l. 2
Philocomus End of 5th century BC IGCyr 81100, l. 2-3
Hermesander End of 5th century BC IGCyr 81100, l. 9, 25 l. 3 Immediate successor of Philocomus
Philecis ca. 390-370 BC IGCyr 81200, l. 4
Anaxander ca. 390-370 BC IGCyr 81200, l. 5
Agonis son of Timocles ca. 390-370 BC IGCyr 81200, l. 1, 6, 10 Last priest named on 25
Ca[rtisthen]es son of Mnasias ca. 365-350 BC IGCyr 12500 From a family of Olympic victors
Unknown ca. 360-350 BC IGCyr 20800 His name was subsequently erased on IGCyr 20800 and replaced with that of Melanippus[2]
Melanippus son of Aristander ca. 350-340 BC IGCyr 12400, 101700 and 20800
Eumelidas ca. 350 BC IGCyr 20900 Probably buried at Ain Hofra
[Theuchres]tus son of Polytimus ca. 350 BC IGCyr 88100 Also served as general
Iasis ca. 345 BC IGCyr 12200
Unknown son of [Po]lyanthes ca. 345-338 BC IGCyr 14800, ll. 3-4
-os son of Chi- Before 337 BC IGCyr 11700
-s son of A- ca. 337 BC IGCyr 94800
Iason son of Xouthos ca. 336 BC IGCyr 94800
Philothales son of Iason ca. 335 BC IGCyr 94800, 90 Built the fountain northwest of the temple of Apollo
Epigenes son of Epitimidas ca. 334 BC IGCyr 94800
Cletomach[os] ca. 333 BC IGCyr 94800
Theochres[tus] ca. 332 BC IGCyr 94800
Sthen[on] ca. 331 BC IGCyr 94800 Also served as nauarch
Timonax son of Agis ca. 330 BC IGCyr 94800, 11500
Sosias son of Calliadas ca. 327-324 BC IGCyr 10900
Peithagoras son of Anniceris 323-320 BC IGCyr 10800 Served three terms in the period culminating in Ptolemy I's conquest of Cyrene; possibly spent those years in exile in Alexandria
Unknown son of -as ca. 330-300 BC IGCyr. 98400 Built a fountain or stoa
Unknown ca. 330-300 BC IGCyr 22100
Bathycles ca. 330-315 BC IGCyr 13000
Euthycles son of Paraebatas ca. 315 BC IGCyr 11600 His son also served as priest of Apollo
Ba[cal] son of Aeglanor ca. 305-290 BC IGCyr 92000 Also served as nomophylax
Praxiadas son of Eu[cleidas] ca. 300-290 BC IGCyr 12700, 98200 Built the Greek Propylon in the sanctuary of Apollo; his son may also have served as priest
Elaeitas son of [Theudor]us ca. 300-290 BC IGCyr 80500 Built the Seat of Elaeitas in the sanctuary of Apollo; his son and grandson also served as priest
Magas ca. 290-280 BC IGCyr 63900 Subsequently, ruled Cyrene as governor (303-276) and king (276-250)
Hiarocles ca. 300-270 BC IGCyr 9420
Unknown son of Elaeitas ca. 275 BC IGCyr 127800 His father and his son or nephew also served as priests of Apollo
Unknown son of Philocomus ca. 290-260 BC IGCyr 22900
Iason son of Hippis ca. 290-260 BC IGCyr 95200
Nicobolus son of Iason ca. 270 BC IGCyr 65200 Subsequently, also priest of King Magas
Unknown son of Hagesagoras ca. 270 BC Identification as priest of Apollo uncertain
Cleuthemis son of Stasis ca. 270-260 BC IGCyr 65200, 93
Mnasarchus son of Theuchrestus ca. 270-260 BC IGCyr 98000
Cletomachus son of Praxiadas ca. 270-260 BC IGCyr 111100 His father may also have served as priest.
Philinus son of Philinus ca. 270-260 BC IGCyr 9200, 13400 Sometimes dated ca. 300 BC, but linguistic and palaeographical features of the inscription in which he is named suggest a similar date to Mnasarchus and Cletomachus.[3]
Poly- ca. 265-259 or 255 55 Perhaps identical with the unknown son of Eucles
Unknown son of Eucles ca. 259 BC IGCyr 96700 Perhaps identical with Poly- above
-staphan son of Itagus ca. 258 BC IGCyr 96700
-opus son of Polemarchus ca. 257 BC IGCyr 96700
Elaeitas II son of Theudorus ca. 256 BC IGCyr 96700 His grandson and father or uncle also served as priests
[Pol]ydorus son of Polyanthes ca. 255 BC IGCyr 96700
Nautas son of Eumelidas ca. 254 BC IGCyr 96700
[I]ason son of Biander ca. 253 BC IGCyr 96700
[Po]seidis son of Theudorus ca. 252 BC IGCyr 96700
[Eu]tychus son of Heracleitus ca. 251 BC IGCyr 96700 Possibly appointed by Ptolemy III and probably not Cyrenaean.[4]
Glaucon son of Eteocles ca. 250 BC IGCyr 96700 Ptolemaic appointee from Athens, brother of Chremonides.[4]
[Etone]us son of Etoneus ca. 249 BC IGCyr 96700 Ptolemaic appointee from the court at Alexandria, distantly related to Pelops, son of Pelops, governor of Cyprus (217-203 BC).[4]
Unknown son of Nicanor ca. 248 BC IGCyr 96700
Unknown son of -toboulus ca. 247 BC IGCyr 96700
Unknown son of Zoelus ca. 246-230 BC IGCyr 127500 His father was probably also priest
[Timonoth]us son of Com[atas] ca. 246-220 BC IGCyr 98100
Unknown name ca. 230-200 BC IGCyr 130300
Aristis son of Theudorus ca. 230-200 BC IGCyr 21000
Unknown son of [Cha]res ca. 230-200 BC IGCyr 64200 The inscription that mentions him was found at Apollonia, so he may have been priest there, rather than at Cyrene. The father's name suggests an Athenian origin.[5]
Unknown son of -es ca. 230-200 BC IGCyr 125600
Andreas ca. 200 BC IGCyr 15200
Alexander ca. 220-180 BC IGCyr 20400
Philoxenus ca. 200 BC IGCyr 98500 The inscription is fragmentary; Philoxenus may actually be the priest's patronymic[6]
Hagesistratus son of Po- ca. 220-200 BC IGCyr 95150, 14300 The patronymic might be Po[lon] or Po[lyanthes]
...nto. ca. 200 BC IGCyr 98300
Unknown son of -phanes ca. 220-170 BC IGCyr 95300
[Bac]al son of -enes 3rd century BC? IGCyr 97850
Unknown name ca. 220-180 BC IGCyr 18900 The inscription's traces include the name Aris[toteles] son of So[sis] (see below), but he may not be named here as priest.
[Eu]anthes son of [Eu]phris ca. 220-180 BC IGCyr 108700
Ptolemy VIII 163-145 BC Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 12.73, quoting Ptolemy's autobiography Ptolemy held the office at some point during his period as ruler of Cyrene.
A- 139-132 BC IGCyr 11100
Aristoteles son of Sosis ca. 140-100 BC IGCyr 86400
Melanippus ca. 96-90 BC Plutarch, Moralia 255e-257e Killed by the tyrant Nicocrates, who took the position for himself.
Nicocrates ca. 96-85 BC Plutarch, Moralia 255e-257e Ruled Cyrene as tyrant until murdered by his wife Aretaphila. He may have held the priesthood for several years.
Alexander ca. 100 BC IRCyr M.164
Asclapus son of Asclapus ca. 100-50 BC IRCyr C.269
Ca- 67 BC IRCyr C.688 An alternative dating of 75 BC is less likely.[7]
[A]rimman son of Arimman 1st century BC? IRCyr C.259 Dedicated a structure of some kind during his priesthood. Perhaps also served as gymnasiarch
Dam- 1st century BC IRCyr C.294
Eubates 1st century BC IRCyr C.94
Poseidonius 1st century BC IRCyr C.93, 308
Clesippus 1st century BC IRCyr C.701
Eucles son of Aeglanor ca. 50-1 BC IRCyr C.148
Barcaeus son of Theuchrestus ca. 20 BC IRCyr C.276 Also served as eponymous priest of Augustus in 17/16 BC
Panta[leon] ca. 15-1 BC IRCyr C.276, l. 5 His son was also priest
Barcaeus son of Euphanes 18/17 BC IRCyr C.140
Philiscus son of Euphanes, but by birth of Euphanes 17/16 BC IRCyr C.95, C.140
-r son of Philinnas ca. 1-14 AD IRCyr C.756
Pausanias son of Philiscus, but by birth of Euphanes 2/3 AD Greek Verse Inscriptions of Cyrenaica 27 Priest at the end of the Marmaric War; his brother also served as priest.
Aristarchus son of Theuchrestus ca. 10-18 AD IRCyr C.48
Theuchrestus son of Dionysius ca. 19 AD? IRCyr C.48
Phaus son of Clearchus ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Istrus son of Agathinus ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48 His son also served as priest
Asclepiades son of Epicrates ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Euphanes son of Isocrates ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Pantaleon son of Pantaleon ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Isocrates son of Anchistratus ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Philoxenus son of Philiscus, but by birth of Euphanes ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48 His brother also served as priest
Aeglanor son of Ptolemaeus ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Phaus son of Carnedas ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Philippus son of Aristander ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Clearchus son of Euphanes ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Istrus son of Istrus son of Euphanes ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48 His father also served as priest
Praxiadas son of Praxaiadas son of Philinnas ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Eucleidas son of Eucleidas son of Eucleidas ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Serapion son of Aristander ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Zenion son of Sosis ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Clearchus son of Carnedas ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48
Marcus Clearchus son of Flamma Isocrates ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48 His brother also served as priest
Lucius Carnedas son of Flamma Isocrates ca. 19-30 AD IRCyr C.48 His brother also served as priest
Marcus Antonius Cerealis Aeglanor son of Ptolemaeus son of Ptolemaeus son of Ptolemaeus son of Ptolemaeus ca. 65/6 AD IRCyr C.49, 265
Metrodorus son of Metrodorus son of Metrodorus ca. 66/7 AD IRCyr C.49, 265
Tiberius Claudius Archippus son of Archippus 67/8 AD IRCyr C.49, 265
Marcus Antonius Cascellius son of Flamma 68/9 AD IRCyr C.49, 265
Sotas son of Dionysius 1st century AD IRCyr C.49
Quintus Favius Philippus son of Philiscus 70/71 AD IRCyr C.265
Anchistratus son of Cartisthenes 1st century AD IRCyr C.33, C.219, C.393
Tiberius Claudius Pancles son of Serapion 1st century AD IRCyr C.33, C.49, C.219, C.393
Marcus Antonius Gemellus son of Flamma 1st century AD IRCyr. C.219
Tiberius Claudius Priscus son of Apollonius 1st century AD IRCyr. C.219
Tiberius Claudius Aristander son of Aristarchus 1st century AD IRCyr. C.219
Tiberius Claudius Istrus son of Philiscus 1st century AD IRCyr C.219, C.393
Tiberius Claudius Asclapus son of Philiscus 1st century AD IRCyr C.219, C.393
Marcus Asinius Euphranor son of Philon 1st century AD IRCyr C.219, C.393
Tiberius Claudius Carnedas son of Clearchus 1st century AD IRCyr C.219, C.393
Tiberius Claudius Philiscus son of Istrus 75/6 AD IRCyr C.219
Tiberius Claudius Asclepiades son of Epicrates 1st century AD? IRCyr. C.260
Tiberius Claudius Istrus son of Pheidimus 100/101 AD IRCyr C.263
Tiberius Claudius Attalus son of Clearchus 102/103 AD IRCyr. C.223
Titus Flavius Eucleidas son of Battus 103/104 AD IRCyr. C.223
Tiberius Claudius Philoxenus Antonianus 104/105 AD IRCyr. C.223
Gaius Postumius Optatus 106/107 AD IRCyr. C.223
Rutilius 107/108 AD IRCyr. C.223
Publius Sestius Pollio 111/112 AD Also served as a Roman Senator, Quaestor, Curule Aedile, and governor of the province of Crete and Cyrenaica
Titus Flavius Pausanias 1st-2nd century AD IRCyr C.394
-as son of Ptolemaeus 1st-2nd century AD IRCyr C.394
- Ptolemaeus son of Ptolemaeus 1st-2nd century AD IRCyr C.394
Tiberius Claudius Ap- 148/149 AD IRCyr C.264
Marcus C- Ancharenus ca. 160-180 AD IRCyr C.267
Publius Claudius Torquatus ca. 160-180 AD IRCyr C.267 His cognomen may be a misreading for Barcaeus.
"The City" ca. 160-180 AD IRCyr C.267 Apparently no individual was willing/capable of undertaking the priesthood and the expense was instead undertaken in this year by the city of Cyrene. This is a common phenomenon throughout the Greek world in the Hellenistic and Imperial periods
Titus Flavius Barcaeus ca. 160-180 AD IRCyr C.267
"The City" ca. 160-180 AD IRCyr C.267
Tiberius Flavius Anchistratus ca. 160-180 AD IRCyr C.267
Marcus Ulpius Aris- ca. 160-180 AD IRCyr C.267
Decimus Cascellius Aristoteles ca. 160-180 AD IRCyr C.267
Tiberius Claudius Battus son of Philippus ca. 161-180 AD IRCyr C.267, C.299, C.221, Repaired the Temple of Isis and the Temple of Apollo Nymphagetes. A less likely dating places him in 211-217 AD.
Decimus Cascellius Aristoteles 180-192 AD IRCyr C.250 Rededicated the reconstructed Temple of Apollo

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Rosamilia 2023, p. 94.
  2. ^ Rosamilia 2023, p. 99.
  3. ^ Rosamilia 2023, p. 103.
  4. ^ a b c Rosamilia 2023, p. 104.
  5. ^ Rosamilia 2023, p. 105.
  6. ^ Rosamilia 2023, p. 106.
  7. ^ Rosamilia 2023, p. 109.

Bibliography

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  • Laronde, A. (1987). "Prêtres d'Apollon à Cyrène au Ier siècle ap. J.C.". L'Africa Romana IV. pp. 469–484.
  • Marengo, S. M. (1996). "Per un'interpretazione delle liste sacerdotali di Cirene". In Bacchielli, Lidiano; Aravantinos, M. B. (eds.). Studi Miscellanei: Scritti di antichità in memoria di Sandro Stucchi. Roma. pp. 219–226.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Rosamilia, Emilio (2023). La città del silfio. Istituzioni, culti ed economia di Cirene classica ed ellenistica attraverso le fonti epigrafiche (in Italian). Pisa: Scuola Normale Superiore. ISBN 9788876427367.