A Newly Found Greek Inscription from Hamedan; Evidence of the Worship of Serapis in Ecbatana

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism

2 Professor of Archeology, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran

3 Associate Professor of Greek History, Department of Historical Studies, University of Turin, Italy

4 Associate Professor of Archaeology, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran

Abstract

After more than a century of archeological excavations in Hamedan, the findings of Hellenic culture in this city are very low. But according to historical sources, Ecbatana was one of the most important Greek satrapies in western Iran during the Seleucid period. In the fall of 2017, as a result of digging in Jarrahan alley at Babataher street near the city center, a little Doric Capital was accidentally discovered. On one of the sides of the Abacus of this Capital, a Greek inscription is engraved. This inscription has three lines and three words can be identified on it. In the first line, we can have identified the name of Serapis/Sarapis, although his name may have been associated with the name of Isis. In the second line, the name Diodoros is mentioned, which may have been associated with his father's name. In the third line, we have only two letters, but the word εὐχήν/ex-voto that is used in Greek inscriptions as a word for thanksgiving can be certainly identified. In appearance, this piece of stone appears to be part of a head of a votive pillar of a small Doric Capital, inscribed by a man named Diodoros on the abacus section dedicated to the god Serapis, who placed it in his temple/altar.

Keywords

Ancien Culture and Languages
Volume 3, Issue 1 - Serial Number 4
December 2022
Pages 235-257

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 December 2022
  • Revise Date: 03 March 2023
  • Accept Date: 07 March 2023

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