The Mysteries of Artemis Ephesia in Pisidia: a New Inscribed Relief

Abstract

Of the roughly 160 inscriptions currently held in the Archaeological Museum at Burdur, only a fraction has been published hitherto. The following articles have published monuments from the Museum:1. G. E. Bean, “Sculptured and inscribed stones at Burdur”, Belleten 18 (1954) 469–88 (Turkish version: 489–510); inscribed stones: nos. 3–5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 17–22 (SEG 14.797–809), of which nos. 8, 13, 19–22 seem no longer to be located in the Museum or the adjacent garden (it should be mentioned that Bean wrote before the Museum was formally established).2. Id., “Notes and inscriptions from Pisidia, I”, AS 9 (1959) 67–117; inscriptions from Burdur: nos. 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4–9, 21, 87 (SEG 19.734–42, 753, 819), of which nos. 4 (at the Lycée in 1959) and 6 (at Aşkış in 1959) have not been located.3. Id., “Notes and inscriptions from Pisidia, II”, AS 10 (I960) 43–82, no. 135 (SEG 19.802). A photograph of this monument is included in the present article as Pl. XXXII (b); see further, pp. 126, 127, 131–32 below.4. S. Mitchell, “Requisitioned transport in the Roman Empire: a new inscription from Pisidia”, JRS 66 (1976) 106–31 (AE [1976] 653; SEG 26.1392); redated to early under Tiberius by E. A. Judge, “The regional kanon for requisitioned transport”, in G. H. R. Horsley, New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity, I. A Review of the Greek Inscriptions and Papyri published in 1976 (North Ryde, 1981) 36–45 no. 9 (SEG 31.1286); the date accepted with further refinement by Mitchell in Chiron 16 (1986) 25–27 (SEG 36.1208).

Ancient inscriptions and monuments from the territory of Oinoanda

“…Ouadaros is very rarely attested; Zgusta (1964Zgusta ( : 1132, Tefenni and Ece, in the Kibyratis) lists two examples, both in the genitive case, so that the nominative ending remains conjectural, but Zgusta plausibly links it to similar names from east Phygian and central Tauric or Isaurian contexts (Oadas, Ouadis, Ouadous). A few examples of Armasta are found in and around Oinoanda and elsewhere locally, but it is common only at Termessos and in its territory (see Zgusta 1964: 97-6;andthe surveys of Iplikcioglu, Celgin, Celgin 1991-1994;1992; see also Naour 1980: 69, n. 163, 116, no. 84).…”

Mnasistratos, The ‘Hierophant’ At Andania (IG 5.1.1390 And Syll.3 735)

“…An inscription found in Cremna in Pisidia honours the hereditary priest of Artemis Ephesia. 55 One member of the priest's family-probably his grandfather-seems to have introduced the cult and the mysteries celebrated in honour of Artemis. 56 These mysteries are said to have been 'found' and transmitted further within the family (τ ε ρε ντα | κα παραδ ντα ερ τελ μυστ |ρια τ ς ε , lines -).…”