THE LATIN INSCRIPTIONS FROM ISTHMIA
MARJETA ŠAŠEL KOS 
L ju b lja n a
T he s ite of th e re n o w n e d Isth m ia n G am es, to d ay th e village of K6pa Bpitn;, 
w as excavated a f te r th e w a r fo r m a n y y e a rs by O scar B ro n e e r u n d e r th e a u s­
pices of th e A m erican School of C lassical S tu d ies. T he ex cav atio n s w ere re c e n t­
ly re su m e d by P. A. C lem ent, w h o b eg a n h is firs t cam p aig n in 1967 co n tin u in g 
each y e a r u n til 1972, a n d a fte r a b re a k o f th re e y ea rs s ta rte d ag ain in 1976.* 
T he a re a s ex p lo re d w ere m a in ly th e E a s t F ield (ra th e r la te a n d insigni­
fic a n t re m a in s im m e d ia te ly e a s t of th e s a n c tu a ry o f P o sed io n a n d th e stadion) 
N o rth e a st G ate a n d , m o st recen tly , th e R o m an B ath. T he la s t tw o are as w ere 
a p a r t of th e la te R o m an defensive sy ste m , th e H exam ilion W all, b u ilt ac ro ss 
th e Is th m u s to p r o te c t th e P elo p o n n ese ag a in st th e fre q u e n t h o stile in c u r­
sions a t th e close a f an tiq u ity . D u rin g th e in v e stig a tio n of th e N o rth e a st G ate 
n u m e ro u s re u se d b lo c k s w e re d isco v ered , som e of th e m in sc rib e d . T he ex­
ca v atio n o f th e R o m a n T h e rm a l co m p lex u n co v ered p a r t o f a la rg e b u ild in g 
w ith b e a u tifu l m o sa ic flo o r w h ich p ro b a b ly d ates fro m th e se co n d ce n tu ry 
A. D. Its n o rth e rn w alls w ere in c o rp o ra te d in to H exam ilion w a ll a t th e b eg in ­
nin g of th e fifth c e n tu ry A. D. a n d h e n c e fo rw a rd th e b u ild in g se rv e d fo r defen­
sive p u rp o se s o nly.1
T he in sc rip tio n s h e re p u b lish ed , m o s t of th e m very fra g m e n ta ry , cam e to 
lig h t b etw e en 1967 a n d 1976 d u rin g th e ex cav atio n s a t Isth m ia in th e follow ing 
a re a s : F o rtre s s W all, E a st F ield, N o rth e a s t G ate a n d R om an B a th . T h ere a re 
few er L a tin in sc rip tio n s th a n G reek, a lth o u g h th e ir p e rc e n ta g e is g re a te r th a n 
elsew h ere in R o m an A chaia, d u e d o u b tle ss to th e fa c t th a t th e s ite of Isth m ia 
b elo n g ed to th e a g e r of th e c o lo n ia L a u s lid i a C o r in th ie n sis.
1. Pl. 1 : 1 Inv. N o. U 518. A fra g m e n t fro m a w h ite m a rb le sla b fo u n d in th e 
a re a of th e F o rtre s s W all on M ay 11, 1967. T here a re tra c e s o f p la s te r on all 
faces. In sc rib e d a n d b o tto m faces sm o o th , o th e rs b ro k en . M o u ld ed edge above 
th e le tte rs.
* I w ould like to thank Professor Clem ent for having given m e the perm ission 
to publish the Latin inscriptions discovered during the tim e when he w as conducting 
the excavations.

2. Pl. 1: 2 In v . N o. 12' 519. A fra g m e n t o f a n in sc rip tio n o n d a rk g rey ish lim e­
sto n e , fo u n d a t th e N o rth e a s t G ate o n M ay 13, 1967. All fac es ex cep t th e in ­
sc rib e d o n e a r e b ro k e n . T h ere a re tra c e s o f fo u r o r five le tte rs in th e se co n d 
te x t line.
H e ig h t 0.072 m , w id th 0.160 m , th ic k n e s s 0.07 m . H e ig h t o f le tte rs 0.038 m .
----------- trib u le s T R IB . M A n e ia e ? -------------
---------------------------- tr a c e s ----------------------------
T h e h o riz o n ta l h a s ta of th e T is m issin g . Of th e le tte rs in th e se co n d te x t 
line on e is P, R o r B , o th e rs c a n n o t b e d isc ern ed . Of A on ly o sm a ll p a r t o f th e 
f irs t o b liq u e h a s ta is p re se rv e d , th u s ex clu d in g th e p o ssib ility of co m p letin g 
th e le tte rs as tr ib (u n u s ) m [ il(itu m )'] . M a n e ia is o n e of th e elev en k n o w n Co­
rin th ia n trib e s (see below ).2
3. PL 1: 3 In v . N o. 1 2 521. A sm a ll fra g m e n t fro m an in s c rip tio n on w h ite 
m a rb le , fo u n d a t th e N o rth e a s t G ate o n Ju n e 1, 1967. F ro n t a n d b a c k faces 
sm o o th , all o th e rs a re b ro k e n . No o n e o f th e th re e v isib le le tte rs is p re se rv e d 
en tirely .
H e ig h t 0.086 m , w id th 0.023 m , th ic k n e s s (original) 0.023 m . H eig h t of le tte rs 
ca. 0.07 m .
4. PL 2: 4 In v . N o. 1 2 69-3. A b a se o f grey lim esto n e, re u s e d a s a fo u n d a tio n 
sto n e, fo u n d a t th e s o u th e a s te rn c o rn e r of th e B a stio n a t th e N o rth e a s t G ate 
o n M ay 14, 1969.3 T h e r e a r fac e is w o rn as th o u g h th e b lo c k h a d o n ce b e e n u sed 
as a sill. At th e c e n tre of it is a so c k et ca. 0.06 m in d ia m e te r a n d ca. 0.02 m deep. 
T he in sc rib e d fa c e is d am ag e d on th e le ft side. P u n c tu a tio n m a rk s a f te r each 
w o rd .
H e ig h t 0 .5 2 m , w id th 0.485 m , th ic k n e s s 0.39m . H e ig h t o f le tte r s : line 1,
0.055 m ; lines 2— 7, 0.04— 0.045 m .
CALLICRATEAE .
P H IL E S I . F I L .
SA C ERD O TI . IN P E R P E T .
P R O V ID E N T IA E . AVG .
E T . SALV TIS . PV B LIC A E .
T R IB V L E S . T R IB . CLAVDIAE .
B E N E . M E R IT A E .
T ex t line 4 : A u g . m ay b e e x p a n d ed e ith e r as A u g (u s ta e ) o r A u g (u s ti).
A ju s t slig h tly la rg e r b ase (h eig h t 0.715 m , w id th 0.525 m , th ic k n e ss 0.42 m . 
H eig h t o f le tte rs 0.065— 0.030 m ) w ith id e n tic a l d e d ic a tio n ( a p a rt fro m th e d if­
fe re n t d e d ic a tin g trib e ) w as fo u n d a t C o rin th a t th e b eg in n in g o f th is ce n tu ry .4

T he trib e th a t s e t u p th e C o rin th ia n in sc rip tio n to th e sa m e p rie ste ss w as 
A g rip p ia , th u s n a m e d in h o n o u r o f M. V ip san iu s A grippa. T h e tr ib u s on o u r 
in sc rip tio n , C la u d ia , h as n o t p rev io u sly b ee n a tte s te d a t C o rin th . A lthough 
th e fin al n u m b e r o f th e local C o rin th ia n trib e s c a n n o t be e s tim a te d , th e re a re 
n o w a lto g e th e r elev en k n o w n b y n a m e : A tia , A g rip p ia , A u re lia , C a lp u rn ia , H o- 
stilia , L ivia , M a n e ia , V a tin ia , D o m itia a n d C la u d ia fi I t has b e e n assu m ed th a t 
m o st of th em , o r p o ssib ly all, d eriv e d th e ir nam es fro m th e n o m in a of v ario u s 
relativ es o r frie n d s o f A ug u stu s.6 If th is , su p p o sitio n is c o rre c t tr ib u s C la u d ia 
w as m o st likely n a m e d in h o n o u r of M . C la u d iu s M a rce llu s, A u g u stu s’ nephew , 
of w h o m h e w as v e ry fond, o r p e rh a p s a f te r h is ste p so n T ib e r iu s C la u d iu s N e ro , 
th e fu tu re e m p e ro r T iberius.
The n am e o f th e p rie ste ss, w h ich c o n sists of h e r c o g n o m e n a n d filiatio n 
only, in d ic ates th a t she d id n o t receiv e R o m an citizenship. P rie ste sse s, fla m i- 
n ic a e o r s a c e r d o te s , w e re n o t u n c o m m o n in th e im p e ria l c u lt a n d w ere ch arg ed 
w ith th e c u lt of living o r d eceased d e ifie d em p resses. The c u lt o f th e p e rso n ­
ified v irtu e s, w h ic h w e re since th e e s ta b lish m e n t of th e p rin c ip a te co n sid ered 
p rim a rily as th e im p e ria l q u alities, w a s closely c o n n e cted w ith th e im p e rial 
w o rsh ip , e n tru s te d eq u ally e ith e r to p rie s ts o r to p rie ste sse s. T his is clearly 
c o n firm e d by se v e ra l exam ples a t C o rin th a n d elsew here.7 S h e w as ap p o in te d 
th e p rie ste ss of P r o v id e n tia A u g { u sta ) a n d S a lu s p u b lic a . H e r fu n c tio n is sp e­
cified as in p e r p e t( u u m ), w h ich b e a rs p u re ly h o n o ra ry sig n ific a n c e .8
W est's c o m m e n ta ry o n th e id e n tic a l in sc rip tio n fo u n d a t C o rin th does n o t 
seem en tirely sa tisfa c to ry . B ecause o f th e a sso cia tio n o f P r o v id e n tia an d S a lu s 
h e co m p ared it to th e in sc rip tio n fro m In te ra m n a 9 a n d a n o th e r on e fro m Gor- 
ty n , C rete1 0 w h ic h c o m m em o ra tes th e d iscovery of S e ja n u s’ co n sp iracy , a n d 
th u s h e co n e cted th e C o rin th ian in s c rip tio n w ith th e sam e ev en t. T h ere are , 
how ever, tw o b a s ic d iffe ren ce s b e tw e e n th e tw o m e n tio n e d in sc rip tio n s a n d 
C allicratea's. F irs t of all, no e s ta b lish e d c u lt is involved in e ith e r of th e m ; in 
b o th cases th ey a r e in d iv id u al d ed ic a tio n s only. F u rth e rm o re , th e P ro v id e n tia 
in q u e stio n is n o t so m e w h at g e n e ralised P r o v id e n tia A u g (u s ta ) o r A u g (u s ti), 
b u t specifically s ta te d to b e th e P ro v id e n ce of Ti. C a esa r A u g u s tu s — an d as 
b o th in sc rip tio n s w e re ac co m p an ie d b y th e ex act d ate, th e re is no d o u b t to 
w h ich occasion th e y ap p lied .
H ere th e s itu a tio n is d iffe ren t. A lth o u g h it is p o ssib le th a t S e ja n u s’ fall 
m ig h t h av e led to th e e s ta b lish m e n t o f th e c u lt of P r o v id e n tia a n d S a lu s a t 
C o rin th ,1 1 it c e rta in ly soon d eveloped in to a m u c h m o re g e n e ra l cu lt, w h ere 
P r o v id e n tia A ug. w as w o rsh ip p e d a s th e P ro v id en ce o f an y reig n in g e m p e ro r 
a n d S a lu s p u b lic a as th e u n iv e rsa l w ell-being of th e e m p ire .1 2
An a lta r w as s e t u p to S a lu s p o p u li R o m a n i to g e th e r w ith C o n c o rd ia a n d 
P a x in R om e u n d e r A u g u stu s a n d a n o th e r to P r o v id e n tia A u g u s ta u n d e r T ibe­
riu s .1 3 T he la tte r w a s co m m e m o ra te d a s th e v irtu e o f A u g u stu s on th e coins 
w h ich T ib eriu s s tr u c k in h is h o n o u r.1 4 Im p e ria l c u lt w as flo u rish in g th ro u g h ­
o u t th e em p ire a n d w as very m u c h fa v o u re d also u n d e r T ib e riu s, so it is highly 
p ro b a b le th a t th e in sc rip tio n is T ib e ria n — a n d if n o t th e in sc rip tio n itself, 
w h ich is in any ca se n o t m u c h la ter, th e n c e rta in ly th e in tro d u c tio n of th e cu lt 
in C o rin th . It w a s a t th e e n d o f his re ig n also th a t som e k in d o f a pro v in cial 
k o in o n w as p e rm a n e n tly e sta b lish e d a t A rgos. T h ere seem s to b e no rea so n 
to d isp u te the d a te p ro p o se d b y W est.

T he m u n ic ip a l c u lt is r a th e r w ell a tte s te d a t C o rin th , a n d th e Isth m ia n 
P o seid o n s a n c tu a ry w ith its fam o u s festiv a l, C a esa rea a n d Im p e ria l C o n tests, 
co u ld h av e b e e n a su ita b le a n d im p o r ta n t c e n tre of th e im p e ria l w o rs h ip .1 5
5. PL 2 : 5, 3 : 5 a Inv. No. 12’ 69— 4. A rc h itra v e b lo c k o f w h ite m a rb le (IA 
69— 42, o r R o a d w ay b lo c k N o. 42) fo u n d a t th e N o rth e a s t G ate o n A pril 25, 
1969.1 6 In s c rip tio n is o n th e b o tto m sid e o f th e b lo c k w ith tra c e s o f re d p a in t 
o n th e le tte rs . T h e m o u ld e d ed g e ab o v e a n d b elo w th e in s c rip tio n is b ro k e n off. 
T h e lo w e r m o u ld in g of th e b lo c k is e n tire ly p re se rv e d a n d is s im ila r to th a t of 
b lo c k s 6 a n d 7. T h e u p p e r face is ro u g h ly p ic k ed , p e rh a p s o rig in a l. P u n c tu a tio n 
m a rk s b e tw e e n th e le tte rs . O ne sh o u ld n o te a r a th e r la rg e in te rv a l b e tw e e n 
th e se c o n d a n d th e th ir d w o rd .
H e ig h t (p e rh a p s o rig in al) 0.58 m , w id th 2.08 m , th ic k n e s s (original) 0.50 m . 
H eig h t o f th e in s c rib e d sp ace b e tw e e n th e tw o m o u ld e d ed g es 0.13 m . H eig h t 
of le tte rs 0.094 m .
----------- q u a e s to r PR O V IN C IA E . ACHAIAE . T R IB u n u s p le b is -------------
T h is is a f ra g m e n t of a m o n u m e n ta l in sc rip tio n , n o t a d e d ic a tio n (in w h ich 
case th e re s to r a tio n s sh o u ld b e in d a tiv e ) b u t r a th e r a b u ild in g in s c rip tio n 1 7 
w h ich p re s e rv e d a t le a s t a p a r t of a c u r s u s h o n o r u m of a q u a e s to r o r a p ro ­
c o n s u la r le g ate o f A chaia w h o h a d d o n a te d th e s tr u c tu re to w h ic h th is a rc h i­
te c tu ra l b lo c k b e lo n g e d to th e Is th m ia n sa n c tu a ry . S u ch a se q u en c e o f th e 
offices is c o n firm e d b y th e k n o w n c a re e rs o f o th e r q u a e sto rs. So w as L. [C a?] 
n in iu s S e x tiu s F lo r e n tin u s u n d e r T ra ja n o r H a d ria n q u a e s t. p r o v . A [c~\haiae 
an d th e n trib . p i. B e fo re th e q u a e s to rs h ip h e h a d b e e n I I I v ir a u r. agr. (aere) 
fla n d o (fe r iu n d o ), th is hav in g b ee n h is f ir s t office, a n d a tta in e d ev e n tu a lly th e 
le g ate sh ip of A ra b ia .1 8
E a rly in th e re ig n o f H a d ria n , C n. P a p ir iu s A e lia n u s A e m ilia n u s T u s c illu s 
is k n o w n to h a v e b e e n q (u a e s to r ) p r o v [ in c ia e | A c h a ia e ] a n d a fte rw a rd s tri- 
b u n u s plebi\_s c a n d .?]. T h e q u a e s to rs h ip is given as h is f ir s t o ffice.1 9 T he sam e 
o rd e r is lik e w ise o b se rv e d o n G reek in sc rip tio n s, v h e re C. C la u d iu s T itia n u s 
D e m o s tr a tu s is s ta te d to h av e b e e n - , o . \ i h . q s-ap/siac ’Ayaiaq a n d -/.[avo ?]
(ca. A. D. 150) e tc .2 0
T h e a lte rn a tiv e in te r p re ta tio n o f o u r fra g m e n ta ry in s c rip tio n is o ffe re d by 
th e c u r s u s o f th e p ro c o n s u la r leg ate, n a m e ly P. P a c tu m e iu s C le m e n s, w h o is 
k n o w n to h a v e se rv e d u n d e r H a d ria n a s th e leg ate of R o s ia n u s G e m in u s, his 
fa th e r in law , th e n th e p ro c o n su l of A ch aia ; h e w as a fte rw a rd s tr ib u n u s p le b is .-1 
A nd la stly o n e . . . iu s L .f . . . . u s, w h o se c a re e r h a s b e e n d a te d to th e reig n of 
A u g u stu s a n d w h o se em s to h av e b e e n b o th q u a e s to r a n d le g a te : q. e t legat. | 
[ p r o v in c . Ac] h a ia e , tr. p le b . e tc .2 2
T h e offices w h ic h th e y e n te re d b e fo re th e q u a e s to rs h ip o r th e leg atesh ip 
resp ectiv ely a r e v a rio u s ( I I I v ir a u r. arg. fla n d o ; os/.qxßspoc; X v ir s tlitib u s 
iu d ic a n d . ; tr ( ib u n u s ) m il( itu m ) ; o r a lte rn a tiv e ly n o th in g is given b e fo re th e 
q u a e sto rsh ip . T h e re fo re any f u rth e r c o m p le tio n o f th e n ew fra g m e n t is exclud­
ed. As th e d a te b y th e le tte r-fo rm s is n o t reliab le ,2 3 a n d a s th e re is n o o th e r 
ch ro n o lo g ical in d ic a to r, th e in s c rip tio n c a n b e on ly ap p ro x im a tiv e ly d a te d to 
th e e n d of th e f irs t, o r to th e ea rly s e c o n d c e n tu ry A. D. T h is is, m o reo v e r, th e 
p e rio d w h ich o ffe re d m o st of th e e n u m e ra te d p a ra lle ls.

6. Pl. 4: 6 In v . N o. 1 2 524. In sc rib e d a rc h itra v e b lo c k o f w h ite m a rb le (IA 
2105, o r R o ad w ay b lo c k No. 39) w h ich fo rm e d th e s o u th e rn h a lf of th e sill of 
th e N o rth e a st G a te ; fo u n d on M ay 23, 1967. The u p p e r sid e is th e re fo re m u c h 
w orn. T he u p p e r m o u ld e d edge above th e in sc rip tio n is b ro k e n off. As it has 
n o t b een rem o v e d y e t fro m th e p re s e n t p o sitio n it h as b een n e ith e r p h o to g ra p h ­
ed n o r fu lly m e a s u re d an d one m ay ex p e c t to rec o v er so m e m o re le tte rs of 
th e in sc rip tio n . T h e u p p e r a n d lo w er m o u ld in g is th e sam e a s th a t p rese rv e d 
on block 5. (In 1969 a n o th e r le tte r w as a d d e d to th e ones a lre a d y visible, nam ely 
th e beginning Q .)2 4
H eig h t 0.55 m , w id th 2.16 m , th ic k n e ss (original) 0.60 m . H e ig h t of le tte rs ca.
0.09 m.
----------- QVOQVE . A N n o ?------------
7. PI. 4: 7 Inv. N o. 1 2 69— 5. A fra g m e n t of w h ite m a rb le a rc h itra v e block 
(IA 69— 48, o r R o a d w ay b lo c k No. 27) fo u n d a t th e N o rth e a s t G ate o n M ay 2, 
196 9.2 5 T h e u p p e r a n d lo w er m o u ld in g , a lth o u g h d am ag ed a n d incom plete, 
closely rese m b le s th e m o u ld in g on b lo c k 6.
H eig h t 0.33 m , w id th 1.15 m , th ic k n e s s (original) 0.56 m . H eig h t of le tte rs
0.09 m . T he sp a ce b e tw e e n th e le tte rs 0.27 m .
----------- S E X M e stris? ------------
A p p ro x im ately th e sam e h eig h t o f le tte rs as th a t on N o. 6 a n d th e sam e 
space b etw e en th e le tte rs fav o u r th e p o ssib ility th a t b o th fra g m e n ts belong to 
th e sam e in s c rip tio n .2 6
S ex m [estris~ \ w a s sug g ested by L ’a n n é e é p ig ra p h iq u e a n d w o u ld apply to 
tr ib u n u s m ilitu m o r p r a e fe c tu s c o h o r tis . I t is eq u ally p o ssib le to explain th e
le tte rs as a n a m e : S e x (tu s ) M [------- ], th o u g h it is p e rh a p s u n u s u a l th a t th e re
is no p u n c tu a tio n m a rk a fte r S E X .
The th re e a rc h itra v e blo ck s w ere d isc o v ered close to one a n o th e r along w ith 
m an y u n in sc rib e d blocks. H ow ever, th e d ifferen ce in sp a cin g b etw e en th e 
le tte rs on th e la s t tw o blocks a n d th o s e o n th e firs t b lo c k m a k e s it ra th e r im ­
p ro b ab le th a t th e y belong to th e sa m e in sc rip tio n , th o u g h th e y derive very 
possibly fro m th e sam e a rc h ite c tu ra l com plex. P e rh a p s th e in sc rip tio n ra n in 
tw o te x t lines, b u t it seem s m o re lik ely th a t th e re w ere tw o in sc rip tio n s, one 
p laced o n each sid e of th e b u ild in g . T his w as d o u b tle ss a p u b lic b u ild in g of 
som e k in d (m o n u m e n ta l gate?, sa n c tu a ry ? , p o rtic o ? ) b ec au se th e in sc rip tio n 
m e n tio n s a h ig h R o m an m a g is tra te ; b u t any p re c ise r su g g e stio n rem ain s 
d ifficu lt u n til a ll th e rem a in in g pieces a re reco v ered an d s tu d ie d in detail.
8. PI. 4: 8 In v . N o. 1 2 71— 5. A p ie c e o f w h ite m a rb le sla b w ith fo u r fra g ­
m e n tary le tte rs, p ro b a b ly L atin , fo u n d in th e a re a of th e E a s t F ield on A pril 22, 
1971. T races of a h ig h c ro ssb a r on A c a n b e seen a t th e to p edge of th e stone. 
B roken o n all sid es.
H eight 0.16 m , w id th 0.155 m , th ic k n e ss 0.023 m . H eig h t o f le tte rs (estim ated)
0.075 m.

9. PL 4: 9 In v . N o. 1 2 72— 6. A fra g m e n ta ry in s c rip tio n on w h ite m a rb le , 
p e rh a p s a to m b s to n e , fo u n d in th e R o m a n B a th o n Ju n e 1, 1972. I t is b ro k e n o n 
all sid es. W o rd s a r e se p a ra te d by p u n c tu a tio n m a rk s.
H e ig h t 0.068 m , w id th 0.123 m , th ic k n e s s (original) 0.021 m . H eig h t of le tte rs 
(excluding se rifs) 0.035— 0.037 m .
----------------O . E T . O E C V m en io ?-------------
T h is fo rm o f le tte rs is fre q u e n tly a tte s te d a t C o rin th .2 7 O e c u m e n iu s — if th e 
co m p le tio n is c o r r e c t — is a very ra re ly a tte s te d n a m e in th e R o m an em p ire.
10. Inv. N o. 12' 76— 5. A fra g m e n ta ry in sc rip tio n on w h ite m a rb le, fo u n d 
in th e R o m an B a th o n M arch 24, 1976. All faces ex c ep t th e f r o n t o n e a re b ro k e n 
off. T ra ce s o f fiv e le tte rs a re p re se rv e d .
H e ig h t 0.07 m , w id th 0.085 m , th ic k n e s s 0.058 m . H e ig h t o f le tte rs 0.037 m .
--------------------AIS.TI---------------------
T h e le tte rs a re so m e w h a t sim ila r to th o se o f N o. 9, a lth o u g h th e d iffe re n t 
th ic k n e s s of th e sto n e excludes th e p o s sib ility th a t b o th fra g m e n ts b elo n g to 
th e sa m e in s c rip tio n . T hey b o th com e fro m R oom I of th e B a th B uilding.
To c o m p le te th e lis t of th e L atin in sc rip tio n s so fa r fo u n d a t Isth m ia , it is 
p e rh a p s n o t s u p e rflo u s to d ra w th e a tte n tio n to th e only o th e r L a tin in sc rip tio n 
k n o w n to h a v e co m e fro m th e site. I t is a sm all, d am a g e d a lta r of p o ro s sto n e 
(1.2 296), d isc o v e re d am o n g th e s c a tte re d b lo ck s of th e H ex a m ilio n W all, dedi­
c a te d to H e ra c le s.2 8
H E R C V L i
SA C R (um )
E X V IS V
A lth o u g h th e r e is n o o th e r ev id en c e fo r a c u lt o f H e ra c le s a t Isth m ia , as 
B ro n e e r p o in te d o u t, P a u sa n ia s m e n tio n s a b ro n ze s ta tu e o f H e rac les sta n d in g 
o u tsid e C o rin th ju s t b e y o n d th e L ec h aio n G ate a n d a n a k e d w o o d en id o l n e a r 
th e th e a tr e s a id to h av e b ee n th e w o rk o f D aidalos.2 9 T he d e d ic a tio n w as d o u b t­
less se t u p b y a R o m an re s id e n t in C o rin th o r a v is ito r fro m th e L atin sp e ak in g 
p a r t of th e e m p ire , b u t c e rta in ly n o t b y a G reek.
1 See P. A. Clem ent, A qx. A s h . 25 
(1970) B 1, 161—167. For H exam ilion 
Wall: P. A. Clem ent, Studies in M em ory 
of Basil Laourdas. Thessaloniki (1975) 
159 ff. cf. R. L. H ohlfelder, G R B S 18
(1977) 173 ff.
2 A. B. W est, C o rin th V III 2 No. 56
p. 40 (= West).
3 F or the p relim in ary publication of 
the text see P. A. Clem ent, A oy. A s h . 25 
(1970) B 1, 167 PI. 143. J. P. M ichaud, B C H 
94 (1970) 949 PI. 135. L ’année épigraphique 
1971.442 (= AE).
4 W est No. 110.
5 J. H. K ent, C o rin th V III 3 p. 23 (= 
= Kent).
6 West p. 91. K ent p. 104, 106. F or M a- 
n eiu s and H o stiliu s no suitable explana­
tion has been found yet.
7 Ti. C laudius D in ip p u s w as, for 
exam ple, a priest of V icto ria B ritannica, 
w hose cult w as established in the colony 
un d er Claudius an d w as probably only 
of a short duration: K ent No. 158—163. 
W est No. 86.
8 R. Etienne, L e cu lte im perial dans la 
p én in su le Ib é riq u e d ’A u g u ste à Dioclé- 
tien, Paris (1958) 249.

s I L S 157.
1 9 Ibid. 158.
1 1 A nother occasion m ight have been 
possibly, although less likely, the execu­
tion of A grippina o r the discovery of Pi- 
so’s conspiracy A. D. 65: G.W issowa, R e­
ligion un d K u ltu s d er R öm er, H andbuch 
d. Klas. A ltertum sw iss., M ünchen (1912)2 
122 ff, 254 ff. W. H. Roscher, A u sfü h rli­
ches L exiko n d er gr. un d röm . M yth o ­
logie, vol. I II 3187, vol. IV 259—301.
1 2 K. Latte, R ö m isc h e R eligionsge­
schichte, H andbuch d. Altertum sw iss. 
V 4 (1960) 322 and n. 4.
1 3 Wissowa, o. c. 336.
1 4 R IC I 95 No. 6.
1 5 W est p. 30—31. K ent p. 28 ff and 
passim . P. A. Clem ent, < I > óqos, Tribute to 
B .D .M eritt (1974) 38—39;'but L. Robert, 
B u lle tin épigraphique 1976. 248.
1 6 Clement, A q% . A slx., l.c. M ichaud,
1. c. AE 1971. 440: «on p e u t p en ser à u n 
[quaestor] provinciae Achaiae d even u 
trib[unus plebis]».
1 7 Inscriptions on other architrave (or 
epistyle) blocks found at C orinth always 
bear the nam e of the donor in nom ina­
tive, cf. for example, W est No. 120, 121, 
122, 123, 131, 132. K ent No. 157, 197, 333; 
also 111, 112, 504 and 505.
1 8 CIL III 87 add. p. 968 = 14148, 10 
(Petra). E. Groag, D ie rö m isch en R eichs­
b eam ten von A chaia b is a u f D iokletian, 
Sehr, der B alkankom m ission, ant. Abt. 9 
(1939) 116.
1 9 C IL II 2075 (Iliberris). Groag, o. c. 
117.
2 9 IG I I 2 4071 (Eleusis). Groag, o. c. 
119.
2 1 C IL V III 7059 = IL S 1067. Groag, 
o. c. 104.
2 2 C IL XI 1837. Groag, o. c. 100.
2 3 Cf. W est No. 58 (Nerva-Trajan).
2 4 Clement, A qx■ A sir., l.c., PL 142. 
Michaud, l. c., PL 134. A E 1971. 441.
2 5 Clement, l. c. M ichaud, l. c. AE, ibid.
2 6 This is also confirm ed by the archi­
tectural features: Clem ent, l. c. 167.
2 7 For example: K ent No. 214 (where 
assigned to the late first, or early se­
cond, century A. D.) No. 218, 257. J. Wi­
sem an, H esperia 38 (1969) 94, PL 30, 1.
2 8 O. Broneer, H esp eria 27 (1958) 23 
No. 4, PL 9 e.
2 9 Paus. 2, 3, 2; 2, 4, 5.
FRAGMENTI LATINSKIH NAPISOV Z ISTMA
P o vze te k
V današnji vasici Kp'ia Bp’ > a » ), nedaleč od istm ijskega prekopa na cesti Atene— 
K orint, se je v an tik i vsaki dve leti zbrala m nožica obiskovalcev iz cele Grčije, da bi 
prisostvovala slovitim istm ijskim igram v Pozejdonovem svetišču m ed Saronskim 
in K orintskim zalivom . Igre so že v začetku 6. stoletja pr. n. š. postale panhelenski 
festival. Za njihovo organizacijo je bil zadolžen Korint, in ko s ta Cezar in kasneje 
Avgust v K orintu ustanovila rim sko kolonijo, so jim priključili igre n a čast živečega 
v lad arja, Caesarea.
Zgodovina raziskovanja ta m k ajšn jih arheoloških ostalin je stara, sistem atična 
izkopavanja pa je prevzel po zadnji vojni am eriški arheološki in štitu t pod vodstvom 
O scar j a B roneer j a. D anašnji obiskovalec si lahko ogleda poleg novega, m odernega 
arheološkega m uzeja Pozejdonovo svetišče, stadion, gledališče, rim ske term e in 
ostanke istm ijskega zidu in obram bnega sistem a, ki je bil zgrajen ob koncu antike, 
da bi varoval Peloponez pred čedalje pogostejšim i barbarskim i vpadi. (O. Broneer, 
Isth m ia I, Tem nle of Peloponez, 1971; Is th m ia II, Topography an d Architecture, 1973; 
E. R. Gebhard, T h e T h ea tre a t Isth m ia , 1973.)
Leta 1967 je po krajšem prem oru B roneerjevo delo nadaljeval Paul A. Clement; 
v sezoni 1976 sem se udeležila njegovih izkopavanj in na pobudo p ro feso rja d e m e n ta 
obdelala fragm ente latinskih napisov, ki so bili najdeni m ed leti 1967 in 1976 ob raz­
iskovanju poznoantičnega obram bnega sistem a in rim skih term .
Latinski napisi so večinom a zelo fragm entarni, ohranjenih je le nekaj črk, kjer 
in terp retacija ni m ogoča ali pa je več ali m anj nezanesljiva: to so fragm enti 1, 2, 
3, 8, 9 in 10 (glej pripadajoče fotografije).
Zelo zanim iv p a je edini v celoti o h ran jen napis iz tiberijanske dobe, postavljen 
v čast svečenice K alikrateje (op. 3), ki je že znana z napisa iz K orinta (op. 4). Bila 
je svečenica P ro vid en tia e A ugustae in S a lu tis publica e; češčenje poosebljenih vrlin,





v !

M ,

ki so se pripisovale vladarju, je bila ena izm ed oblik vladarskega kulta, ki je imel 
v rim skem K o rin tu brez dvom a velik pom en. Napis je dala postaviti trib u s Claudia, 
ki je tu prvič izpričana. Doslej znano število lokalnih korin tsk ih trib u s se je tako 
dvignilo n a enajst.
Zanim ivi so tu d i trije fragm entarni nap isi na arhitravih, ki p rip ad ajo isti zgradbi 
(napisi 5, 6 in 7; op. 16, 24 in 25). Poslopje, ki je m oralo biti javnega značaja (portik 
ali svetišče?), je m orda dal postaviti n a napisu om enjeni višji rim ski provincialni 
uradnik, kvestor ali prokonzulov legat.
Naj om enim še edini latinski napis s tega najdišča, ki je bil n ajd en m ed Broneer- 
jevim i izkopavanji. To je velik, vendar od vrem ena m očno poškodovan oltar, postav­
ljen v čast H erkulu ex visu (op. 28). Dasi je bil kult H erkula m ed najbolj razširjenim i 
in popularnim i v grškem svetu, je v obm očju Istm ia izpričan sam o s tem napisom ; 
celo n a celem k orintskem področju ni za njegov kult ne arheoloških ne epigrafskih 
dokazov. O njegovem češčenju nam p riča le Pausanias, ki v svojem Potopisu om enja 
dva H erkulova kipa v K orintu (op. 29).