This inscription involving the dedication of a statue of the Egyptian goddess Isis by a wealthy donor was found near the harbour at Ephesos, where the workers in the fishery-toll office were located:

To the Ephesian Artemis, to the emperor Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus, Caesar Augustus Pius, to the first and greatest metropolis of Asia, twice temple-warden of the Augusti (Sebastoi), the city of the Ephesians, and to those who are engaged in the toll-booth for the fish market. Cominia Junia dedicated this statue of Isis and an altar at her own expense when Tiberius Claudius Demostratos was civic president (prytanis) (IEph 1503; 138-61 CE).

As I’m trying to coordinate various things in terms of timing (and in terms of what series will be next in the podcast), the podcast will be back in January (nothing more for December).  I may be creating a series on “Dynamics of Identity in the World of the Early Christians” (to bounce off my new book) to go before the series on the historical Jesus.

The devotees of Demeter at Ephesos were not the only association that included mysteries and initiations in its activities.  (You can read more about the mysteries, including those of Dionysos, on my website here).   We know of several other associations there that engaged in mysteries, including groups of Dionysos-initiates.   Sometimes there could be cooperation among such groups (rather than the rivalries which I outline in one of the chapters in my new book, roughly sketched here).

A particularly interesting case in the mid-late second century involves the amalgamation of two groups to become the  “Demetriasts and initiates of Dionysos Phleos before the city” (177-92 CE; IEph 1595).  Here is an earlier inscription set up in honour of the emperor Hadrian by a group that is likely to be identified with the one that later joined with the Demetriasts:

Emperor Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus, son of god Trajan Parthicus and grandson of god Nero, greatest high-priest, with tribunician power, three times consul.  The initiates before the city, enthroned with Dionysos, (honoured the emperor) when Cl. Romulus was priest, Cl. Eubios was hierophant, and Antonius Drosus was superintendent.  Theodotos, son of Theodotos Proclion, initiation-leader, with his children, Proklos, hymn-singer, and Athenodoros set up this honour from their own resources (IEph 275; 117-138 CE).

Click on “Translated inscriptions” in the tag line above or in the sidebar to read other inscriptions in this series.

As I’m doing some translations of inscriptions pertaining to associations, I thought I’d share a few here and there.  This one is an interesting letter (from the time of emperor Domitian) in which the representative of an association of Demeter devotees at Ephesos seeks from the Roman governor his acknowledgment of the group’s rites.  These rites include mysteries and sacrifices not only for Demeter but also for the emperors as gods — the Sebastoi, as they were called in Asia Minor:

To Lucius Mestrius Florus, proconsul, from Lucius Pompeius Apollonios of Ephesos.  Mysteries and sacrifices are performed each year in Ephesos, lord, to Demeter Karpophoros and Thesmophoros and to the Augustan (Sebastoi) gods by initiates with great purity and lawful customs, together with the priestesses.  In most years (these rites) were protected by kings and emperors, as well as the proconsul of the period, as contained in their enclosed letters.  Accordingly, as the mysteries are pressing upon us during your (time of office), through my (agency) the ones obligated to accomplish the mysteries necessarily petition you, lord, in order that, acknowledging their rights. . . (IEph 213; 88/89 CE).

You can also read more about Demeter’s mysteries on my site here.  Click on “Translated inscriptions” in the tag line above or in the sidebar to read other inscriptions in this series.