Inscriptions: Epitaph for the doctor Philon

Identification

Reference as:	MPL01103
Title	Epitaph for the doctor Philon
Trismegistos-No.

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Athenae
Find Context	Kerameikos, a district of ancient Athens located northwest of the Acropolis
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	Athens, Kerameikos Archaeological Site
Inventory number
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"coords": [37.9729, 23.7246], "id": 1103, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1103", "long_id": "MPL01103", "place": "Athenae", "text": "\u2066 - - - \u2069\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 \u0391\u1f30\u03c3\u03c7\u0323\u03c1[\u1f77\u03c9\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u039a]\u03bf\u03c1\u03b9\u03bd\u03b8\u1f77[\u03bf\u03c5]. \u03a6\u1f77\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd \u03a6\u03b9\u03bb[\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for the doctor Philon "}, {"coords": [37.9729, 23.7246], "id": 1033, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1033", "long_id": "MPL01033", "place": "Athenae", "text": "[o cives l]egite hoc Remi et Qu[irini] [clarum] mi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Athenae \u2013 Ath\u00ednai (Achaia) - HD063735"}, {"coords": [38.2444, 21.7344], "id": 990, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/990", "long_id": "MPL00990", "place": "Colonia Augusta Aroe Patrae", "text": "Sex(to) Aequ[ano] Sex(ti) l(iberto) Astio A[ug(ust\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Colonia Augusta Aroe Patrae \u2013 P\u00e1trai (Achaia) - HD055429"}, {"coords": [38.2444, 21.7344], "id": 1019, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1019", "long_id": "MPL01019", "place": "Colonia Augusta Aroe Patrae", "text": "[---] lumina M[---] [---e]t palleat AETI[---] [---\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Colonia Augusta Aroe Patrae \u2013 P\u00e1trai (Achaia) - HD061987"}, {"coords": [38.0414, 23.5429], "id": 1000, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1000", "long_id": "MPL01000", "place": "Eleusis", "text": "[---]\u03bf\u03b4\u03c9 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u1fc7\u03b4\u03b5 [---] \u03bb\u1f73\u03c3\u03c7\u1fc3 \u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03c0\u1f73\u03c3\u03b8\u03b7\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1[\u1f76 [---]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Mile-/leaguestone from Eleusis \u2013 Elefs\u00eds (Achaia) - HD058250"}, {"coords": [37.917, 22.883], "id": 841, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/841", "long_id": "MPL00841", "place": "Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthus", "text": "\u03a4\u03b9\u03bc\u1f71\u03c1\u03c7\u03c9\u0323\u03b9 \u03b8\u1f7b\u03b3\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1 \u039a\u03b1\u0323\u03bb\u03b1\u03b9\u03bd\u0323\u03ce\u0323, \u03c4\u0323\u03cd\u0323\u03bc\u0323\u03b2\u0323\u03b5, \u03c6\u0323\u03b9\u0323\u03bb\u0323\u1f77\u03c3\u03c4\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": " Epitaph for Philista and the poet and doctor Thrasippus "}, {"coords": [37.917, 22.883], "id": 857, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/857", "long_id": "MPL00857", "place": "Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthus", "text": "[---]\u03bf\u03bd\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f45\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 [---] \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 Quod neque conatus qui\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Inscription from Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthus \u2013 K\u00f3rinthos (Achaia) - HD023476"}, {"coords": [37.917, 22.883], "id": 1004, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1004", "long_id": "MPL01004", "place": "Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthus", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] M(arcus) Iustitiu[s---] \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Inscription from Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthus \u2013 K\u00f3rinthos (Achaia) - HD058822"}, {"coords": [37.917, 22.883], "id": 1009, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1009", "long_id": "MPL01009", "place": "Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthus", "text": "[---] Numisia Numis[---] [---]lius L(uci) l(ibertu\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthus \u2013 K\u00f3rinthos (Achaia) - HD060240"}, {"coords": [38.5855, 22.6686], "id": 816, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/816", "long_id": "MPL00816", "place": "Tithorea", "text": "\u0394\u03c9\u03c1\u03cc\u03b8\u03b5\u03b5, \u03c7\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c1\u03b5. [\u0394]\u03c9\u03c1\u03cc\u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03bd, \u03be\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5, \u03c4\u03cc\u03bd\u03b4\u03b5 \u03c3\u03b1\u03cc\u03c6\u03c1\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for the doctor Dorotheus "}, {"coords": [37.4143, 22.1264], "id": 954, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/954", "long_id": "MPL00954", "place": "Megalopolis", "text": "\u039e\u03c5\u03bd\u1f78\u03bd \u1f10\u03b3\u1f7c \u03b4\u03cc\u03be\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f11\u03bb\u03cc\u03bc\u03b1\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u1f76\u03bd `\u1f04\u03b5\u03b8\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd\u00b4, \u03a0\u03b9\u03b5\u03c1\u03af\u03b4\u03c9\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for an unnamed poet turned doctor"}, {"coords": [37.4041, 25.228], "id": 1104, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1104", "long_id": "MPL01104", "place": "Rheneia", "text": "[------] [\u2066 - - - \u2069] \u03b8\u0323\u03bd\u0323\u03b5\u0323\u03af\u0323\u03c3\u0323\u03ba\u0323\u03c9\u0323 \u03c0\u0323\u03b5\u0323[\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03ba]\u03b1\u0323\u03b9\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for a doctor aged from Rheneia"}]

Object Details

Object Type	stele
Material	marble
State of Preservation	incomplete
Dimensions	width: 70.0 cm height: 110.0 cm depth: 23.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	1.0
Letter Size in cm (max)	3.1
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography	According to Samama (2003) and Peek (1941), the stele bears two inscriptions, separated by a space of 8 cm. The first is in prose and lists the individuals buried there and their affiliations, including Philon, while the second is a verse epitaph for the physician Philon. Peek argues that the two inscriptions were not carved by the same stonemason, since there appears to be a significant difference in both letter size and execution technique. The prose inscription displays a more irregular script, with greater variation in letter height from line to line (between 2 and 3 cm). The epigram, by contrast, exhibits a more regular and refined script, with letters varying in height between 1 and 1.5 cm.
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence Prose + Verse
Prose Verse Distinction
Yes, by vacat
Scriptio Continua in verse part no
Abbreviations in verse part no

Prose Verse Presence	Prose + Verse
Prose Verse Distinction	Yes, by vacat
Scriptio Continua in verse part	no
Abbreviations in verse part	no

Text

Function	funerary inscription
Language(s)	Greek
Verse Type(s)
Rhythmisation	Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

ΕΙΑ
ΑΙΣ.Ρ[]ΟΡΙΝΘΙ[]
ΦΙΛΩΝΦΙΛ[]ΥΣΙΚΥΩΝΙΟ[]
[]ΡΙΣΤΟΚΛΕΙΑ[]ΝΟΣΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟ[]
5[]ΓΑΤ[]ΝΟΣΓΥΝΗ
ΦΙΛΟΡ[]ΣΑΜΑΞΑΝΤΕΥ[]
[]ΑΛΛΙΣ[---]ΟΥ[]ΥΜΕΩ[]
[]ΓΑ[]ΡΑΤΟΥΓΥΝΗ

10[]ΙΑΤΡΩΙΘΑΝ[]ΤΟΥΛΥΣΙΣ[]ΠΡΕΣΒΥΣ
[]ΓΗΝΕΙΔΩΣΦΑΡΜΑΚΑΠ[]Α[]ΙΛΩΝ
[]ΣΟΝΜΕΝΑΝΥΣΤΟΝΑΦΙΚ[]ΟΗΡΑΟΣΑΚΡ[]
[]ΚΕΙΝΟΥΣΩΝΟΥΤΙΝΙΣΥ[]ΟΜΕΝΟ[]
[]ΚΑΙΜΑΚΑΡΙΣΤΑΛΕΓΟΙΤΙ[]ΩΝΟΔΕΚ[]
15[·······]Γ[]ΡΩΣΕΣΘΛΟΣΑΝΗΡ[]

⁦ - - - ⁩εια
Αἰσχ̣ρ[ίωνος Κ]ορινθί[ου].
Φίλων Φιλ[οκράτο]υ Σικυώνιο[ς].
[Ἀ]ριστόκλεια [Αἰσχρίω]νος Κορινθίο[υ]
5[θυ]γάτ[ηρ, Φίλω]νος γυνή.
Φιλοκ̣ρ[άτης Φίλωνο]ς Ἁμαξαντεύ[ς].
[Κ]αλλισ[τὼ[⁦ - - - ⁩]---]ου [Εὐω]ν̣υμέω[ς]
[θυ]γά[τηρ, Φιλο]κ̣ράτου γυνή.
( vac. )

10[εἰ γένετ’] ἰατρῶι θαν[ά]του λύσις, [οὐκ ἂν ὁ] πρέσβυς
[δύσατο] γῆν εἰδὼς φάρμακα π[άντ]α [Φ]ίλων.
[ἀλλ’ ὅ γ’ ὅ]σον μὲν ἀνυστὸν ἀφίκε̣[τ]ο γ̣ήραος ἄκρ[ον]
[τέρμ’ ὁλ]κεῖ νούσων οὔτινι συ[ρ]όμενο[ς]·
[οὕνεκα] καὶ μακαριστὰ λέγοι τι[ς ἂν] ὧν ὅδ’ ἔκ[υρσεν]
15[7]γ[ή]ρως ἐσθλὸς ἀνὴρ [⁦ - - - ⁩].

⁦ - - - ⁩εια Αἰσχ̣ρ[ίωνος Κ]ορινθί[ου]. Φίλων Φιλ[οκράτο]υ Σικυώνιο[ς]. [Ἀ]ριστόκλεια [Αἰσχρίω]νος Κορινθίο[υ θυ]γάτ[ηρ, Φίλω]νος γυνή. Φιλοκ̣ρ[άτης Φίλωνο]ς Ἁμαξαντεύ[ς]. [Κ]αλλισ[τὼ[⁦ - - - ⁩]---]ου [Εὐω]ν̣υμέω[ς θυ]γά[τηρ, Φιλο]κ̣ράτου γυνή. ( vac. )

[εἰ γένετ’] ἰατρῶι θαν[ά]του λύσις, [οὐκ ἂν ὁ] πρέσβυς
[δύσατο] γῆν εἰδὼς φάρμακα π[άντ]α [Φ]ίλων.
[ἀλλ’ ὅ γ’ ὅ]σον μὲν ἀνυστὸν ἀφίκε̣[τ]ο γ̣ήραος ἄκρ[ον]
[τέρμ’ ὁλ]κεῖ νούσων οὔτινι συ[ρ]όμενο[ς]·
[οὕνεκα] καὶ μακαριστὰ λέγοι τι[ς ἂν] ὧν ὅδ’ ἔκ[υρσεν]
[7]γ[ή]ρως ἐσθλὸς ἀνὴρ [⁦ - - - ⁩].

Apparatus

Main Translation

Translation
Citation

Other Translations

[...] fils d'Aischrion de Corinthe; Philon fils e Philocratès de Sicyone. Aristocleia, fille d'Aischrion de Corinthe, épouse de Philon. Philocratès fils de Philon d'Hamaxantia, Callisto, fille de [...]os du dème d'Euonymon et épouse de Philocratès.
S'il y avait our les médecin un moyen d'échapper à la mort, jamais le vieux Philon qui connaisait tous les remèdes ne seriat descendu sous terre.
Pourtant il a attein, autant qu'il était possible, l'extrême [limite] de la vieillesse sand être emporté par quelque [...] maladie; on purrait donc, pour cela, dire qu'il a acquis une situation enviable [jouissant d'une vieillesse bienheureuse], en honnête homme. (French , Samama 2003)

Prosopographical Information

Name Φίλων (son of Philocrates)
Gender Male
Origin Foreign
Profession Other profession
Role Dedicatee
Name Ἀριστόκλεια (daughter of Aischrion, wife of Philon)
Gender Female
Origin Foreign
Role Dedicatee
Name Καλλιστὼ (wife of Philocrates)
Gender Female
Origin Foreign
Role Dedicatee
Name Φιλοκράτης (son of Philon)
Gender Male
Origin Foreign
Role Dedicatee

Name	Φίλων (son of Philocrates)
Gender	Male
Origin	Foreign
Profession	Other profession
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Ἀριστόκλεια (daughter of Aischrion, wife of Philon)
Gender	Female
Origin	Foreign
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Καλλιστὼ (wife of Philocrates)
Gender	Female
Origin	Foreign
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Φιλοκράτης (son of Philon)
Gender	Male
Origin	Foreign
Role	Dedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	300 BC
Date (To)	201 BC
Date (Criteria)

Bibliography

Peek, Kerameikos 03-A 00027
IG 02, 09052
GVI 01699
SIAtt 05, 00027
Wilhelm, Bemerkungen zu den attischen Grabinschriften I.G.II², Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 29 (1978), 66-68. 🔗 link
É. Samama, Les médecins dans le monde grec. Sources épigraphiques sur la naissance d’un corps médical, Genève 2003, 120-121, no.12 (with French translation). 🔗 link
PH236065 🔗 link

Images

Editing History

Created	2026-08-11, by Anna Martelli
Work Status	Complete
Import Notice

Revisions

by Unknown
at 2024-07-11 12:29
by Anna Pokorny
at 2024-07-25 08:18
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-02-25 18:17
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-03-18 19:56
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-03-18 19:56
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-03-18 19:57
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-03-18 19:57
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-03-18 19:58
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-07-31 08:51
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 08:00
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at 2026-08-05 08:06
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 08:06
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at 2026-08-05 08:07
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at 2026-08-05 08:11
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at 2026-08-05 08:11
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at 2026-08-05 08:11
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at 2026-08-05 08:20
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at 2026-08-05 08:24
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at 2026-08-05 08:24
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at 2026-08-05 08:25
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at 2026-08-05 08:52
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at 2026-08-05 09:13
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at 2026-08-05 09:15
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at 2026-08-05 10:19
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at 2026-08-05 10:20
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at 2026-08-05 10:20
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at 2026-08-05 10:43
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at 2026-08-05 12:30
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 12:41
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 12:43
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 12:47
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 12:49
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at 2026-08-05 12:59
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-10 11:42
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-10 11:43
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-08-11 12:27

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