Inscriptions: Epitaph for the doctor Epaphroditus

Identification

Reference as:	MPL01107
Title	Epitaph for the doctor Epaphroditus
Trismegistos-No.	860162

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Stratonikeia
Find Context
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	Izmir, Archaeology Museum
Inventory number	245
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"coords": [37.3137, 28.0618], "id": 1107, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1107", "long_id": "MPL01107", "place": "Stratonikeia", "text": "\u039a\u03c5\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03b3\u1f73\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03a0\u03b1\u03c6\u1f77\u03b7\u03c2 \u1f41 \u1f10\u03c0\u1f7d\u03bd\u03c5-\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bd\u03b8\u1f71\u03b4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9, \u1f20\u1fd3\u03b8\u03b5\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for the doctor Epaphroditus"}, {"coords": [38.4172, 27.1414], "id": 389, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/389", "long_id": "MPL00389", "place": "Smyrna", "text": "[\u039c\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c1]\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u0395\u1f30\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03b8\u03c5\u03b9\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f60\u03b4\u1fd6\u0323-[\u03bd]\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c3\u1f78\u03bd \u039c\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Herais"}, {"coords": [38.4172, 27.1414], "id": 396, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/396", "long_id": "MPL00396", "place": "Smyrna", "text": "Left column \u03b4\u03bc\u03c9\u1f70\u03bd \u0394\u03c9\u03c1\u03bf\u03b8\u03ad-\u03b1\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03c7\u03b5\u03af\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f41\u03bc\u03cc\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Kopria"}, {"coords": [38.4172, 27.1414], "id": 757, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/757", "long_id": "MPL00757", "place": "Smyrna", "text": "\u1f30\u03b7\u03c4\u1f74\u03c1 \u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u1f79\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5, \u1f08\u03c3\u03b9\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u1f73, \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u1f71\u03c4\u03b1, \u03c7\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c1\u03b5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03bb\u1f70 \u03bc\u1f72\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr/ws/catalogue/app/file/download/inv.57.5-03.jpg?key=D8C918lymi3wzZ4dbjydoqSvj9NC5ajoI\u0026thumbw=500\u0026thumbh=600", "title": "Epitaph for the Methodic doctor Marcus Modius Asiaticus "}, {"coords": [38.7602, 26.9383], "id": 404, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/404", "long_id": "MPL00404", "place": "Cyme (Aeolis)", "text": "\u0394\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u03b4\u03af\u03ba\u03b1 \u039a\u03c1[\u03ac\u03c4\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd]\u1f74 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f19\u03c1\u03bc\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4[\u03bf]\u1fe6 \u1f08\u03c3[\u03ba\u03bb\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Stele for Damodika"}, {"coords": [38.6122, 28.8034], "id": 407, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/407", "long_id": "MPL00407", "place": "Tabala", "text": "Text A \u03c4\u03ae\u03bd\u03b4\u03b5 \u03bb\u03b9\u03c0\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b1 \u03c0\u03ac\u03c4\u03c1\u03b7\u03bd \u039a\u03bf\u03c5\u03b1\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c0\u03c1\u1f76\u03bd \u03bf\u1f56\u03b8\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Stele for Paiplous"}, {"coords": [36.2618, 29.3145], "id": 2245, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2245", "long_id": "MPL02245", "place": "Patara", "text": "Hic situs est Graiis de-flendus saepe Camenis\u0323. Se\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the freedman of Placidus"}, {"coords": [37.0404, 27.4221], "id": 969, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/969", "long_id": "MPL00969", "place": "Halicarnassus", "text": "\u039c\u03b5\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03b7\u03c4\u03c1\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u039c\u03b5\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f30\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bc\u03bd\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://media.britishmuseum.org/media/Repository/Documents/2015_11/24_16/b8503bcb_34d8_4c33_9309_a55a0115ad2e/mid_915.jpg", "title": "Double epitaph for the doctor Melanthius "}]

Object Details

Object Type	block
Material	marble
State of Preservation	incomplete
Dimensions	width: 32.5 cm height: 78.5 cm depth: 13.5 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	0.7
Letter Size in cm (max)	1.8
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography	Above the block is a bas-relief depicting the bust of a young man set on a pedestal. Around his neck he wears a cord with three rounded pendants (Şahin 1982, I.Stratonikea II.1, 001202). The pedestal is decorated with two small birds, while on either side stand two larger birds, alternatively identified as roosters or quail, are depicted in a fighting stance (Stauber and Merkelbach 1998, SGO 02/06/13; Şahin 1982, I.Stratonikea II.1, 00120)
Decoration Tags	Animal / rooster

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence Verse
Scriptio Continua in verse part no
Abbreviations in verse part no
Verse Line Correspondence No, but follows metrical subdivisions

Prose Verse Presence	Verse
Scriptio Continua in verse part	no
Abbreviations in verse part	no
Verse Line Correspondence	No, but follows metrical subdivisions

Text

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

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

ΚΥΠΡΟΓΕΝΟΥΣΠΑΦΙΗΣΟΕΠΩΝΥ
ΜΟΣΕΝΘΑΔΕΚΕΙΜΑΙΗΙΘΕΟΣΚΟΥΡΟ[]
ΠΡΟΛΙΠΩΝΩΡΑΝΒΙΟΤΟΙΟΘΡΕΨΑΣΜΟΙΚΑΡΠΟΣΣΤΗΛΗΝΜΝΗΜΗΣΕΠΕΘΗ
ΚΕΝΠΑΝΤΑΟΛΕΣΑΣΚΑΡΠΟΝΤΩΝΕΠΕΜΟ[]
5ΚΑΜΑΤΩΝΠΟΛΛΟΥΣΕΠΑΦΡΟΔΕΤΕΣ[]
ΜΕΝΝΟΣΕΟΝΤΑΣΕΓΕΙΡΑΣΕΙΗΤΡΟΣ
ΓΕΓΑΩΣΠΑΣΙΝΕΤΑΙΡΟΤΑΤΟΣΑΜ
ΦΟΤΕΡΟΝΤΕΧΝΗΝΤΑΓΑΘΟΣΚΑΙΗΘΕΑ
ΚΕΔΝΟΣΤΗΣΓΑΡΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΗΣΜΑΛΛΟ
10ΦΡΟΝΕΙΝΕΜΑΘΕΣΑΛΛΟΥΤΟΙΣΤΟ[]
ΝΟΥΣΟΥΕΔΥΝΗΣΑΟΣΩΣΑΙΙΗΤΡΩΝΓΑΡ
ΕΦΥΜΥΡΑΚΡΑΤΑΙΟΤΕΡΑ

Κυπρογένους Παφίης ὁ ἐπώνυ-
μος ἐνθάδε κεῖμαι, ἠΐθεος κοῦρο[ς,]
προλιπὼν ὥραν βιότοιο. θρέψας μοι Κάρπος στήλην μνήμης ἐπέθη-
κεν, πάντα ὀλέσας καρπὸν τῶν ἐπ’ ἐμο[ὶ]
5καμάτων. πολλοὺς Ἐπαφρόδε<ι>τε σ[ὺ]
μὲν νοσέοντας ἔγειρας, εἰητρὸς
γεγαὼς πᾶσιν ἑταιρότατος,ἀμ-
φότερον τέχνην τ’ ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἤθεα
κεδνός, τῆς γὰρ ἐπιστήμης {μ}αλλο
10φρονεῖν ἔμαθες·ἀλλ’ οὔτοι σ<εαυ>τὸ[ν]
νούσου ἐδυνήσαο σῶσαι, ἰητρῶν γὰρ
ἔφυ Μῦρα κραταιοτέρα.

Κυπρογένους Παφίης ὁ ἐπώνυμος ἐνθάδε κεῖμαι,
ἠΐθεος κοῦρο[ς,] προλιπὼν ὥραν βιότοιο.
θρέψας μοι Κάρπος στήλην μνήμης ἐπέθηκεν,
πάντα ὀλέσας καρπὸν τῶν ἐπ’ ἐμο[ὶ] καμάτων.
πολλοὺς Ἐπαφρόδε<ι>τε σ[ὺ] μὲν νοσέοντας ἔγειρας,
εἰητρὸς γεγαὼς πᾶσιν ἑταιρότατος,
ἀμφότερον τέχνην τ’ ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἤθεα κεδνός,
τῆς γὰρ ἐπιστήμης {μ}αλλο φρονεῖν ἔμαθες·
ἀλλ’ οὔτοι σ<εαυ>τὸ[ν] νούσου ἐδυνήσαο σῶσαι,
ἰητρῶν γὰρ ἔφυ Μῦρα κραταιοτέρα.

Apparatus

l.12 Μῦρα orig., reg. Μοῖρα

Main Translation

Translation
Citation

Other Translations

Hier liege ich, der ich den Namen der in Kypros geborenen paphischen Göttin trage, ein unverheirateter junger Mann, der ich die Blüte des Lebens verlassen musste. Karpos (Herr "Frucht"), der mich grossgezogen hat, hat alle Frucht der auf mich verwendeten Mühe verloren. Viele Kranke has du wiedererweckt, Epaphroditos, der du als Arzt bei allen belibt warst, sowohl in der Kunst trefflich als auch im Wesen liebenswürdig; denn in deinem Beruf hast du gelernt an andere zu denken. Aberd dich selbst hast du nicht aus der Krankheit retten können, denn die Schicksalsgöttin ist stärker als die Ärzte. (German, Stauber and Merkelbach 1998 (SGO I, 02/06/13))
Moi qui porte le nom de déesse de Paphos née à Chypre, je gis sici encore jeune homme ayant quitté trop tôt la fleur de la vie. Carpos qui m’a élevé consacra cette stele à ma mémoire, ayant perdu tout fruit des efforts qu’il a fournis pour moi. Épaphroditos, tu as relevé bien des malades, toi le médecin qui étais un excellent Compagnon, à la fois bon professional et aux mœur respectables; tu avais appris à te socier des autres; et pourtant tu n’as pas pute sauver toi-même de la maladie, car la Moire est par nature plus forte que les médecins. (French , Samama 2003)

Prosopographical Information

Name Ἐπαφρόδιτος
Gender Male
Profession Other profession
Role Dedicatee
Name Κάρπος
Gender Male
Role Dedicatee

Name	Ἐπαφρόδιτος
Gender	Male
Profession	Other profession
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Κάρπος
Gender	Male
Role	Dedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	101 AD
Date (To)	200 AD
Date (Criteria)

Bibliography

GVI 01934 - SEG 30
Pfuhl–Möbius, Ostgr. Grabreliefs 02-510, 02112(Textband) - SEG 30.
Pfuhl–Möbius, Ostgr. Grabreliefs 02-304, 02112 (Tafelband Photo).
SEG 30, 01280
I.Stratonikeia, 01202
SGO I, 02/06/13 (with photo and German translation).
É. Samama, Les médecins dans le monde grec. Sources épigraphiques sur la naissance d’un corps médical, Genève 2003, 378-379, no. 266 (with French translation). 🔗 link
PH262613 🔗 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 08:13
by Anna Pokorny
at 2025-02-26 13:01
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-03-18 20:02
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-07-31 08:53
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 14:56
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 15:01
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 15:45
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 15:46
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 15:50
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-05 15:56
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 07:36
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 07:38
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 07:38
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 08:11
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 08:14
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 08:26
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 08:27
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 08:27
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 08:29
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 08:51
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 09:12
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-06 09:15
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-07 08:41
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-08-10 11:50
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-08-11 12:38
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-08-11 12:40
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-08-11 12:41

Download

Download as XML