A Honorific Inscription from Amphipolis for the Sappaean King Sextus Iulius Cotys

Abstract

First publication and commentary on an inscription by which young men of Amphipolis (neoi) honored Serxtus Iulius Cotys who assumed the office of high priest and agonothetes of the imperial cult in the city. The honoree belongs to the Sappaean dynasty and is identical with Cotys IX (PIR2 C 1555) who ruled Lesser Armenia. The inscription is dated between September of AD 38 and May of AD 39, i.e. before Cotys ascended his throne. On this occasion all inscriptions related to the other members’ of the Sappaean dynasty presence in Amphipolis are being reexamined and discussed.

Keywords
Amphipolis; gymnasium; Sextus Iulius Cotys; Sappaean dynasty; imperial cult; Lesser Armenia; Thrace