Column of Callimorphus

TNMM 35 ↔ CIMRM 17

Marble column with inscription. At an antiquarian in Athens (Cumont in BCR LIX, 1931, 179).

Solem / Soli invicto / Mythrae / pro salute et incolu/mitate / Chresimi Aug(ustorum) / n(ostrorum) dispensatoris / Callimorphus arkar/ius eiusdem / votum solvit / libens animo.

So Callimorphus dedicated an image of Sol to Mithras.

A letter from Father Jos. Brucker, of the Society of Jesus, informs me of an interesting epigraphic discovery which has just been made at Caesarea in Cappadocia by a French missionary of the same order, Father Brunel. Four or five metres underground, this religious came across a Latin inscription engraved on a column, beside which lay a sculpted hand adorned with a bracelet.

As we can see, the inscription indicates that a statue or bust of the Sun, identified with Mithras, was consecrated and placed on the column by a certain Callimorphus, cashier to the steward of the emperor’s estates, for the salvation of Chresimus, an imperial slave and steward of the same estates. The first three lines and the last line are engraved in larger characters than the others. There is an accent on the Ο of SOLI in the second line and before the A of ANIMO in the last line.

This text dates from a time when two Augustinians shared the imperial throne, probably during the simultaneous reigns of Septimius Severus and Caracalla. It tells us that the seat of the administration of the imperial domains in Cappadocia was in Caesarea. This is an important piece of information, and the language in which the document is written makes it even more interesting. As far as we know, this is the first Latin inscription found in Caesarea in Cappadocia, a Greek-speaking country.

[...] The word SOLEM, placed at the beginning of the text, refers to the figurative representation that surmounted the column and, according to Greek usage, is in the accusative. It implies the name of the dedicator, Callimorplius, and a verb indicating worship.

In Cappadocia and Galatia the practice of engraving votive or honorary inscriptions on columns seems to have been widespread. There are a number of examples.

Comments

lorenzo lullo

Hello

I am currenty conducting a research about the widespread of Mithraism in Asia Minor and its possible influence on the society.
Do you know if there are other evidence on Callimorphus or Chresimus? Maybe other inscriptions?

Thank you very much for the help

Sincerely

Lorenzo

dilara ozasir

I am researching the Latin inscription dedicated by Callimorphus to Mithras (EDCS-27800570 / CIL III 12135). Could you please let me know if you have any information about the current location or custody of this inscription?

Thank you very much for your help.

Best regards,

Dilara.