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Syndexios

Euthices

Euthyces

Freedman, he offered a relief of Mithras as a bull killer for the well-being of his two former masters in Apulum.

  • The Mithraeum in 2008

    The Mithraeum in 2008
    Apulum Mithraeum III Project 

  • Frontal view

    Frontal view
    Cristian Chirita 

  • Tauroctony relief of Apulum (Alba Iulia)

    Tauroctony relief of Apulum (Alba Iulia)
    CIMRM 

Biography
of Euthices

TNMP 214

Eurices made and paid his vow with a maganificient relief of Mithras as a bullkiller. He dedicated it to the Invincible Sun God Mithras for the safety and well-being of his two old masters: Aurelius Timotheus and Aurelius Maximus.

The three followers were probably of a Greek or Oriental descent, having the same social and cultic background.


[...] The monumental and extravagant piece was undoubtedly the central element in the sanctuary. Because we do not have any clear evidence to prove that the central relief of Marcus Aurelius Timotheus, Aurelius Maximus and Euthyces was part of the same sanctuary, we cannot say if there were two completely different buildings and communities. The importance, size of the pieces and the example of other cities from the Empire indicate nonetheless the existence of only one Kultbild in a sanctuary, consequently during Secundinus’ time there were already two sanctuaries in the civilian town.

The last follower who without a doubt comes from the civilian town of Partoş is Cratus, who offers a statue to Cautopates, with an epigraphic base, out of which only the base and a fragment from the foot of the torchbearer remain. The adorer has a Latinized cognomen, but of Greek origin. His status of libertus is reflected not only through onomastics but also by his function of Augustalis of the colony.


Libertus of Marcus Aurelius Timotheus and Aurelius Maximus.

His name appears in two different ways from the same context: Euthices and Euthyces. This could be a mistake of the lapidarius himself, the epigraphic camp of the relief being more crowded and a HI ligature is more comfortable than an HY. We cannot reconstruct the event, when or how these objects were placed in a sanctuary, of if they were erected during the same event, however the text, the paleography of the inscriptions, suggests that they were made in the same workshop.

—Szabó (2018)

Mentions

Mithraic stele from Alba Iulia

Mithraic stele, from Alba Iulia, Romania, with inscription.

TNMM 257

D(eo) S(oli) I(nvicto) M(ithrae) / pro salute inc/o{t}lumitate M(arci) Aur(eli) / Timotei et Aur(eli) M/aximi votum nun/cupavit solvitque / Euthyces eorum lib(ertus) / retulit.
To the invincible god Sol Mithras, [for the salvation and conser]vation of Marcus Aurelius Thimotheus and Marcus Aurelius Maximus, Euthyc(h)es, their freedman, [solemnly made a vow] and fulfilled it.

Tauroctony of Euthices from Apulum

This marble relief of Mithras killing the bull was made by a freedman who dedicated it to his old masters.

TNMM 638

D(eo) S(oli) i(nvicto) M(ithrae) / [pro salute et incolumi]tate M. Aurelii Timothei et Aur(elii) Maximii / [votum nuncupavit sol]vitq(ue) Euthices eorum l[ib(ertus)].
To the Unconquered Sun God Mithras, for the safety and well-being of M. Aurelius Timotheus and Aurelius Maximus. Euthices, their freedman, has made and paid his vow.

References

  • Csaba Szabó (2013) Microregional manifestation of a private cult. The Mithraic Community of Apulum

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