Chrestion
Freedman from Greek-speaking origin who dedicated an altar to the invincible Mythra.
Altar of Chrestion from Apulum
Lupa.at / Ortolf Harl
Biography
of Chrestion
- Chrestion was a syndexios.
- Active c. 3rd century in Apulum, Dacia superior (Dacia).
TNMP 234
Chrestion and Dioscorus are liberti from the Greek-speaking part of the Empire, who were probably actively involved in the commercial life of the conurbation.
Chrestion is strongly linked to Dioscorus not only because of the Greek name, but also thanks to the altar dedicated to Mithras which surely comes from the same workshop, having a corresponding epigraphic style, the name of Mithras is identical in both (Mythra) and they were both discovered in 1852, probably in the same archaeological context. The altar is decorated with symbolic representations on the sides, urceus (on the left) and a patera
References
- Bricault; Roy (2021) Les cultes de Mithra dans l'Empire Romain
- Csaba Szabó (2013) Microregional manifestation of a private cult. The Mithraic Community of Apulum
- Epigraphic Database Heidelberg. Altar of Chrestion from Alba Iulia in EDH
- Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss / Slaby. Altar of Chrestion from Alba Iulia in EDCS
Mentions
Altar of Chrestion from Alba Iulia
TNMM 666
In 1852, Károly Pap, a naval captain, unearthed several Mithraic monuments in his garden at Marospartos, including this altar.