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Translations of Hellenistic Inscriptions: 188


DEDICATION BY CHRYSINA AT KNIDOS


Greek text:   IKnidos_131
Provenance:   Knidos , Caria
Date:   Late 4th century B.C.
Tags:     women
Format:   see key to translations

This short inscription, which has the form of a four-line poem, has received much attention from scholars. K.J. Rigsby has suggested that Chrysina?'s dream occurred after the death of her daughter, and that the last line should be emended to remove the unknown place-name Tathne ( "Chrysogone's Mother" - PDF ). But B. Dignas has supported the previous interpretation, in which Chrysina herself is instructed to serve the goddesses ( "Benefitting Benefactors: Greek Priests and Euergetism", p. 77 - Persée ).

Two alternative translations are shown below; the first by Beate Dignas, and the second by Angelos Chaniotis  ( "From Woman to Woman: Female Voices and Emotions in Dedications to Goddesses", para. 30  - PDF  ).


[A]   Chrysina, the mother of Chrysogone, wife of Hippokrates, dedicated a house and votive statue to Kore and Demeter because a sacred vision had appeared to her at night, and Hermes told her to serve as priestess to the goddesses in Tathne.

[B]   Chrysina, mother of Chrysogone and wife of Hippokrates, dedicated to Kore and Demeter a shrine and a statue, after she had seen a sacred dream. For Hermes told her that she {Chrysogone} is an attendant of the revered (?)  goddess.

inscription 189


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