This inscription was found near the so-called Hekatomneion in Mylasa. It contains a long poem by an otherwise unknown poet called Hyssaldomos - his name shows that he was a local Carian. The poem describes how Pytheas was rescued from imprisonment by a god, who appeared in an epiphany, with the aid of the goddess Artemis. The god is not named in the surviving portions of the poem, and nothing else is known about Pytheas. Unfortunately, the upper right-hand side of the stone has been severely damaged, and as a result the ends of the lines in the first half of the poem have been lost.
The inscription was published by Ch. Marek & E. Zingg, "Die Versinschrift des Hyssaldomos und die Inschriften von Uzunyuva" (2018). This English translation is taken from the appendix to the detailed appraisal of the poem by T.J. Nelson, "Epiphany and Salvation in Inscribed Hellenistic Poetry: Bacchic and Odyssean Resonances in the Verse-Inscription of Hyssaldomos of Mylasa" ( academia.edu ).
The rescue of Pytheas by divine agency is reminiscent of other accounts of miraculous release, in particular the rescue of Peter by an angel in Acts 12.6-10, as pointed out by C.P.Jones (quoted by T.J. Nelson, op.cit., pp.12-13).
. . . . . . good . . . to engrave [on (?)] . . . graciously of your unsparing (?) . . . your strength and your will . . . that which is a bane for all people . . . unbreakable bond [around] his feet . . . and double . . . on his neck and hands . . . and dragging along a heavy shackle . . . to be lamented throughout the city of Kindye . . . of the enemies, when the commander (?) . . . 10 they were keeping watch over him in the innermost recesses . . . and gates with inescapable bars . . . and of the high-cliffed city . . . but everything . . . when you want . . . for anything is achievable [when the gods grant it], of which (?) I [shall tell of] both your strength and [aid].
Just then the light of the moon (?) and the dark [night is kindled by the splendour] of her four yoked horses [making the] dappled [heaven shine] with bright stars and sleep [immediately took hold of] people, [putting them to sleep] in their beds. 20 Then indeed you come . . . floor-resounding [step] . . . [just] like an eagle spreading its [wings] . . . [you] made light out of darkness . . . [you came] down, [introducing] courage in place of fear . . . and you broke every iron [bond] . . . and [the goddess Artemis lit] torches with blazing fire . . . illuminating with [both] her hands . . . the foundation of the building began to roar . . . pinewood doors yoked together . . . the unbreakable bars of the gatehouse (?) . . . but 30 Pytheas' body in pain (?) . . . leaving the enemies' city . . . there the enemies . . . a fortified [citadel] . . . with a cry they brought on evil flight (?) . . . to utterly destroy with much [force] . . . a stranger who approached at night . . . a stone [temple] hiding the new-borns . . . mournful [children screamed, falling] around his (?) knees . . . and grievous captivity . . . and the enemies who were already prevailing (?) . . . 40 whom they destroyed . . . [both] of fire [and] . . . and missiles and hand-thrown . . . obeying your words, lord, . . . as an ally and your [profit] . . . and the goddess who tames wild beasts . . . and you put the enemies to flight . . . who, prevailing amid the throng . . . treading close, keen-scented . . .
As was Zeus when he prevailed [ in his battle with Typhon ] you came with thunder, with thunderbolts [and lightning] . . . 50 with the right hand . . . the crashing . . . and he who . . . the sea's gulf . . . sands from the depths with his trident . . . and he cried out to mortals, he who . . . the light . . . and Ieios [ Phoibos ], grasping his bow . . . and the wing-wandering [son] of Maia . . . and [ Bacchus ], wielding his thyrsus-lances, [led nearby] the maenad girls, and [equipped them with bows] together with [shields] from Thrace - the sword-wielding Maenads . . . and to the light-limbed gods . . . 60 and shaking the nape of his neck . . . gripping his furious . . . around his shoulders . . . his circular ox hide shield . . . Ares, ruler of the Thracians . . . and the lake of the Scythians . . . and he { Asklepios } who is [the healer] for those who are always suffering [many] baneful [pains] who has obtained a holy place as his portion . . . a rearer of darting snakes . . . and you who occupy the famous island . . . a grove with tall trees . . . 70 and you have [founded a new thriving] city on holy Kos, and the Lemnian { Hephaistos } . . . of furnaces on ringing anvils . . . and of fire . . . heavy with iron . . . For you possess every form of the gods . . . with these . . . they always worship you highly (?)
. . . and he {Pytheas?} darted through them/their . . . children already arrived in evil straits . . . who had already reached the ill-fated citadel . . . you saved all your [friends] from evils . . . 80 and present at your noble deeds was the [torch-bearing maiden] Artemis, your associate {paredros}, [ruler of] Kindye shining a very bright light, [she helped bring back the prisoners] a very kind and [present saviour] for them. And then [she freed them] from the hands of the lawless enemies, and she impaled the leader (?) of the other enemies . . . and where the enemies were keeping watch and the sentries [kept guard], like nocturnal thieves [they marched] through narrow paths. When he saw them, the night-watchman sent a signal from his look-out, raising a clearly visible torch and signalling to his friends 90 the [unguarded] forms of bodies running away on foot. The signal, bright with fire in the darkness, darted up from his post. Hurrying to the sea path, they came to other men, who had been conquered, laid on their backs, and captured as booty, bound by the enemies' grievous bonds and force. But a daimon rescued them, because you, blessed one, wanted it. The children and Pytheas' sister, who had just given birth to infants, made their way to a welcoming small town of friendly men unharmed, where their mind and feet led them. There, when from much fear and suffering through much wandering 100 they had fallen into illness, you raised them all up, stretching out your loving hands and your help.
But as for the one who exalts your strength and excellence for people, Pytheas, standing kindly over him at night in his sleep, and meeting him, infallibly prophesying, you indicated a secure life, truly proclaiming the following from your benevolent soul: "You have a livelihood, best one, up to the end of your life, to reach your glorious goal among men of distinction, who dwell in Knidos, the beautiful sanctuary of the Dorian goddess, with their share of fertile hills, bastions and towers. 110 The lyre-singing Karneian Phoibos settled there, augmenting the stock of Amyklai through resettlement, as did the daughter of Dione { Aphrodite } after leaving the island of the Kytherians. There you must bring news of the enemies' action and report it to them { the men of distinction in Knidos }, telling them to protect those whom you kept away from harm. There you will obtain a noble reward from the people. You will reach old age and the end of life unharmed."
Since you performed such deeds, O greatest of all gods and mortals, for the pious, you receive gifts in return. And me too, the poet of the Muses, excellent in every metre, 120 propitiously protect me, lord, for ever with my children and riches, increasing the fame that comes from my verses and is unageing among men.
Hyssaldōmos son of Eirēnaios composed the poem.
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