Cult and Community
Observations on an Honorary Decree of a Religious Association from Kos
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63872/TJEQ7654Keywords:
Kos, Hellenistic period, religious associations, cult, epigraphyAbstract
This article analyzes a second-century BCE Greek inscription from Kos, which records an honorary decree by a religious association recognizing a member for his distinguished cultic service. The text reveals a close interrelation between cultic activity and communal identity. Through philological and epigraphic examination, the author highlights the blurred boundaries between public and private religion and shows how the internal structure of such associations mirrored civic ideals of the Hellenistic polis. The honorific formula and its theological phrasing demonstrate the social prestige associated with religious agency. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of Hellenistic religious communities and their epigraphic selfrepresentation.
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