Upper part of a cylindrical altar; the upper molding is damaged. In the middle of the upper surface there is a shallow circular hole. The lower part with molding is broken off and kept separately.

1–2 The Roman ruler, here called Καῖσαρ Αὐτοκράτωρ Μέγισ(σ)τος, is probably Octavianus after the battle of Actium, which gave him rule also over the empire’s eastern part, and before the bestowal of the cognomen Augustus (January 16, 27 BC); from the same time dates the honorific inscription from Claros, J.-L. Ferrary, BCH 124 (2000), pp. 357–59, no. 8 (SEG 51, 1593, l. 2: [Αὐτοκρ]άτορα Θεοῦ υἱὸν Καίσαρα). For Augustus being called simply Καῖσαρ, see I.Didyma, no. 234 B II, 2–3 (17/16 BC) and I.Didyma, no. 346, 6–7, both quoted in the commentary on no. 582, 1–2. He is called Καῖσαρ Αὐτοκράτωρ in SB 8428, 5; Καῖσαρ Αὐτοκράτωρ Θεὸς ἐκ Θεοῦ in OGI 655 (Gizeh, 24 BC); in 28/27 BC Caesar is called Καῖσαρ ὁ πρεσβύτερος Αὐτοκράτωρ Θεός, Augustus in the same inscription: Καῖσαρ ὁ νεώτερος Αὐτοκράτωρ Θεοῦ υἱός (TAM V 2, 1229; Apollonis). - The lack of syllabification and the free space between the two last letters of l. 1 (-TOKvP) seem to point to difficulties of the mason.

2 and 7–8 The doubling of Σ in μεγίσστῳ is a frequent phenomenon (cf. the Index “Phonology-Grammar”). Gignac, Grammar I, p. 159 n. 1, on doubling of Σ in medial position, before a stop: “Doubling of σ in this position is often explained as a graphic device to indicate the syllable boundary between σ and the foll. consonant.” This explanation is corroborated by the spelling ἀνασ/στάσεως in ll. 7–8.

3–4 The well-known filiation of Βάχος (for this spelling instead of -χχ- or -κχ- see, e.g., SEG 41, 1064) Διόνυσος is underlined by the mention and position of the father’s name: Διός.

4–5 ὁ θίασος τῶν δορυφόρων: As F. Poland has shown, θίασος can mean all kind of associations, often related to the cult of gods, in particular, like here, of Dionysos (Geschichte des griechischen Vereinswesens [1909], p. 641, Index s.v.; cf. R. Merkelbach and J. Stauber, Steinepigramme aus dem griechischen Osten 1 [1998], p. 492, no. 04/25/04). This may suggest that the present δορυφόροι (corrected from ΔΩΡΥ-) were practicing as mute characters in the theater; for this meaning of the word see Etymologicum Magnum 283.21–22: (apart from the meaning “bodyguard”) καὶ τὸ κωφὸν πρόσωπον (cf. LSJ s.v. II 4). See my discussion of ὁ θίασος τῶν μουσικῶν (northeastern Lydia, 239 AD; SEG 55, 1311), in EpAnat 38 (2005), pp. 28–30.

9–11 The name of the person (or institution?) responsible for the erection of the altar “and of the building” was intentionally deleted.