Output details
31 - Classics
University of Oxford
Venus Felix a Siracusa? Per una rilettura dei decreti della synodos dei technitai di Afrodite Hilara
This is a new edition of two Syracusan decrees promulgated by a synodos of technitai of Aphrodite Hilara. These documents are unique for two reasons: the guilds of technitai worship almost exclusively Dionysus as their guardian patron, and Aphrodite is mentioned with a new epithet. Analysis of literary sources and inscriptions shows that Aphrodite Hilara ("propitious, favourable") is considered as patron of the technai. Concerning the innovative epithet, it is interesting to note that Aphrodite Hilara is a protector of technitai and she could coincide with the Venus Felix, whose cult was introduced by Sulla.