MAMA XI 109 (Akmoneia) 
Dedicatory base set up by two Kouretes
- Type of monument:
- Dedicatory base.
- Location:
- Banaz köyü (Akmoneia): in a house.
- Description:
- White Dokimeian marble base, moulded above and below. Apparently complete.
- Dimensions:
- Ht. 0.19; W. 0.44 (mouldings), 0.40 (shaft); Th. 0.28 (mouldings), 0.26 (shaft); letters 0.015-0.020.
- Record:
- Squeeze; line drawing; MB notebook copy; photograph (1955/111).
- Publication:
- None.
- Date:
- AD 114/5-213/4 (Year 200+ of Sullan era)
Γ · Οὐείβιος Λόγγος νεώτερ̣(ος)
κ(ὲ) Ὑμέναιος Ἑρμᾶ Κουρῆτε̣[ς]
τὸ ἱερὸν παρ᾿ αὑτῶν ἀνέθ[ε]-
σαν vac. ἔ̣τει σ´[- -]
G(aius) Vibius Longus the younger and Hymenaios son of Hermas, Kouretes, dedicated the sanctuary at their own expense. Year 200+.
Illustrations:
Photograph of MAMA XI 109 (Akmoneia 11: 1955-111)
Squeeze of MAMA XI 109 (Akmoneia 11: 1955-111)
Drawing of MAMA XI 109 (Akmoneia 11: 1955-111)
For the abbreviation of νεώτερ(ος), compare SEG 40, 1223 (Sebaste). Several Vibii are attested at Akmoneia: Gaius Vibius Crispus, c. AD 150-175 (Waelkens 1986: 173-4, no. 435); Vibius Smaragdos, AD 220/1 (Ramsay, Phrygia II 657, no. 598); T. Flavius Priscus Vibianus (MAMA VI 266).
This document is our first evidence for a college of Kouretes at Akmoneia (for the college of Kouretes at Ephesos, see Knibbe 1981: 70-92). The cult of the Kouretes is also attested on coins of Akmoneia minted under Trebonianus Gallus and Gordian (Robert 1987: 266; Lindner 1994: 165-6; RPC VII.1 679), which depict Cybele-Rhea and the baby Zeus being protected by three Kouretes clashing their shields. No doubt Akmoneia was one of the many cities of Asia Minor which claimed to be the real birthplace of Zeus. Although there is no direct evidence for this claim, it is relevant that Nonnos, Dionysiaca 13.143-5 names Akmon, the eponymous founder of Akmoneia, among the seven Korybantes ‘who, dwelling in the heart of Phrygia... ringed Bacchos with their shouts, while he was still a child’ (Robert, OMS VII 200-6; Chuvin 1991: 43-6; Lindner 1994: 183-5).