Translation
Face A
With good fortune. Those who have been chosen have drawn up the following contract concerning the priesthood of Hermes Enagonios: Hipparchos son of Nikolochos, Androstenes son of Althaimenes, Charidamos son of Diophantos. The buyer of the priesthood of Hermes Enagonios should be (5) healthy and be without any deformity, and he should have the priesthood for life. The buyer of the priesthood should be exempt from military service abroad, from the hippotrophy, from the trierarchy, from choregia's, from the lampadarchy and all other liturgies. He should make a libation during the games, and he may sit in the front row just like the other priests. (10) The priest should also place the offerings on the altar for all those making sacrifices. He is to receive as gifts of honour from what is sacrificed to Hermes Enagonios the skin and a leg. The monarchos in function after Menoitios and the hieropoioi, and all those in this function in the future (15) should make a sacrifice, from the money allocated to them for the monthly sacrifices, on the 2nd of Hyakinthios and on the 10th of Alseios, but on the 4th day of the other months, each month a wether worth at least 30 drachmae. The priest is to join in the procession at every sacrifice he makes to Hermes where the monarchos and the hieropoioi (also sacrifice). (20) The agonothetes should make a sacrifice as before during the three first preliminary torch-races on the 10th, 16th and 20th of Dalios, in each race an adult animal worth not less than what is written in the law, that is to say 60 dr. He should sacrifice during the torch-race (25) of the 10th of the month Alseios a sacrificial animal of the same amount of the proposed money, as before. The lampadarchoi should sacrifice to Hermes during the three preliminary torch-races on the 25th Dalios, on the 1st and 6th of Alseios, each of them in each race an adult animal (30) worth not less than 60 dr. They should sacrifice also on the 4th of Alseios before the torch-race takes place and on the 10th during the torch race, on each of the two days, each of the lampadarchs a sacrificial animal worth not less than 40 dr. The lampadarchos who is the winner in the contest for good condition or the race should sacrifice (35) to Hermes from the prize of victory laid down in the law, for each victory, on the day after the torch-race, an adult animal costing 30 dr. The gymnasiarch in function after Menoitios and all others in this function in the future should make a sacrifice from the money given to them for the archery-contest and the (40) javelin-throwing contest, in the winter-semester in Theudaisios, Kaphisios, Gerastios, and in the summer-semester in Agrianos, Panamos and Alseios, each month a sacrificial animal worth not less than 25 dr. They should also sacrifice from the money that was given to them for the races of Artamitios and Agrianios, in each month a sacrificial animal worth (45) not less than 50 dr. They should also sacrifice on the 10th of the month Alseios, as before, an animal worth not less than what is written in the law, which is 60 dr. The paidonomos in function after the monarchos Menoitios should sacrifice on the 2nd of the month Hyakinthios to Hermes (50) an adult animal of 60 dr. The treasurers should give them the prescribed sum. On the 2nd of the month Hyakinthios, after the long run a torch-race for boys is to take place before the procession is sent on its way. The paidonomos, together with the priest of Hermes and the agonothetes should select (55) boys from those who frequent the wrestling-school, the same number as it is written in the law concerning the runners on the 10th of Alseios. When they are about to run they should anoint themselves with oil provided by the gymnasiarch. Of the animal which the paidonomos sacrifices on the 2nd of Hyakinthios to (60) Hermes he should divide the other meat to the runners in the torch-race, but he should give the left leg as a prize to the winner of the preliminary race. If some contestants are rivalling for the preliminary race, a race should be organized for them according to how it is written in the law with respect to the contestants of the race of the 4th of Alseios. (65) The paidonomos should sacrifice on the 10th of Alseios during the torch-race an animal to Hermes, exactly as it is written in the law, worth not less than 30 dr. He should sacrifice in the same way the other animal that is prescribed in the law. A price of 30 dr. should be given to the winners from the money proposed. The strategoi, (70) from the money that was given to them for the contest in throwing the catapult, should sacrifice to Hermes in the month of Artamitios, Panamos, Karneios and Kaphisios, in each prescribed month a sacrificial animal worth not less than 40 dr. All those who won a (75) contest in which the prize was a crown should sacrifice to Hermes Enagonios an animal worth not less than 40 dr., when the prostates make a public proclamation of the winners of the contests in which the prize was a crown. The priest of Hermes should crown the winner in the name of the city. The gymnastic trainers who have passed the scrutiny of the council (80) should sacrifice to Hermes on the 2nd of Hyakinthios all together an animal worth not less than 30 dr. From the month Badromios under Menoitios onwards, the revenues of the astynomoi and the agoranomoi except the [...] and commercial revenues and payments on accounts and interests of ten percent [... (85) all] are to be sacred to Hermes. Those who have contracted out the work [...] or of the epistatai, from (the month) Badromios under Menoitios onwards, should make the first sacrifice to Hermes, of from the works that the treasurers [...], they should deduct [...] (90) from the first payment [...]
Face B
[...] for the first offering, until the epistatai have compensated the contractors. According to the same, let the epistatai pay the money to the treasurers. The priest with the gymnasiarch each year on the 1st (95) of the month Agrianios is to designate five of the neoi who frequent the gymnasium in the assembly as epimenioi; each of them is to be equipped with (the signs of) authority. To those selected the treasurers are to pay [...] from the provided (100) fund: 700 dr.; and up to 300 dr. for a bovine and wood suitable for burning and up to 60 dr. for a sheep. Let the epimenioi, on the 4th of Hyakinthios, having made a procession on behalf of the city in the company of the priest, the gymnasiarch, the sub-gymnasiarch and the neoi, sacrifice to Hermes an ox (105) worth no less than 250 dr. and a male pig worth no less than 60 dr. Those who wish to from among the persons who undress in the gymnasion, except the ephebes, are each to give to the epimenioi for the congregation and the fair of the Hermaia, 2 dr. for each day. The epimenioi (110) [...] those who have fulfilled what is written from the [...] of the procession [...] to sacrifice [...] (115) from the funds of the god (i.e. Hermes) [...] to the gymnasiarch [...] the priest is to sacrifice every animal to the [...] with the priest and the [...] let him sacrifice from the (120) money given which [...] the sacrifice takes place on the 30th of Hyakinthios [...] are to be sacred as are also the others [...] in the palaistra [...] all. (125) Let the priest with the epimenioi place all the (portions of) sacrificial animals (on the altar) for the one who has served as agonothetes for the penteteric Asklepieia [...] on the 4th of Artamitios. Let the priest proclaim the victor of the torch-race performed for Hermes and the victors of the athletic contest of the Hermaia, and crown each of these individuals. (130) Let him deposit in the (civic?) archive an account of the expense incurred for each of the days on which sacrifices are performed according to the present contract. All the statues of the god in the gymnasium are to be wreathed. The agoranomoi are to take care that the one who buys (the priesthood) is to wreathe (the herms in) the stoa of the Herms, just as it is commanded to him (135) that he wreathe the statues in the agora. The poletai who are in office are to sell the priesthood of Hermes, and the one buying the priesthood is to pay the money to the treasurers, making three instalments: the first in the month Gerastios, the second in Hyakinthios, the third in the month Alseios (140) under (the monarchos) Menoitios. The accountants are to declare the money accrued from the priesthood as given (as a gift) by the city to Hermes. When the city has become free of its obligations, which [...] send under the monarchy of Menoitios, the people is to discuss what is necessary to celebrate to the god from these funds up to the budgetted account (145) which the treasurers and the prostatai gave to the epistatai. If the treasurers, concerning the funds assigned to the god according to this contract, spend any of this money or do not give what they are assigned to provide for the sacrifices as is written, (150) let them pay a fine of 3000 dr. sacred to Hermes. Let them write in detail the money for the sacrifices and the money now provided [...] to Hermes.
Traduction
Face A
À la bonne fortune. Ceux qui ont été élus ont rédigé ce contrat à propos de la prêtrise d’Hermès Enagonios : Hipparchos, fils de Nikolochos, Androsthenes, fils d’Althaimenès, Charidamos, fils de Diophantos. Que l’acheteur de la prêtrise d’Hermès Enagonios (5) soit en bonne santé et d’une totale intégrité physique, et qu’il exerce la prêtrise à vie. Que l’acheteur de la prêtrise soit exempt de service militaire à l’étranger, de l’hippotrophie, de la triérarchie, des chorégies, de la lampadarchie, et de toutes les autres liturgies. Qu’il répande les libations lors des concours, et qu’il soit assis au premier rang comme les autres prêtres. (10) Que le prêtre place les offrandes sur l’autel pour tous les sacrifiants. Qu’il reçoive comme parts d’honneur des animaux sacrifiés à Hermès Enagonios la peau et une patte. Que le monarque en fonction après Menoitios et les hiéropes, ainsi que ceux qui seront en fonction à l’avenir, (15) sacrifient, sur l’argent à leur disposition pour les sacrifices mensuels, le 4 des autres mois, mais le 2 Hyakinthios et le 10 Alseios, chaque mois un mouton mâle ne valant pas moins de 30 drachmes. Que le prêtre se joigne à la procession pour tous les sacrifices qu’il accomplit pour Hermès avec le monarque et les hiéropes. (20) Que l’agonothète sacrifie comme auparavant lors des trois premières courses aux flambeaux préliminaires, le 10, le 16 et le 20 Dalios, à chaque course un animal adulte d’une valeur équivalente à ce qui est prescrit dans la loi, soit 60 dr. Qu’il sacrifie en outre lors de la course aux flambeaux (25) du 10 du mois Alseios un animal pour la même somme d’argent fixée, comme auparavant. Que les lampadarques sacrifient à Hermès lors des trois courses aux flambeaux préliminaires, le 25 Dalios, le 1er et le 6 Alseios, chacun à chaque course un animal adulte (30) ne valant pas moins de 60 dr. Qu’ils sacrifient en outre le 4 Alseios avant que n’ait lieu la compétition de la course aux flambeaux et le 10 lors de la course aux flambeaux, chacun des deux jours, chacun des lampadarques un animal ne valant pas moins de 40 dr. Que celui des lampadarques qui remporte le concours de prestance ou la course sacrifie (35) à Hermès le lendemain de la course, sur le prix de la victoire fixé dans la loi, pour chaque victoire, un animal adulte de 30 dr. Que le gymnasiarque en fonction après le monarque Menoitios et les autres en fonction à l’avenir, sur l’argent qui leur est donné pour les concours de tir à l’arc (40) et de lancer du javelot, sacrifient au semestre d’hiver en Theudaisios, en Kaphisios, en Gerastios, et au semestre d’été en Agrianos, en Panamos et en Alseios, chaque mois un animal ne valant pas moins de 25 dr. Qu’ils sacrifient en outre sur l’argent qui leur est donné pour les courses d’Artamitios et d’Agrianios, chaque mois un animal (45) ne valant pas moins de 50 dr. Qu’ils sacrifient également le 10 Alseios, comme auparavant, un animal ne valant pas moins que ce qui est prescrit dans la loi, soit 60 dr. Que le pédonome en fonction après le monarque Menoitios et ceux en fonction à l’avenir sacrifient le 2 Hyakinthios à Hermès (50) un animal adulte de 60 dr. Que les trésoriers leur donnent la somme prescrite. Le 2 du mois de Hyakinthios, après la course longue, une course aux flambeaux des garçons aura lieu avant l’envoi des processions. Que le pédonome, avec le prêtre d’Hermès et l’agonothète, sélectionne (55) des garçons parmi ceux qui fréquentent la palestre, en nombre égal à ce qui est prescrit dans la loi pour les coureurs du 10 Alseios. Qu’ils s’enduisent avec l’huile fournie par le gymnasiarque avant de courir. De l’animal sacrifié par le pédonome le 2 Hyakinthios à (60) Hermès, qu’il divise le reste des viandes aux participants de la course aux flambeaux, mais qu’il donne la patte gauche comme prix au vainqueur de la course préliminaire. S’il y a des concurrents pour la course préliminaire, on organisera la course pour ceux-là conformément à ce qui est écrit dans la loi pour les concurrents du 4 Alseios. (65) Que le pédonome sacrifie lors de la course aux flambeaux du 10 Alseios un animal à Hermès, comme prescrit dans la loi, ne valant pas moins de 30 dr. Qu’il sacrifie l’autre animal prescrit dans la loi de la même manière. On donnera comme prix aux vainqueurs 30 dr. sur l’argent fixé. Que les stratèges, (70) sur l’argent qui leur est donné pour les concours de lancer à la catapulte, sacrifient à Hermès aux mois d’Artamitios, Panamos, Karneios et Kaphisios, à chacun des mois précités, un animal ne valant pas moins de 40 dr. Que tous les vainqueurs d’un (75) concours stéphanite sacrifient à Hermes Enagonios un animal ne valant pas moins de 40 dr., lorsque les prostates font la proclamation des vainqueurs aux concours stéphanites. Que le prêtre d’Hermès remette la couronne au vainqueur au nom de la cité. Que les pédotribes qui ont passé la vérification du conseil (80) sacrifient à Hermès le 2 du mois de Hyakinthios ensemble un animal ne valant pas moins de 30 dr. Qu’à partir du mois de Batromios sous Menoitios, les revenus des astynomes et des agoranomes à l’exception des [...], des cautions déposées pour les procès en rapport avec le commerce et des taxes de dix pour cent des [... (85) tous] soient consacrés à Hermès. Que ceux qui ont pris des travaux en adjudication [auprès des ...] ou des épistates, à partir du mois de Batromios sous Menoitios, consacrent sur tout le [...] à Hermès, et des travaux que les trésoriers [...], qu’ils leur déduisent (90) [...] du premier versement [...]
Face B
[...] pour la prémice, jusqu'à ce que les épistates aient offert une compensation aux adjudicataires. Conformément à cela, que les épistates remboursent l’argent aux trésoriers. Que le prêtre, avec le gymnasiarque, désigne chaque année le 1er (95) du mois d'Agrianos à l’assemblée cinq epimenioi parmi les neoi qui fréquentent le gymnase, que chacun d’eux s’habille avec apparat. Que les trésoriers paient à ceux qui ont été choisis [...] dr., sur les (100) revenus, 700 dr. (?), un bovin jusqu'à 300 dr., du bois à brûler et un mouton jusqu'à 60 dr. Que les epimenioi sacrifient le 4 Hyakinthios, après avoir défilé en procession au nom de la cité avec le prêtre, le gymnasiarque, le sous-gymnasiarque et les neoi, à Hermès, un boeuf (105) ne valant pas moins de 250 dr. et un porc ne valant pas moins de 50 dr. Que ceux qui le souhaitent parmi ceux qui se déshabillent au gymnase, hormis les éphèbes, donnent aux epimenioi pour la réunion et la panégyrie des Hermaia 2 dr. chacun pour chacun des deux jours. Que les
epimenioi (110) [...] ceux qui se sont acquittés de la somme prescrite de la [...] de la procession [...] sacrifier [...] (115) sur l’argent du dieu [...] au gymnasiarque [...] que le prêtre dépose chaque animal pour les [...] avec le prêtre et le [...] sacrifie (120) sur l’argent donné [...] le sacrifice est accompli le 30 Hyakinthios. Que [...] soient consacrées comme les autres [...] à la palestre [...] Pour celui qui a été agonothète des (125) Asklepieia pentétériques, que le prêtre dépose toutes les (portions des) bêtes sacrificielles (sur l’autel), avec les epimenioi, [...] le 4 du mois d'Artamitios. Que le prêtre proclame le vainqueur de la course aux flambeaux organisée en l’honneur d’Hermès et les vainqueurs du concours gymnique des Hermaia et qu’il remette les couronnes à chacun. (130) Qu’il remette dans le coffre le compte de la dépense engendrée les jours où des sacrifices sont accomplis conformément à ce contrat. Que soient couronnées toutes les statues du dieu qui se trouvent dans le gymnase. Que les agoranomes fassent en sorte que l'acheteur (de la prêtrise) couronne (les hermès de) la stoa des Hermès, de la même manière qu’il a été ordonné (135) de couronner les statues qui se trouvent sur l’agora. Que les polètes en fonction mettent en vente la prêtrise d’Hermès, que l’acheteur paie la somme aux trésoriers en trois versements, le premier en Gerastios, le second en Hyakinthios, le troisième en Alseios (140) sous Menoitios. Que les comptables inscrivent l’excédent venant de la prêtrise comme dû à Hermès par la cité. Lorsque la cité sera libre de dettes, [...] sous le monarque Menoitios, que le peuple statue sur ce qu’il faut accomplir pour le dieu avec cet argent (145) pour le montant dont les prostates et les trésoriers donneront le compte à l’épistate. Si les trésoriers prêtent une partie de l’argent qui revient au dieu conformément à ce contrat, ou s’ils ne donnent pas la somme prévue pour les sacrifices comme il leur est prescrit, (150) qu’ils paient une amende de 3000 dr. consacrées à Hermès. Qu’ils enregistrent la somme pour les sacrifices et celle qui est alors rendue [...] pour Hermès.
Commentary
This inscription constitutes one of the earliest and best preserved examples of the so-called “sales of priesthoods”, particularly well attested on Kos. The practice of auctioning priesthoods, rather than appointing priests through election or sortition, developed in the Aegean islands and the western coast of Asia Minor during the Hellenistic period (see Parker - Obbink; Wiemer). In the city of Kos, the standard procedure requires to set up a committee who will draw up a contract (διαγραφά) compiling the duties and benefits attached to the function. These contracts are not only financial and administrative documents, but also very informative as regards cult practice. The present inscription includes many of the standard features of this type of documents, developing some of them at considerable length.
The structure is as follows: introduction and members of the committee (lines 1-4); prerequisites and term (line 5); exemptions (lines 5-8); libations and proedria in contests (lines 8-10); sacrifices (lines 10-127)—these regulations do not follow a chronological order, but are organised according to the group performing the sacrifice—as well as a subsection on the consecration of income (lines 82-93); the proclamation and crowning of winners in contests (lines 127-129); accounting (lines 129-131); crowning of statues (lines 131-135); practical details concerning the sale, instalments, and the use of the income from the sale (lines 135-153).
The epithet Enagonios associated with Hermes underlines the god’s function as patron of the gymnasium, and refers more specifically to a deity presiding over contests (agones). Following Gauthier, the section on sacrificial regulations (lines 10-127) allows us to reconstruct the organisation of two different festivals related to the gymnasium, the Hermaia and the Alseia. Both festivals also included sacrifices to Zeus Alseios, whose cult was associated to the gymnasium in Kos (IG XII.4 328), as well as athletic competitions, such as races and torch-races. However, some of the prescriptions seem to allude to Hermes’ function as patron of commercial activities on the agora, e.g. the consecration of income by the astynomoi and agoranomoi (lines 82-87), as well as the crowning of statues in the agora (lines 131-135). On the cult of Hermes Enagonios, see Paul; for a detailed chronological chart of the festivals and individual rituals in honour of the gods, see Paul, p. 132-133. For the festival of the Hermaia and its organisation at Beroia, see Lupu.
Line 5: On the mandatory criteria of good health and physical integrity for the priest's person, see here another sale of priesthood from Kos, [CGRN 164](CGRN_164), lines 5-6, with further references.
Lines 5-8: On the exemptions from liturgies and taxation that were usually granted as part of sales of priesthoods (sometimes even commensurate with the price paid for the office), cf. here e.g. [CGRN 176](CGRN_176) (Priene), lines 24-30.
Lines 8-10: On the standard priestly privileges of performing libations and front-row seating proedria during contests and other celebrations, cp. for Kos: [CGRN 164](CGRN_164), lines 10-12, and [CGRN 221](CGRN_221), lines 20-22.
Lines 10-11: The priest is in charge of placing the hiera on the altar in lieu of the sacrificants. See also IG XII.4 307, lines 13-14, and [CGRN 208](http://cgrn.ulg.ac.be/CGRN_208/), lines 18-19, for similar regulations in other Koan sales of priesthoods, as well as, in Oropos, [CGRN 75](http://cgrn.ulg.ac.be/CGRN_75/), lines 25-29. In this case, the Greek word hiera seems to refer to the meat portions consecrated to the god, as opposed to its use in the sacrificial calendar of the city (cf. [CGRN 86](http://cgrn.ulg.ac.be/CGRN_86/) A, lines 21, 46-47, 51, 57, 59, etc.) where it refers to additional offerings (Paul, p. 340-344). We can observe a distinction between the placing of portions of meat and bone on the altar, which is the sole responsibility of the priest, and the placing of offerings on a table (trapeza) that can be done by the sacrificants themselves. Cp. IG XII.4 330, lines 16-17, and [CGRN 188](http://cgrn.ulg.ac.be/CGRN_188/), lines 2-3.
Lines 11-12: The priest receives as perquisites from all the sacrifices to Hermes Enagonios the skin and a leg, as is usual in Kos (cf. also the sacrificial calendar, [CGRN 86](http://cgrn.ulg.ac.be/CGRN_86/) A, lines 22, 47, 50, 60, 64). The necessity to discuss priestly privileges partly explains why sacrificial regulations form a typical section in Koan sales of priesthoods (see also above and below).
Lines 12-20: Monthly sacrifices to Hermes are to be made by the monarchos along with the hieropoioi from money assigned to them. These are to take place on the 4th of each month; myths held that Hermes' birthday was on the 4th, which was especially sacred to the god (see Mikalson, p. 16-17). The two exceptions to the monthly sacrifices occur in Hyakinthios and Alseios, where the offerings must take place on the 2nd and the 10th respectively. These two occasions formed a part of the principal celebrations involving the cult of Hermes Enagonios: the Hermaia (Hyakinthios 2-4, month 7 in the calendar of Kos, in early Summer) and the Alseia (ca. Alseios 10, possibly involving other days; this was month 11 on Kos, falling in the early Autumn). They continue to be described in the sacrificial regulations forming a part of the sale of the priesthood of Hermes Enagonios; see further below.
Lines 20-26: This subsection concerns the sacrifices which must be performed by the agonothetes, responsible for the setting up of contests. Sacrifices must be made on the three first preliminary torch-races (prolampades), all of which take place in the month Dalios. These races are to be seen as qualifying matches in view of the eventual contest on Alseios 4 (see Gauthier, p. 583; Paul, p. 130). Another sacrifice by the agonothetes must also be made during the torch-race of the Alseia, on the 10th of Alseios (see above lines 12-20). In lines 20-21, the expression καθὰ καὶ πρότερον (cf. also lines 26 and 46), as well as the references to what is prescribed in the law (ἐν τῶι νόμωι: lines 23-24, 35, 47, 56-57, 66, 68) emphasise a strong reference to codified practice. Conversely, the inscription shows clear traces of innovations, for instance, lines 51-69 concerning the organisation of a new race for the paides and lines 93-127 evidently adding new sacrifices to be performed to Hermes. The sale of a priesthood represented for the polis a convenient way to introduce modifications in cult practice on a regular basis.
Lines 26-37: Other sacrifices in these contexts are to be made by the lampadarchoi, officials who were in charge of leading groups of participants during the torch-race contests. These are concerned with three other prolampades (on which, see immediately above); sacrifices are also to occur during the two major torch-races, on the 4th and 10th of Alseios respectively. Two types of victory for the lampadarchoi are envisaged either for speed in the race itself (δρόμος) or for good form (εὐεξία; on the latter, see Paul, p. 130 n. 519). In each case, the victorious lampadarchos must make the sacrifice on the day after the contest, using the money from the prize as established by law; for the νικητήριον, see also here [CGRN 199](CGRN_199), line 10 (20 dr. in the Posideia on Delos; 10 dr. for the second prize); for a similar cash prize, cf. lines 68-69.
Lines 37-47: These lines concern the recurrent sacrifices that are prescribed to the annual gymnasiarchs, funds for which derive from the sums granted to these officials for the different types of competitive training for the youths (bowmanship, javelin-throwing, and foot-racing).
Lines 47-61: Similar rules concern a sacrifice to be performed by the annual paidonomos, focussing again on the date of the 2nd of Hyakinthios. One clause stipulates that after the "long-distance race" (μετὰ ... τὸν μακρὸν δρόμον) and before the main procession, a torch-race for boys was also to be organised. These contests again make reference to previous practice, namely a law that established the number of boys for the torch-race on the 10th of Alseios during the Alseia. In lines 58-61, detailed rules are specified concerning the victory prizes for this torch-race for boys on the 2nd of Hyakinthios. From the animal sacrificed by the paidonomos, the meat is to be divided among the participants; the left leg is to be awarded to the victor in the contest called prata; the right leg is presumed to have been awarded to the priest of Hermes as his perquisite (see above, lines 11-12; cf. Carbon). On the left and right portions from Greek sacrifices, cf. here [CGRN 212](CGRN_212) (Pergamon), line 14 (on right legs); for a lefthand portion (the cheek), cp. also [CGRN 37](CGRN_37) (Chios), line 11. For the contest called prata—a torch-race fought individually rather than collectively—and the makros dromos, see also [CGRN 167](CGRN_167), lines A13-15 (sale of the priesthood of Zeus Alseios). The holding of a prata, however, was conditional on there being participants willing to compete in this event (see lines 62-64).
Lines 69-82: These further rules concern mandatory sacrifices to be made by the annual generals (stratagoi); by the victors in the "stephanitic" (crown-prize) contests; as well as by the paidotribai, who were physical trainers (whether free men or slaves), employed in the gymnasium. In the case of the victors, they were required to sacrifice only after their victory had been announced and the priest of Hermes was to perform the crowning ceremony. Stephanitic contests on Kos would have included the major games of the Asklepieia as well as many other occasions; for crowns awarded during the Alseia, see also here [CGRN 167](CGRN_167), Face A, lines 13-15. See further below, lines 124-127, for the Asklepieia, and lines 127-129, for the Hermaia themselves.
Lines 82-93: The consecration of income from the astynomoi, the agoranomoi and the contractors plausibly aimed at financing all or part of the sacrifices. Some of the rubrics listed in the sacrificial regulations forming a part of this document specify the precise source of the funding for the sacrifices prescribed (cf. e.g. lines 37-47 on the gymnasiarch); others, however, do not (such as for the paidotribai, see immediately above). These sacrifices would need to be funded through alternative means, hence the need for other revenues to become "sacred to Hermes" or to be consecrated as ἀπαρχαί (first-offerings, in cash).
Lines 93-110: These sacrificial rules concern a different category of individuals, namely the young men participating in gymnasial activities. Each year, the priest and the gymnasiarch are to select five epimenioi from among the new cohort of youth (neoi) entering the gymnasium in this age-category. To distinguish themselves from the other naked youths, these chosen officials are to have the right to equip and dress themselves (ἕκαστος αὐτῶν μετ᾿ ἐξουσίας στολίζ̣εσθαι, lines 97-98). On epimenioi, usually here the temporarily appointed cultic officials of a private group, but here acting as the officials responsible for their own age-group, cf. [CGRN 96](CGRN_96) (Kos), lines 63, 67, 111-112, 141, 144, [CGRN 104](CGRN_104) (Halikarnassos), lines 24, 30, 40, and [CGRN 197](CGRN_197) (also from Kos), line 49. As in these other cases, the primary responsibility of the epimenioi is to accomplish important rituals, here notably consisting of the major sacrifice of an ox (costing between 250-300 dr., lines 100 and 105), which was to be sacrified on the 4th of Hyakinthios, after some of the contests described above. This was clearly an important sacrificial occasion for the city (cf. the procession ὑπὲρ τᾶς πόλιος in line 103), and marking one of the festival days of the Hermaia (see line 108, for the assembly of the youths and the πανάγυρις τῶν Ἑρμαίων). As the regulation is again concerned with raising funds to pay for the sacrifices (cf. above, lines 82-93), it is stipulated that each participants in the gymnasium except the ephebes is to contribute 2 dr. each day of their participation during the multi-day occasion (Hyakinthios 2-4).
Lines 124-127: The priest, helped by the epimenioi of the neoi (see immediately above) is also to officiate during the quadrennial Asklepieia (on which, see above at lines 69-82). Specifically, he is "to place all the animals"—presumably the hiera on the altar are actually meant here (see above at lines 10-11 for this function of the priest)—for the agonothetes who provided this important athletic contest and celebration at the Asklepieion on Kos.
Lines 127-129: The priest is also to be responsible for essentially fulfilling the function of a herald and announcing the victors of the Hermaia (Hyakinthios 2-4) as well as crowning them (cp. above, lines 69-82).
Lines 135-153: Amid the concluding section of the sale, which specifies notably the modalities for the payment (three instalments, as is often the case), as well as clauses concerning the proper use of the funds belonging to the god (including heavy fines for the misuse of these funds by the tamiai, see lines 150-151), we find a few further clauses of interest concerning the duties of the priest of Hermes Enagonios. Specifically, the priest is to crown all the statues of the god that are set up in the gymnasium (lines 131-132); it is not specified when he was supposed to do this (perhaps only in the circumstances of major rituals, but possibly he was to make sure that they were regularly crowned); we hear that further details were provided in a part of the regulation (now missing; cf. perhaps lines 111-123) stating that he was also to crown the statues of Hermes that were located in the agora of Kos (lines 134-135).