Page 107 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich

A Walk to Caesarea: A Historical-Archaeological Perspective 93

the dedicant is Barbarus, probably the athlete’s name. This goddess, Fig. 93
who dwelled in the netherworld and rose from it every six months, was
venerated by the residents of the city of Samaria. In addition, three stone Proposed reconstruction of the shrine of the
altars and a small marble plaque with the Greek inscription “Myrismos the arena (sacellum) in which the contestants
charioteer (dedicated),” decorated with two ivy leaves and a palm frond sought the help of the gods before the
were found there (Fig. 95). Apparently, he was the one who brought an competitions, a proposed reconstruction. In
offering there to the gods, asking for his victory in the race. These findings the niche is set a statue of the goddess Kore
indicate religious ceremonies linked precisely to athletics and chariot to whom a dedicatory inscription was found
races, and not to gladiatorial combats or wild beast spectacles. Perhaps, there. In the city of Samaria, neighboring
then, this sacellum had existed as a cult site even prior to the contraction Caesarea, she was known as “One god, the
of the arena. ruler of all, the invincible”

Fig. 94 Fig. 95

Marble votive feet found in the hippo-stadium sacellum. Their purpose – to beseach the A plaque bearing a Greek inscription:
gods to strengthen the feet of the contestants. On some of them dedicatory inscriptions “Myrismus (the) charioteer (dedicated this)”
were found, one to the goddess Kore, 2nd–4th century CE. Kore (maiden, in Greek) was (tr. CIIP, inscr. no. 1136). The plaque is
also the name of the goddess Isis, who, in Caesarea, was also identified with Tyche – the decorated with ivy leaves at both ends. In
goddess of good fortune for the city the center – a palm branch signifies victory