Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/2003Download as PDF

Author: Vincent Gabrielsen

CAPInv. 2003: Soteriastai koinon ton syn Aphrodisioi archagetai

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Aegean Islands
ii. Region Rhodes
iii. Site Rhodos

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) Σωτηριαστᾶν κοινὸν τῶν σὺν Ἀφροδισίωι ἀρχαγέται (Maiuri, NSER 44)
ii. Full name (transliterated) Soteriastai koinon ton syn Aphrodisioi archagetai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) Imp.

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Cultic:The name element Soteriastai is derived from soter, an epithet shared by several gods but is mostly used of Zeus, on Rhodes particularly for the cult of Zeus Soter , see, e.g., Διοσσωτηριασταί, Diossoteriastai (Maiuri, NSER 28), cf. D. Morelli, I culti in Rodi. SCO 8. Pisa 1959: 51-52.

Heroic:On the possibility that ἀρχαγέτας, archagetas here is reference to a hero title, see below.
Personal:From the Personal name Aphrodisios/Aphrodisia, see LGPN I: s.v. Here, the name Aphrodisios is part of a formula which is seen used in the names of several Rhodian koina: τῶν σύν + personal name, presumably to indicate the founder or reformator of the association: F. Poland, Geschichte des griechischen Vereinswesens, Leipzig 1909: 75-76. In our case, this sense is reinforced by the addition of the word ἀρχαγέτας/ἀρχηγέτης, archagetas/archegetes, ('leader', 'originator', 'founder'). It was a functional title of heroes and an epiclesis of Apollo and Heracles: F. Graf, s.v. archegetes, in: H. Hancik and H. Schneider (eds.), Brill's New Pauly, Antiquity Volumes (consulted online 12 May 2020).

In the ed.pr. the formula is given as τοὶ σὺν (instead of the correct τῶν σύν) + personal name; as Maiuri notes, the reading of line 2 is inscure.
Theophoric:On the possibility that ἀρχαγέτας, archagetas here is a reference to an epiclesis of Apollo or Heracles, see above.
iii. Descriptive terms κοινόν, koinon

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) Maiuri, NSER 44
Online Resources Maiuri, NSER 44
AGRW no. 14972
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Possibly a dedication
i.c. Physical format(s) Rectangular plaque of grey marble.
ii. Source(s) provenance Seen in the 'Villa Jarkowski' near the Metropolis in the city of Rhodes.

VII. ORGANIZATION

i. Founder(s) The individual named Aphrodisios, and who is called ἀρχαγέτας, archagetas, is most probably the founder and leader of the association. This is corroborated by the appearance of his name in the formula τῶν σὺν Ἀφροδισίωι ἀρχαγέται, ton syn Aphrodisioi archagetai.
ii. Leadership For the probability that Aphrodisios was the founder and leader of this association, see VII.i above.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The name elements used here (cultic/theophoric and personal name), together with the description koinon, render it certain that we are dealing with a private association.