Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/210Download as PDF
Last Updated on 21 May 2019

Author: Nikolaos Giannakopoulos

CAPInv. 210: U-WAM-003

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Western Asia Minor
ii. Region Bithynia
iii. Site Nikaia

II. NAME

i. Association with unknown name U-WAM-003

III. DATE

i. Date(s) Inc.

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

iii. Descriptive terms τέχνη, techne
Note techne: I.Iznik 197, l. 3

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) I.Iznik 197
Note See also:
SEG 29: 1297
AGRW
Dittmann-Schöne I.8.2
Online Resources AGRW ID# 13287
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Funerary inscription in Greek
i.c. Physical format(s) Marble pedimental stele with akroteria and a representation of a standing male figure (the deceased) in a niche.
ii. Source(s) provenance The inscription was found in a private estate in the village Gürmüzlü, near modern Iznik (Nikaia).

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership In this funerary inscription the deceased Alexandros is defined as λαχανοπώλης, ἄρξας τῆς τέχνης (lachanopoles, arxas tes technes). It is thus very probable that Alexandros was the leader of the association bearing the official title ἄρχων (archon). See on this point the comments of S. Şahin in I.Iznik 197 and of Robert and Robert in BE 1980: no. 511. Cf. also SEG 29: 1297, app.crit. On the other hand, Dittmann-Schöne (2010: 127) thinks that the term ἄρξας τῆς τέχνης (arxas tes technes) may denote not the official presidency of the association but the professional excellence of the deceased. Such expressions of professional pride are not infrequent but they include epithets such as aristos (see again Robert and Robert in BE 1973: no. 463). In Alexandros’ inscription the use of the aorist participle arxas, attached to the term techne that is well known for professional associations, closely follows the example of honorific inscriptions recording municipal careers and thus points in the direction of an official title.
iv. Officials The formula λαχανοπώλης, ἄρξας τῆς τέχνης, lachanopoles, arxas tes technes used for Alexandros in this funerary inscription suggests the existence of a single ἄρχων (archon) or of a college of ἄρχοντες (archontes) in the association’s internal administration.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Note The only known member is a man.

XII. NOTES

i. Comments Τέχνη τῶν λαχανοπωλῶν (techne ton lachanopolon) or more simply λαχανοπῶλαι (lachanopolai) may have been the official name of the association; however, since the funerary inscription of Alexandros is not a document emanating from the association itself, no certain conclusion can be reached.
iii. Bibliography Dittmann-Schöne, I. (2010), Die Berufsvereine in den Städten des kaiserzeitlichen Kleinasiens. 2nd. ed. Regensburg.
Robert, L. (1960), Hellenica, Recueil d'épigraphie, de numismatique et d'antiquités grecques. 11-12 vols. Paris.
Van Nijf, O. (1997), The Civic World of Professional Associations in the Roman East. Amsterdam.
Zimmermann, C. (2002), Handwerkervereine im griechischen Osten des Imperium Romanum. Mainz.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Probable
Note If indeed the term ἄρξας τῆς τέχνης (arxas tes technes ) refers to an association (see above under VII.ii: Leadership and below under field XIII.ii: Historical Authenticity), it was surely a private professional one.
ii. Historical authenticity The historical authenticity of the association depends on the interpretation of the formula ἄρξας τῆς τέχνης (arxas tes technes ). See above under the field VII.ii: Leadership. It should be noted, however, that although Dittmann-Schöne (2010: 127) sees this formula as an expression of the professional excellence of the deceased, she does not deny that it also testified to the existence of a professional association of λαχανοπῶλαι (lachanopolai).