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Last Updated on 21 Feb 2017

Author: Ilias Arnaoutoglou

CAPInv. 232: orgeones

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Attica with Salamis
ii. Region Attica
iii. Site Piraeus

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) ὀργεῶνες (IG II2 1283, ll. 10, 12-3, 22, 28, 30; IG II2 1284, ll. 7, 9, 11, 15, 23, 28, 31)
ii. Full name (transliterated) orgeones

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 251 - 239 BC

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Cultic:orgeones

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) IG II2 1283 (240/39 BC)
IG II2 1284 (251-c. 240 BC and 241/0 BC)
Note IG II2 1283 is written stoichedon. Ed. pr. Newspaper Anagennesis 17/1/1896. Other publications: Prott - Ziehen II i 42; Michel no. 1551; LSGS 46; GRA I 23; AGRW 18; Le Guen I no. 7 (French trails.; SEG 42: 1803)

IG II2 1284: Ed. pr. Newspaper Anagennesis 17/1/1896. Other editions: GRA I 22; AGRW 17.

Cf. SEG 25: 99; SEG 29: 136; SEG 41: 582; SEG 46: 2371; SEG 53: 31; SEG 57: 29; SEG 57: 34; SEG 59: 18. BE 1981, no. 239.
Online Resources IG II2 1283 and AGRW ID 3099
IG II2 1284 and AGRW ID 3095
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script IG II2 1283: Decree in Greek about participation of Athenian orgeones in the procession and concession of certain rights to orgeones from Athens.
IG II2 1284: Two honorary decrees in Greek, a) for Olympos, son of Olympiodoros, and b) for Eucleides, son of Antimachos.
i.c. Physical format(s) IG II2 1283: Marble stele measuring 0,41x0,422m.
IG II2 1284: Marble stele with two crowns incised at the bottom, measuring 0,48x0,32m.
ii. Source(s) provenance IG II2 1283: Found in Piraeus, in front of Zanneion hospital, now in Piraeus Museum.
IG II2 1284: Found in Piraeus, now in Piraeus Museum.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

ii. References to buildings/objects Reference to a sanctuary (ἱερόν, hieron, IG II2 1283, l. 6, 8; IG II2 1284, ll. 15, 18, 33-34), probably of the group, as enktesis is mentioned. The reference to a Nymphaion (IG II2 1283, 18) where they are to provide the participants in the procession with sponges, water and bowls.
In IG II2 1284, 33 a stele is mentioned.

VII. ORGANIZATION

iv. Officials Secretary (γραμματεύς, grammateus, IG II2 1284, ll. 16-17, 22, 32)
Treasurer (ταμίας, tamias, IG II2 1284, ll. 18, 34)
Stewards (ἐπιμεληταί, epimeletai, IG II2 1283, l. 17)
Priest (ἱερεύς, hiereus, IG II2 1283, l. 21)
Priestess (ἱέρεια, hiereia, IG II2 1283, l. 21)
vi. Laws and rules In IG II2 1284, 24-6 Eucleides is honoured because he has administered the affairs (of the association) according to the laws and has given account of his term in office.
ix. Privileges Any of the Athenian orgeones can join the group without paying the required fee for life and will have privileged access to discussion of their requests: IG II2 1283, ll. 27-32.

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

ii. Realty A grant of enktesis is mentioned in IG II2 1283, l. 5 and a sanctuary (ἱερόν, hieron, IG II2 1283, ll. 6, 8) on several occasions.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Women
Note Σωσίας Ἱπποκράτου, Athenian Onomasticon s.v. (43).
Ὄλυμπος Ὀλυμπιοδώρου, Athenian Onomasticon s.v. (29).
Εὐκλείδης Ἀντιμάχου, Athenian Onomasticon s.v. (77).
iii. Age Adults

X. ACTIVITIES

i. Assemblies The association hold assemblies on the eighth day of each month (IG II2 1283, 2: Hekatombaion (July/August); IG II2 1284, 19-20: Skirophorion (June/July) are attested.
They are designated as the main assembly (ἀγορᾶι κυρίαι, agorai kyriai), IG II2 1283, l. 3; IG II2 1284, 20-21).
iii. Worship A procession (πομπή, pompe, IG II2 1283, ll. 6, 11, 15) was required by a polis' law.
Sacrifices (θυσίαι, thysiai, IG II2 1283, ll. 20, 24) are mentioned.
Deities worshipped It is most probable that the procession (IG ii2 1283, 6, 11, 15) concerns the festival in honour of Bendis.
iv. Honours/Other activities IG II2 1284, ll. 13, 29-30: oak leaves crowns (δρυὸς στέφανος, dryos stephanos) are awarded to the honoured individuals, because of their zeal (φιλοτιμία, philotimia) and benevolence (εὔνοια, eunoia) (IG II2 1284A) and zeal (φιλοτιμία, philotimia) and righteousness (δικαιοσύνη, dikaiosyne) (IG II2 1284B).

XI. INTERACTION

i. Local interaction There is an explicit reference to Athenian orgeones wishing to participate in the procession and to join the group; what however is not clear is whether Athenian orgeones were organized as an association. Also the grant of enktesis of land brought in contact with the polis politico-legal mechanisms. The orgeones had a legal obligation to perform the procession. Overall, they stress the fact that they conform to the laws of the polis.

XII. NOTES

i. Comments IG II2 1283: It was passed in the year of the archon Polystratos.
IG II2 1284B is dated in the archonship of Lykeas. The evidence provided by these two inscriptions led Wilhelm 1905 to argue about the existence of a distinct association of Thracian orgeones in Piraeus.
ii. Poland concordance IG II2 1283 = Poland A3c
IG II2 1284 = Poland A3d-e
iii. Bibliography Arnaoutoglou, I. (2003), Thusias heneka kai sunousias. Private religious associations in Hellenistic Athens. Athens.
Ferguson, W. (1944), ‘The Attic orgeones’, HThR 37: 61-140.
Mikalson, J. (1998), Religion in Hellenistic Athens. Los Angeles: 140-2.
Ismard, P. (2010), La cité des réseaux. Athènes et ses associations VIe – Ier siècle av. J.-C.. Paris: 220-1, 238, 263-6, 270-2.
Jones, N. (1999), The associations of classical Athens. A response to democracy. New York: 257-9.
Pecirka, J. (1966), The formula for the grant of enktesis in Attic inscriptions. Prague: 122-30.
Pakkanen, P. (1996), Interpreting early Hellenistic religion. A study based on the mystery cult of Demeter and the cult of Isis. Helsinki.
Parker, R. (1996), Athenian religion. A history. Oxford: 170-4, 337-8.
Tracy, S. (2003), Athens and Macedon. Attic letter-cutters of 300 to 229 B.C.. Berkeley: 85, 125.
Wilhelm, A. (1905), ‘Inschrift aus dem Peiraieus’, JÖAI 5: 127-39.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The association displays all the hallmarks of a private association: distinct name, membership, organization, property and durability.