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I. LOCATION

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

II. NAME

i.	Full name (original language)	Βρονταϊσταί (I.Apameia und Pylai 116, l. 7)
ii.	Full name (transliterated)	Brontaistai

III. DATE

i.

Date(s)

Class. (?) - Imp.

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii.

Name elements

Theophoric:

brontaistai (for Zeus Brontaios/Bronton, I.Apameia und Pylai 116, l. 7)

V. SOURCES

i.	Source(s)	I.Apameia und Pylai 116
	Online Resources	I.Apameia und Pylai 116 AGRW ID# 13202
i.a.	Source type(s)	Epigraphic source(s)
i.b.	Document(s) typology & language/script	Fragment of an honorary decree in Greek.
i.c.	Physical format(s)	Stele
ii.	Source(s) provenance	The inscription was found near Yalova at the village Çiftlik Köy (or Karakilise), possibly the site of ancient Strobilos (see L. Robert in BE 1979: no. 548).

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

ii.

References to buildings/objects

The phrase τειμᾶσαι τὸν ἄνδρα παρὰ τοῖς θεοῖς ταλαμῶνι λιθίνου (teimasai ton andra para tois theois talamoni lithinou) indicates the erection of an honorific stele next to the statues of the gods venerated by the association. In all probability both the statues and the stele were placed in a sanctuary controlled or used by the association. See Robert 1949: 33 (followed by Corsten in I.Apameia und Pylai 116, p. 122) who points out that a dedication to Zeus Brontaios and Demeter also found at the village Çiftlik Köy (Strobilos) comes from the same sanctuary.

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

ii.

Realty

On the possibility of the association controlling a sanctuary of Zeus Brontaios and Demeter see above in field VI.ii: References to buildings/objects.

X. ACTIVITIES

iii.	Worship	The reference to statues of Gods in I.Apameia und Pylai 116, ll. 1-2 (παρὰ τοῖς θεοῖς, para tois theois) combined with the theophoric name of the association and a dedication to Zeus Brontaios and Demeter (I.Apameia und Pylai 115) coming from the same area indicate that the association worshipped Zeus Brontaios and Demeter. See Robert 1949: 33; Corsten in I.Apameia und Pylai 116 p. 122; Fernoux 2004: 313.
iv.	Honours/Other activities	The Brontaistai honour an unknown person (the beginning of the inscription is lost) with a telamon, i.e. a stele, with golden crowns engraved on it (cf. Robert 1949: 33; Fernoux 2004: 313). The stele was to be erected next to the statues of the gods situated in the association’s sanctuary, an undoubtedly high honour. Although the association’s gratitude towards the honorand is explicitly stated (I.Apameia und Pylai 116, ll. 4-5: τειμᾶς καὶ εὐχαριστίας χάριν, teimas kai eucharistias charin), the latter’s benefactions remain unknown due to the fragmentary state of the stone.

XII. NOTES

iii.

Bibliography

Fernoux, H.-L. (2004), Notables et elites des cités de Bithynie aux époques hellénistique et romaine (IIIe siècle av. J.-C. – IIIe siècle ap. J.-C.). Essai d’histoire sociale. Lyon.
Robert, L. (1949), Hellenica. Recueil d'épigraphie, de numismatique et d'antiquités grecques, vol. 7. Paris.

XIII. EVALUATION

i.	Private association	Certain
	Note	The theophoric name and the possession of (or control over) a sanctuary indicate that the Brontaistai was a private religious association.

CAPInv. 549: Brontaistai