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Last Updated on 24 Jun 2019

Author: Jan-Mathieu Carbon

CAPInv. 846: Akratetoi

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Western Asia Minor
ii. Region Caria
iii. Site Mylasa

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) Ἀκράτητoι (I.Mylasa 584, lines 1-2)
ii. Full name (transliterated) Akratetoi

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 1 (?) BC - 200 (?) AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Status-related:The term Akratetoi likely designates a group of young men calling themselves "uncontrollable" or "un-subdued".

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) I.Mylasa 584 (ca. 1-200 AD?)
Online Resources PHI: Mylasa 275
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Topos and funerary inscription. Greek.
i.c. Physical format(s) Stone block.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

ii. References to buildings/objects βάθρα, bathra (line 5)
The inscription indicated a burial spot (τόπος... τῶν καταθαμένων) of the members of the associations and their heirs. Thirteen bathra, bases or benches, are mentioned, on which could presumably be laid sarcophagi, or perhaps other funerary items.

VII. ORGANIZATION

iii. Members Ἀκράτητoι, Akratetoi
ix. Privileges The privilege of being buried in the same spot is granted to the heirs (kleronomoi) of the Akratetoi, though these may not originally have been members of the group.

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

ii. Realty See above VI.ii for the property of the Akratetoi.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

i. Number The thirteen benches or bases attested at the burial spot (see above VI.ii) suggest that several individuals, deceased Akratetoi along with perhaps their heirs and relatives too, could be accommodated there. Strictly speaking, perhaps the number reflects the original membership of the group.
ii. Gender Men
Note It is not impossible that women were a part of the group, but not likely given its name.
iv. Status Perhaps young men, e.g. of ephebic status or neoi? (See XII.i)

XII. NOTES

i. Comments On this type of name for a group, typically one of youths or young adult friends, see Robert (1937: 66 and 1963) and more recently Bowersock (1999).
iii. Bibliography Bowersock, G. (1999), 'Les Euemerioi et les confréries joyeuses', CRAI: 1241-56.
Robert, L. (1937), Etudes anatoliennes, Paris.
Robert, L. (1963), 'Nouvelles inscriptions d'Iasos', REA 65: 328 (= OMS III 1523).

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The private and associative character of the group seem uncontroversial. What may perhaps be questioned is the association's purpose and durability: were the Akratetoi simply a cohesive group of friends with a common burial ground, or an organised group with a more long-lasting vocation and other activities?