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Last Updated on 24 May 2019

Author: Ursula Kunnert

CAPInv. 1242: ho thiasos

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Eastern Asia Minor
ii. Region Cilicia
iii. Site Diokaisareia (?)

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) ὁ θίασος (Şahin 2007: 35, l. 2)
ii. Full name (transliterated) ho thiasos

III. DATE

i. Date(s) Imp.

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

iii. Descriptive terms θίασος, thiasos
Note thiasos: Şahin 2007: 35, l. 2.
The editor interprets the thiasos as a Dionysiac association, but the term was also used for other cult groups.

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) Şahin 2007: 35 (imp.)
Note See also:
AE 2007: no. 1592
BE 2008: no. 527
SEG 57: 527
EBGR 2007: 319 no. 125
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Dedication to Zeus Epikarpios in Greek and the thiasos by Sextus Firmius Fronto, δημιουργός (demiourgos) and συναγωγέυς (synagogeus).
i.c. Physical format(s) Round altar of gray limestone (H 1.10 m, D 0.63 m) with the relief of an eagle, who carries a garland; to the right and left of the eagle a bunch of grapes. The inscription is above the relief.
ii. Source(s) provenance Found in the village of Gedikpınarı, ca. 20 km northwest of Silifke/Seleukeia and 11 km southwest of Uzuncaburç/Diokaisareia. The village lies perhaps in the territory of ancient Diokaisareia.

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership Sextus Firmius Fronto, who dedicates the altar, is συναγωγέυς (synagogeus), probably the leader of the thiasos.

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship The συναγωγέυς (synagogeus), probably the leader of the thiasos, dedicates an altar to Zeus Epikarpios and the thiasos. The thiasos may have participated in the worship of this deity. For the cult of Zeus Epikarpios, a god of fertility, cf. Şahin 2007: 35-37.
Deities worshipped Zeus Epikarpios

XII. NOTES

iii. Bibliography Şahin, H. (2007), ‘Eine neue Weihinschrift für Zeus Epikarpios aus dem mittleren rauhen Kilikien’, EA 40: 35-40.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Probable
Note The thiasos may be a formally organized and durable association with a chairman (synagogeus) and not an ad hoc group of worshippers.
ii. Historical authenticity Certain