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Last Updated on 24 Feb 2017

Author: Ilias Arnaoutoglou

CAPInv. 1551: eranistai

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Attica with Salamis
ii. Region Attica
iii. Site Athens (Kerameikos)

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) ἐρανισταί (SEG 55: 290, l. 4)
ii. Full name (transliterated) eranistai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) m. iv BC

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) SEG 55: 290 (m. iv BC)
Note Ed. pr. Kerameikos XVII: 168, no. 446
Other publications: MDAI(A) 121 (2006): 23, no. 7 (= BE 2006: no. 82)
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Greek horos inscription recording the sale of a plot of land subject to redemption for 450 dr.
i.c. Physical format(s) Marble slab measuring 0.51x0.17x0.05m.
ii. Source(s) provenance Found in the building Z in the district of ancient Kerameikos. Now in Kerameikos collection I 500.

XII. NOTES

iii. Bibliography Arnaoutoglou, I. (2003), Thusias heneka kai sunousias. Private religious associations in Hellenistic Athens. Athens.
Cohen, E. (1992), Athenian economy and society. A banking perspective. Princeton: 207-15.
Faraguna, M. (2012), ‘Diritto, economia, societa: riflessioni su eranos tra eta omerica e mondo ellenistico’, in B. Legras (ed.), Transferts culturels et droits dans le monde grec et hellenistique, Paris: 129-53.
Finley, M. (1951), Studies in land and credit in ancient Athens, 500-200 B.C. The Horos inscriptions. New Brunswick.
Harris, E. (2013), ‘Finley’s Studies in land and credit sixty years later’, Dike 16: 123-46.
Ismard, P. (2010), La cité des réseaux. Athènes et ses associations VIe – Ier siècle av. J.-C. Paris: 281-4.
Millett, P. (1991), Lending and borrowing in ancient Athens. Cambridge.
Thomsen, Chr. (2015), ‘The eranistai of classical Athens’, GRBS 55: 154-75.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note Although it was forcibly argued by Finley 1951 and Millett 1991 that eranistai in horoi inscriptions should not be regarded as associations, I think that there are good grounds to consider these groups as private associations (see also Thomsen 2015). Firstly, in almost all cases they are identified as eranistai hoi meta… or hoi peri, an element that points to a certain embryonic or nascent collective identity. Secondly, they also pull their resources (or part of it) together to lend money, for which they acquire the legal standing as creditors, whose claim is secured. Thirdly, in case the repayment of the loan does not proceed, they may be represented in law courts.