Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/1625Download as PDF
Last Updated on 20 May 2019

Author: Benedikt Eckhardt

CAPInv. 1625: [Artem]eisiastai

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Western Asia Minor
ii. Region Ionia
iii. Site Ephesos

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) [Ἀρτεμ]εισιασταί (SEG 43: 779, l. 6)
ii. Full name (transliterated) [Artem]eisiastai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 150 (?) - 250 (?) AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Theophoric:Artemis

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) SEG 43: 779 (150 (?) - 250 (?) AD)
JÖAI 2013: 39-40 (150 (?) - 250 (?) AD)
Note See also:
Suppl. Ephes. 1886*6
Online Resources Suppl. Ephes. 1886*6
JÖAI 2013
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script SEG 43: 779 is a fragmentary honorific decree for a priestess of Artemis.
The unpublished inscription mentioned in the report of JÖAI 2013 was written on a sarcophagus.

In Greek.
i.c. Physical format(s) SEG 43: 779: white marble block
JÖAI 2013: Sarcophagus
ii. Source(s) provenance SEG 43: 779: Near the church of St. John
JÖAI 2013: Stoa of Damianos

X. ACTIVITIES

Deities worshipped Artemis
iv. Honours/Other activities SEG 43: 779 is an honorary inscription for a priestess of Artemis. Due to the fragmentary state, it is unclear who has decreed the honors. The Artemisiastai are mentioned as recipients of the priestess' largesse - either alongside the hieronikai, or as an attribute; see comments.
In a yet unpublished sarcophagus inscription (3rd century CE), the Artemisiastai are named as caring for the grave of a deceased female flute player of Artemis, together with five other associations of rather official character (doctors and cultic officials) (JÖAI 2013: 39-40).

XII. NOTES

i. Comments In SEG 43: 779, ll. 1-6, the priestess of Artemis is praised for having distributed meat from the sacrifices [τῇ βουλῇ κ]αὶ τῇ γερουσ[ίᾳ ἐκ τ]ῶν θυσιῶν ὁμ[οίως κ]αὶ τῷ ἱερῷ οἴκῳ [καὶ το]ῖς ἱερονείκαις [τοῖς Ἀρτεμ]εισιασταῖς, [tei boulei k]ai tei gerous[iai ek t]on thysion hom[oios k]ai toi hieroi oikoi [kai to]is hieroneikais [tois Artem]eisiastais. This restoration (without a καὶ, kai between ἱερονείκαις, hieroneikais, and [Ἀρτεμ]εισιασταῖς, [Artem]eisiastais) suggests that the Artemeisiastai were not an association of their own, but that the term was an attribute that could be used to describe the hieroneikai. This could be strenghtened through the addition of ὅσοι ἱεροὶ τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος, hosoi hieroi tes Artemidos, to ἱερονεῖκαι, hieroneikai, in I.Eph(esos) 17, l. 46 and I.Eph(esos) 18c, l. 22.
However, the discovery of a sarcophagus that apparently mentions Artemisiastai without hieroneikai (JÖAI 2013: 39-40) may call this interpretation into question. Perhaps the Artemeisiastai are a separate group already in SEG 43: 779.
iii. Bibliography JÖAI 2013: Wissenschaftlicher Jahresbericht des Österreichischen Archäologischen Instituts 2013

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Possible
Note In both inscriptions, the Artemeisistai are mentioned alongside other bodies of public character.
ii. Historical authenticity Certain