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Last Updated on 09 Jul 2018

Author: Paschalis Paschidis

CAPInv. 475: hoi mystai

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Macedonia
ii. Region Bottia
iii. Site Edessa (?)

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) οἱ μύσται (EKM II 397, ll. 3-4)
ii. Full name (transliterated) hoi mystai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) e. iii - l. iii AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Cultic:mystai: The dedicants refer to themselves only as initiates.

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) EKM II 397 (iii AD)
Note Other editions: SEG 50: 599
Online Resources SEG 50: 599
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Dedication in Greek
i.c. Physical format(s) Votive base made of local volcanic stone.
ii. Source(s) provenance The base was discovered near a small rural funerary sanctuary 3 km. to the north of the modern village of Prophitis Ilias (Chrysostomou 2002). On the complex issue of the ancient city to the territory of which this location should be included (Edessa rather than the probably non-existent Menneis), see the commentary at EKM II 416.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

i. Archaeological remains The base was found in the vicinity of a small funerary sanctuary, most probably dedicated to Dionysos. The small temple contained a thymele for the sacrifices. A stone enclosure delimited the temple and four graves to the NW; immediately to the south of the enclosure, at least 19 graves were discovered. All burials seem to be dated to the third century AD, while the temple was destroyed before the end of the fourth century AD. The excavator has plausibly suggested that the graves within the original enclosure belonged to the family of the founder and / or leader of the cultic association (Chrysostomou 2002).

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership A priest (ἱερεύς, hiereus, EKM II 397, l. 2) is mentioned.
iii. Members μύσται, mystai (EKM II 397, ll. 3-4)
iv. Officials ἱερεύς, hiereus (EKM II 397, l. 2)

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship The only source refers to a πρόποσις, proposis, ceremonial communal drinking most often connected with the cult of Dionysos.
Deities worshipped Dionysos

XII. NOTES

i. Comments Μάκκις, the name of the priest, most probably derives from the Latin nomen Maccius (O. Salomies, in AnnÉp 2001, 1768).
iii. Bibliography Chrysostomou, P. (1999-2001), 'Ταφικό ιερό μυστών του Διονύσου στη Μενηίδα Βοττιαίας', ΑΑΑ 32-34: 195-220.
Chrysostomou, P. (2000), ‘Το ταφικό ιερό μυστών του Διονύσου στη Μενηίδα Βοττιαίας: Η ανασκαφή του έτους 2000’, Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και Θράκη 14: 455–471

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Possible
Note The inscription by itself would not allow us to speak of anything other than a group of inititiates of Dionysos. Nevertheless, the accompanying archaeological evidence allows the interpretation of the congregation as a privately founded cultic association.