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Last Updated on 11 Jun 2019

Author: Stella Skaltsa

CAPInv. 50: hoi Sarapiastai

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Aegean Islands
ii. Region Keos
iii. Site Ioulis

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) οἱ Σαραπιασταί (IG XII.5.1 606, ll. 1, 10)
ii. Full name (transliterated) hoi Sarapiastai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) iii - ii BC

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Theophoric:Sarapis
iii. Descriptive terms θίασος, thiasos
Note thiasos: ll. 6, 13

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) IG XII.5.1 606 (iii - ii BC)
Note Other editions:
RICIS no. 202/0801
SIRIS no. 158
SEG 25: 955
Online Resources IG XII.5.1 606
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Honorific decree in Greek of the association for Epameinon, son of Somenes.
i.c. Physical format(s) Marble stele (dimensions not given in IG) with a wreath in low relief carved in a recessed panel below the text.
ii. Source(s) provenance Found in Ioulis in the ruins of the church of S. Matrona.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

ii. References to buildings/objects ξυλωνία, xylonia (l. 6).
θαλλὸς στέφανος, thallos stephanos (l. 14)

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

i. Treasury/Funds Epameinon made an interest free loan (τὸ ἀργύριον ἄτοκον, to argyrion atokon l. 7) to the association for the purchase of wood.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

iv. Status Epameinon came from a well-off family of Keos. His father, Somenes, was among the five dikastai that were sent to Thera along with the Ptolemaic commander Apollodotos, to help settle disputes (IG XII.5, 1319; IG XII.3 320, l. 10).

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship Εἰσίδεια, Eisideia (l. 16): the Sarapiastai held a festival in honour of Isis, during which they proclaimed the honours bestowed upon Epameinon.
Deities worshipped Isis
iv. Honours/Other activities The association honoured Epameinon, son of Somenes. He assisted financially the association with an interest-free loan for the purchase of wood in times of need.
The honours included the following:
- praise on account of his virtue and zeal towards the association
- crowned with an olive-wreath
- proclamation of the crown in the Eisideia.

XII. NOTES

ii. Poland concordance B 210
iii. Bibliography Bricault, J. (2005), Recueil des inscriptions concernant les cultes isiaques, vol. 1. Paris.
Dunand, F. (1973), Le culte d'Isis dans le bassin oriental de la Méditerranée. Le culte d'Isis en Grèce. vol. II. Leiden: 115-6.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Probable
Note The group bears a theophoric name (Sarapiastai) and is referred to as thiasos, two features that undoubtedly suffice to designate the group as cultic. Although we know next to nothing about its internal organization, the fact that the Sarapiastai pass decrees, are the recipients of interest free loans, are involved in the organization of a festival, all this confirms their durable and formal nature. What, however, remains unclear is the private nature of the Sarapiastai. Similarly unclear is the nature of the cult (public or private festival of Eisideia).