Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/606Download as PDF
Last Updated on 01 Dec 2018

Author: Mario C.D. Paganini

CAPInv. 606: hoi synbasilistai kai Dioskouriastai hoi hyparchontes en toi nomoi

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Egypt

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) οἱ συνβασιλισταὶ καὶ Διοσκουριασταὶ οἱ ὑπάρχοντες ἐν τῶι νομῶι
ii. Full name (transliterated) hoi synbasilistai kai Dioskouriastai hoi hyparchontes en toi nomoi

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 246 - 221 BC

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Cultic:synbasilistai, the King
Geographical:hoi hyparchontes en toi nomoi, 'resident in the nome'
Theophoric:Dioskouriastai, Dioscuri

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) I.Varsovie 44 (246-221 BC, prob. before 241 BC)
Online Resources TM 44043
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Greek dedication to King Ptolemy III and Queen Berenice II and the Dioscuri.
i.c. Physical format(s) Plaque.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

ii. References to buildings/objects Reference to the income from (letting of) οἰκήματα, oikemata (l. 5).

VII. ORGANIZATION

iii. Members The members of the association bore the double collective name of synbasilistai kai Dioskouriastai.
iv. Officials Ἱερεύς, hiereus (l. 6); the man is called Theoros.

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

ii. Realty Some οἰκήματα, oikemata (l. 5), presumably with some land attached, belonged to the association and were let out.
iii. Income The associations had income through the letting of some buildings (ll. 4-5), presumably with some land attached. The income from the rents was devolved for the payment of the expenses for the monthly sacrifices held in the association. It is therefore probable that the association could also avail themselves of other sources of income.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Note Given the military character of the association of the synbasilistai, it seems likely that the members were men only.
iii. Age Adults
Note On the basis of the military character of the synbasilistai, it is likely that the membership consisted of adults members.
iv. Status It seems very likely that the synbasilistai and Dioskouriastai gathered together men of army.
vi. Proper names and physical features Θέωρος ὁ ἱερεύς

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship The association held at least monthly sacrifices to the King and Queen, and to the Dioscuri (ll. 1-4).
Deities worshipped Dioscuri
Royal House
King
Queen

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The association has the double name synbasilistai kai Dioskouriastai: it is difficult to say whether they adopted it since their origin or the further definition of Dioskouriastai was added later on in the life of the association to express their devotion to the Dioscuri and perhaps to distinguish themselves from other groups of synbasilistai, or whether it was the result of the joining of two associations. At the time of the present inscription they certainly formed one association only: the fact that they had one priest and owned and managed property communally proves this (pace Pfeiffer 2008: 57). There is no evidence to maintain any connection between this association and the first-century BC Dioskouriakos thiasos (CAPInv. 790).
iii. Bibliography Pfeiffer, S. (2008), Herrscher– und Dynastiekulte im Ptolemäerreich. Systematik und Einordnung der Kultformen, München.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The terminology used (synbasilistai, Dioskouriastai), the internal organisation with officials, and the ownership of a real estate make it certain that we have here a private association.