Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/807Download as PDF
Last Updated on 22 May 2019

Author: Nikolaos Giannakopoulos

CAPInv. 807: syngenia (l. syngeneia)

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Western Asia Minor
ii. Region Bithynia
iii. Site Nikaia

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) συνγένια (l. συγγένεια, I.Iznik 1512, ll. 4-5)
ii. Full name (transliterated) syngenia (l. syngeneia)

III. DATE

i. Date(s) ii - iii AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

iii. Descriptive terms συνγένια, syngenia (l. συγγένεια, syngeneia)
Note syngeneia: I.Iznik 1512, ll. 4-5

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) I.Iznik 1512 (ii - iii AD)
Online Resources I.Iznik 1512
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Dedication in Greek to Zeus Pantokrator.
i.c. Physical format(s) Marble altar with bust of Zeus Pantokrator.
ii. Source(s) provenance The inscription was found at Bilecic in the area of Iznik.

VII. ORGANIZATION

viii. Obligations On possible contributions, see below in field XII.i: Comments.

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

ii. Realty The altar dedicated by the syngeneia probably belonged to the group.

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship The altar dedicated to Zeus Pantokrator by the syngeneia following the instructions received by the god (I.Iznik 1512, ll. 3-4: [κ]ατὰ καίλευσιν τοῦ Θ[ε]οῦ, [k]ata kaileusin tou Th[e]ou) suggests that the group of relatives performed cultic activities addressed to that deity. The dedication possibly followed or anticipated a benefaction perceived to have been provided by the god.
Deities worshipped Zeus Pantokrator

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The provenance of the inscription indicates that the group of relatives comprised residents of one of the villages attached to Nikaia.
If the syngeneia was a formally established group, the cost of the altar may indicate the existence of a common treasury. However, there is no clear proof for that. The cost may have been covered from ad hoc contributions paid by the members of the group.
iii. Bibliography Poland, F. (1909), Geschichte des griechischen Vereinswesens. Leipzig.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Possible
Note On associations defined as syngeneia or with other correlated terms, see Poland 1909: 88. The dedication of the altar suggests lasting cultic activities on the part of the syngeneia. However, it cannot be established with certainty whether this term in our inscription corresponded to an organized association or was just used to denote a simple group of relatives which dedicated the altar.