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Last Updated on 03 Jan 2019

Author: Matt Gibbs & Philip F. Venticinque

CAPInv. 1251: plethos ton gerdion

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Egypt
ii. Nome Oxyrhynchites (U19)
iii. Site Oxyrhynchus

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) πλῆθος τῶν γερδίων (P.Oxy. LXXVI 5097, ll. 7-8)
ii. Full name (transliterated) plethos ton gerdion

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 62 AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Professional:gerdioi
iii. Descriptive terms πλῆθος, plethos
Note plethos: P.Oxy. LXXVI 5097, l. 7. Cf. CAPInv. 1274 (n.8-9: P.Mich. II 124, l. 15) and San Nicolò 1972: 101.

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) P.Oxy. LXXVI 5097 (27 Feb. AD 62)
Online Resources P.Oxy. LXXVI 5097
TM 140169
i.a. Source type(s) Papyrological source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Prefectorial edict of L. Julius Vestinus in Greek, concerning financial exactions (presumably illegal) that were probably either made against the local community or the members of the plethos themselves.
i.c. Physical format(s) Papyrus.

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership Probably prostates: προσ̣τ̣α̣τ̣ (l. 6), Sarapion, son of Diogenes.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

i. Number At least 3
ii. Gender Men
Note Names recorded are male names.
vi. Proper names and physical features Sarapion, son of Diogenes, —phris, Onnophrei[s]

XI. INTERACTION

i. Local interaction Financial exactions (presumably illegal) probably either made against the local community or the members of the association themselves.

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The edict concerns financial exactions (presumably illegal) that were probably either made against the local community or the members of the association themselves. The second fragment of the same document concerns a possible threat against the members (perhaps the association itself, cf. BGU V 1210, l. 240, ca AD 150).
iii. Bibliography San Nicolo, M. (1972), Ägyptisches Vereinswesen zur Zeit der Ptolemäer und Römer, 2nd ein, 2 voll, Munich.

Gibbs, M. (forthcoming) 'Collective action, trade associations and the state in Roman Egypt', in D. Rathbone and A. Wilson (eds.) Documents and the Mechanics of Roman Rule. Cambridge.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note That there were many private professional weaving associations is beyond doubt. Given the use of a descriptive term here for the association, and the appearance of a cheif official representing them before the prefect, is suggestive enough that they were a more formal group as opposed to a loose conglomerate of workers. As such, we believe that they were a private association.