Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/1473Download as PDF
Last Updated on 20 May 2019

Author: Benedikt Eckhardt

CAPInv. 1473: [b]yrsorektai

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Western Asia Minor
ii. Region Ionia
iii. Site Ephesos

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) [β]υρσορέκται (I.Eph(esos) 596, l. 1)
ii. Full name (transliterated) [b]yrsorektai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 113 - 200 (?) AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Professional:byrsorektai

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) I.Eph(esos) 596 (113 - 200 (?) AD)
Note See also:
Dittmann-Schöne II.1.10
Online Resources I.Eph(esos) 596
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Topos inscription (?), greek
i.c. Physical format(s) Graffito
ii. Source(s) provenance Bath of Varius

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The inscription may have designated an area in the bath of Varius as being the one of the tanners, as is normal with seats in theatres (and cf. the latrines in the gymnasium of Vedius). However, it is not clear what kind of place could be meant here.
iii. Bibliography Dittmann-Schöne, I. (2010), Die Berufsvereine in den Städten des kaiserzeitlichen Kleinasiens. 2nd. ed. Regensburg: 135.
Royer, A. (2005), Associations professionnelles et groupes de gens de métier dans les cités grecques d'Asie Mineure à l'époque impériale (Ier - Ve siècles ap. J.-C.). Lyon: 158-9.
Zimmermann, C. (2002), Handwerkervereine im griechischen Osten des Imperium Romanum. Mainz.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Probable
Note Zimmermann 2002: 196 notes that all relevant criteria for identifying an association are missing from the graffito. This is of course true, but given the number of similar inscriptions from other areas of Ephesos that designate places in possession of professional associations, the identification as a topos-inscription is likely, and this in turn would suggest some corporate organization with defined membership.
ii. Historical authenticity Certain