Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/1528Download as PDF
Last Updated on 24 Feb 2017

Author: Ilias Arnaoutoglou

CAPInv. 1528: eranistai

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Attica with Salamis
ii. Region Attica
iii. Site Athens

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) ἐρανισταί (Agora XIX H 84, l. 4)
ii. Full name (transliterated) eranistai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 309 / 308 BC

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) Agora XIX H 84 (309/8 BC)
Note Ed. pr.Hesperia 10 (1941) 54 no. 18A.
Other publications: Fine 1951: no. 14; Finley 1951: no. 71.
Online Resources Agora XIX H 84
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Greek horos inscription of a house sold with the right of redemption for 700 dr.
i.c. Physical format(s) A marble stele broken on the left and bottom measuring 0,13x0,192x0,04m.
ii. Source(s) provenance Found in a cistern NW of the church of St. Dionysios the Areopagite in the area of the Athenian Agora (I 1978).

XII. NOTES

iii. Bibliography Arnaoutoglou, I. (2003), Thusias heneka kai sunousias. Private religious associations in Hellenistic Athens. Athens.
Cohen, E. (1992), Athenian economy and society. A banking perspective. Princeton: 207-15.
Faraguna, M. (2012), ‘Diritto, economia, societa: riflessioni su eranos tra eta omerica e mondo ellenistico’, in B. Legras (ed.), Transferts culturels et droits dans le monde grec et hellenistique, Paris: 129-53.
Fine, J. (1951), Horoi. Studies in mortgage, real security, and land tenure in ancient Athens. Baltimore.
Finley, M. (1951), Studies in land and credit in ancient Athens, 500-200 B.C. The Horos inscriptions. New Brunswick.
Harris, E. (2013), ‘Finley’s Studies in land and credit sixty years later’, Dike 16: 123-46.
Ismard, P. (2010), La cité des réseaux. Athènes et ses associations VIe – Ier siècle av. J.-C.. Paris: 281-4.
Millett, P. (1991), Lending and borrowing in ancient Athens. Cambridge.
Thomsen, Chr. (2015), ‘The eranistai of classical Athens’, GRBS 55: 154-75.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note Although it was forcibly argued by Finley 1951 and Millett 1991 that eranistai in horoi inscriptions should not be regarded as associations, I think that there are good grounds to consider these groups as private associations (see also Thomsen 2015). Firstly, in almost all cases they are identified as eranistai hoi meta… or hoi peri, an element that points to a certain embryonic or nascent collective identity. Secondly, they also pull their resources (or part of it) together to lend money, for which they acquire the legal standing as creditors, whose claim is secured. Thirdly, in case the repayment of the loan does not proceed, they may be represented in law courts.