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Last Updated on 17 Jan 2019

Author: Matt Gibbs & Philip F. Venticinque

CAPInv. 1939: oikoumenike lampra megale synodos ton apo tes oikoumenes peri ton Dionyson kai theous Sebastous techniton hieronikon stephaniton kai hoi touton synagonistai

I. LOCATION

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

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) οἰ]κ̣ο̣[υμ]ε̣ν̣ικ̣ὴ λαμπρὰ μεγάλη σύν̣[οδος τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκουμένης] [περὶ τὸν Διό]νυσον καὶ θεοὺς Σεβαστοὺς τεχ[νιτῶν ἱερονικῶν στεφανιτῶν] [καὶ οἱ τού]τ̣[ω]ν συναγωνισταί (P. Oxy. LXXIX 5208 ll. 2-4)
ii. Full name (transliterated) oikoumenike lampra megale synodos ton apo tes oikoumenes peri ton Dionyson kai theous Sebastous techniton hieronikon stephaniton kai hoi touton synagonistai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 200 - 299 AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Geographical:oikoumenike, apo tes oikoumenes
Professional:technitai hieronikai stephanitai kai hoi touton synagonistai
Status-related:technitai hieronikai stephanitai kai hoi touton synagonistai
Theophoric:peri ton Dionyson kai theous Sebastous
Other:lampra megale
iii. Descriptive terms σύνοδος synodos
Note synodos: P. Oxy. LXXIX 5208 ll. 2.

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) P. Oxy. LXXIX 5208 (III AD)
Online Resources P.Oxy. LXXIX 5208 = TM 381933
i.a. Source type(s) Papyrological source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Greek; Diploma of a high-priestess of the association of Dionysiac artists.
i.c. Physical format(s) papyrus
ii. Source(s) provenance Although found in Oxyrhynchus (U19), this document appears to have been composed and executed in Antinoopolis (U15)

VII. ORGANIZATION

iii. Members [οἱ] ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκουμένης περὶ τὸν Διόνυσον τεχνῖται ἱερονῖκαι στεφανῖται καὶ οἱ τούτων συναγωνισταί hoi apo tes oikoumenes peri ton Dionyson technitai hieronikai stephanitai kai hoi touton sunagonistai (ll. 4-5).

For the synagonistai as members of, and belonging to, the association, see SEG XLVIII 1844.1-7 (CAPInv. 666 and Aneziri 2003: 318, 328-31).
iv. Officials ἀρχιέρισσα archierissa, l.8

The term is problematic and is not found elsewhere. This is the second piece of evidence for a high-priestess in Egypt (cf. P.Harr. I 69 l. 22), and the first for a high-priestess of the association of Dionysiac technitai.

The function of imperial cult is well-attested outside Egypt in the rest of the Greek-speaking world. The title often denotes the wife or the daughter of a high-priest: cf. I.Beroia 69.8; I.Keramos 19.2, 20.2; IAph.2007 12.518.5-6.
ix. Privileges None mentioned explicitly, but presumably Sarapias enjoyed the same privileges as her male counterparts which were likely the same as those listed in CAPInv. 1912

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

iii. Income This association, like other groups of Dionysiac technitai appear to have made use of membership fees: here, Sarapias pays 250 denarii (l.10 [ll.10-11] Are the sacred contributions in addition to this?])

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Women
Note This is the first piece of evidence that refers to female members of the Dionysiac technitai in Egypt.
iii. Age Adults
iv. Status Roman citizens
vi. Proper names and physical features Sarapias, [daughter?] of Aurelius Sarapion, ll. 8-9.

XI. INTERACTION

i. Local interaction Difficult. The document is a letter from the association notifying its members about a new female high-priestess in the association. Is she a new member as the editor suggests? It is difficult to be sure without further evidence.
Presumably this would stand as interaction between members both locally and regionally.

XII. NOTES

i. Comments For parallels, in terms of format cf. CAPInv. 1912.
It is very likely that the present association overlaps with CAPInv. 1912.
iii. Bibliography Aneziri, S. (2003) Die Vereine der Dionysischen Techniten im Kontext der hellenistischen Gesellschaft: Untersuchungen zur Geschichte, Organisation und Wirkung der hellenistischen Technitenvereine. Stuttgart.
Remijsen, S. (2014) "Appendix: Games, competitors, and performers in Roman Egypt," in W.B. Henry and P.J. Parsons (ed) The Oxyrhynchus Papyri Vol. LXXIX. London: 190-206.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note These are private associations, but certainly enjoy significant imperial privilege (as the Pap.Agon. papyri clearly illustrate).