Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/492Download as PDF
Last Updated on 28 Feb 2017

Author: Sophia Zoumbaki

CAPInv. 492: [lith]oxo[o]i

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Peloponnese with Adjacent Islands
ii. Region Corinthia
iii. Site (most likely) Kenchreai

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) [λιθ]οξό[ο]ι (Corinth 8.1 245, l. 1)
ii. Full name (transliterated) [lith]oxo[o]i

III. DATE

i. Date(s) iv - vi AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Professional:Bees 1941: 10, no. 2A, restores the first line of the inscription as [τ]οξό[τα]ι καὶ ἀκον[τισταί], [t]oxo[ta]i kai akon[tistai], following the restoration suggested by Woodward 1932: 144. However, Robert 1960: 30-6, restores it as [λιθ]οξό[ο]ι καὶ ἀκον[ηταί], [lith]oxo[o]i kai akon[etai], on the basis of the mention of marmararii in l. 2 as well as on the basis of the ancient quarries that have been located in the region of Kenchreai where (according to an information recorded by Bees) the inscription was found.
If the word is correctly restored, it defines the stonecutters, whereas more groups engaged in stone-processing are mentioned as well, ἀκον[ηταί] (l. 1), akon[etai], and μαρ]μαράριοι, mar]mararioi (l. 2).

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) Corinth 8.1 245 (iv-vi AD)
Online Resources Corinth 8.1 245
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script If the Greek text is correctly restored, it is an acclamation for a certain Theodosios, perhaps the emperor, for the renovation of the town.
i.c. Physical format(s) Seven joining fragments of a slab of grayish blue marble and a further non joining fragment on which part of a bird is depicted. Two facing birds on either side of a cross should have crowned the inscription, as a fragment of the slab bears a bird looking at the left, part of the right stroke of a cross (see drawing of the slab by Bees 1941: 10, no. 2A, and part of the first line of the inscription.
ii. Source(s) provenance Meritt wrote in Corinth 8.1 245 "Exact place and date of finding not recorded". However, Bees records a reliable personal information concerning the provenance of the inscription from the region of Kenchreai. Robert finds this information very interesting and inclines to accept its accuracy, as it is known that there were ancient quarries in the region of Kenchreai (23, n. 1 for references to the quarries) and this is in accordance with the mention in the text of professional groups working at several stages of stone processing, such as marmarii.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

i. Archaeological remains Although there are no archaeological remains directly connected to the inscription, it is noteworthy that there were ancient quarries in the region of Kenchreai (Robert 1960: 23, n. 1). If the restoration of the inscription is correct, it may refer to several professional groups working at several stages of stone processing, such as marmarii.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Note If the restoration of the word as [lith]oxo[o]i is correct, the members of the group are men.

X. ACTIVITIES

iv. Honours/Other activities The group honours a certain Theodosios as the one who renovated or restored the town, cf. l. 5 [ἀ]νανεωτὰ πό[λεως], [a]naneota po[leos]. Robert 1960: 23-8, refers to several similar encomia for emperors or civic functionaries who are honoured a restorators of towns. Woodward 1932: 144 inclines rather to an identification with Emperor Theodosios. Bees 1941: 10, no. 2A, dates the text to the 6th c. AD, under Justinian, and cosequently identifies Theodosios with a civic functionary who supported the reconstruction of Corinth after the earthquake of AD 551.

XII. NOTES

iii. Bibliography Bees, N. (1941), Corpus der griechisch christlichen Inschriften von Hellas. Inschriften von Peloponnes. Band 1. Isthmos-Korinthos. Athens: 9-10, no. 2A.
Robert, L. (1960), ‘Epitaphes et acclamations byzantines à Corinthe’, Hellenica XI-XII: 21-52, esp. 21-39.
Woodward, A.M. (1932), Review of Corinth, VIII.1, Greek Inscriptions, 1896-1927, JHS 52: 143-4.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Possible
Note As several professional groups, the ἀκον[ηταί], akon[etai] (CAPInv. 499), the [λιθ]οξό[ο]ι, [lith]oxo[o]i, and [μαρ]μαράριοι, [mar]mararioi (CAPInv. 501), co-operate for an acclamation of the renovator of the town, it is possible that they formed professional associations, as we know them from other cases. However, it is difficult to verify it on the basis of this one and only fragmentary attestation.