Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/GR/53Download as:PDF
Last Updated on 18 Jan 2019

Author: Mario C.D. Paganini

CAPInv. GR-53: ta en toi Arsinoitei [nomoi] politeumata

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Egypt
ii. Nome Arsinoites (00)

II. GENERAL REFERENCE

i.a. Full reference (original language) τὰ ἐν τῶι Ἀρσινοΐτηι [νομῶι] πολιτεύματα (P.Tebt. III.1 700, ll. 42-43)
i.b. Full reference (transliterated) ta en toi Arsinoitei [nomoi] politeumata
ii. Reference context Royal Decree (quoted in the papyrus in ll. 22-55) establishing that the land of certain associations, gymnasia, and politeumata, were confiscated and put to auction by the government (cf. also CAPInv. GR-50, CAPInv. GR-51, CAPinv. GR-52, and CAPInv. 746).

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 125 (?) BC

IV. TERMINOLOGY

i. Descriptive terms πολίτευμα, politeuma

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) P.Tebt. III.1 700 (124 BC; the Royal Decree must have been produced before 2 Thoth = 24 September 125 BC, when the sale of some properties belonging to an association in the Arsinoite nome, object of the decree, took place; cf. CAPInv. 746)
Online Resources P.Tebt. III.1 700
TM 5311
AGRW ID 20614
i.a. Source type(s) Papyrological source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Royal Decree of Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II concerning the confiscation and sale by auction of properties belonging to gymnasia, politeumata, and (other) private associations.
i.c. Physical format(s) Papyrus.
ii. Source(s) provenance Tebtynis, from crocodile mummies (no. 2 and 3).

VIII. NOTES

i. Comments The precise reasons for the promulgation of the decree are not clear: the passage is fragmentary and unclear, but it seems that the ownership of property of certain associations had given rise to problems which were to be fixed by alienating those properties from their owners. According to Otto and Bengtson 1938: 67-69, the measure was aimed against those associations and groups who had supported Cleopatra II against Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II during their strife to power.
iii. Bibliography Otto, W., and Bengtson, H. (1938), Zur Geschichte des Niederganges des Ptolemäerreiches. Ein Beitrag zur Regierungszeit des 8. und 9. Ptolemäers. München.

IX. EVALUATION

i. Private associations Certain
Note Given the context of the passage (where other private institutions are mentioned as being object of the Royal decree: synodoi and gymnasia), it seems very likely that the politeumata, which are here referred to, were private associations.