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Last Updated on 21 May 2019

Author: Nikolaos Giannakopoulos

CAPInv. 631: U-WAM-010

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Western Asia Minor
ii. Region Bithynia
iii. Site Nikomedeia

II. NAME

i. Association with unknown name U-WAM-010

III. DATE

i. Date(s) s. ii - iii AD

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) TAM IV.1 262 (ii-iii AD)
Note Cf. Şahin 1974: no. 34.
Online Resources TAM IV.1 262
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Funerary inscription in Greek set up by Aurelios Eu[- - - - -] Katuleinos.
i.c. Physical format(s) Sarcophagus
ii. Source(s) provenance The inscription was found at Izmik (Nikomedeia)

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership A μυστηριάρχης, mysteriarches (l. 3) was at the head of a group of initiates.

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship The initiates headed by the mysteriarches performed mysteries. L. Robert (BE 1974: no. 573) associates these mysteries with the cult of Demeter in Nikomedeia.

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The owner of the sarcophagus was βουλευτής, μυστηριάρχης, σειτώνης and ἀργυροταμίας (bouleutes, mysteriarches, seitones, argyrotamias) of the council. He had also assumed several times the task of parapompe, contributing to the reception and the sustaining of the emperor and his army (cf. Fernoux 2004: 409-414; Bekker-Nielsen 2008: 75 and 101-104). Providing leadership for a group of initiates resulted from and further enhanced the social and political capital of this prominent local figure.
His nomen gentis (Aurelios) suggests a date in the late 2nd or 3rd century AD.
iii. Bibliography Bekker-Nielsen, T. (2008), Urban Life and Local Politics in Roman Bithynia. The Small World of Dion Chrysostomos. Aarhus.
Fernoux, H.-L. (2004), Notables et elites des cités de Bithynie aux époques hellénistique et romaine (IIIe siècle av. J.-C. – IIIe siècle ap. J.-C.). Essai d’histoire sociale. Lyon.
Şahin, S. (1974), Neufunde von antiken Inschriften in Nikomedeia (Izmit) und in der Umgebung der Stadt. Münster.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Possible
Note The term mysteriarches suggests the existence of a hierarchical organization within a group of initiates but does not necessarily indicate a private association.