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Last Updated on 03 Mar 2017

Author: Maria-Gabriella Parissaki

CAPInv. 688: Neikaeis olympiastai

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Thrace
ii. Region Inland Thrace
iii. Site Philippopolis

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) Νεικαεῖς ὀλυμπιασταί (IGBulg V 5464)
ii. Full name (transliterated) Neikaeis olympiastai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) Imp.

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Cultic:The epithet ὀλυμπιασταί, olympiastai, is interpreted as referring to the cult of Zeus Olympios, already attested at Nikaia's territory, see BE 1967: no. 375.
Ethnic:Νεικαεῖς, Nikaeis

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) IGBulg V 5464 (Imp.)
Online Resources IGBulg 5464
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Funerary inscription in Greek of Philippos son of Philippos, with depiction of five wreaths, one of them offered by the Νικαεῖς, Nikaeis.
i.c. Physical format(s) Rectangular mable stele (1.62 x 0.74 x 0.18) with an elaborate floral pattern at its upper part and a pedimental stele in relief depicted below; this stele bears five wreaths and the funerary inscription.
ii. Source(s) provenance Found at Ralitza str. at the site of 'Vtora Kamenitsa', where the necropolis of the 1st-3rd cent. AD is located, see TIR K35/2: Philippopolis p. 298.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

i. Archaeological remains Necropolis

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

i. Treasury/Funds Τhe wreath offered to the deceased Philippos son of Philippos, indicates that these Νικαεῖς, Nikaeis collected funds, even if on an ad hoc basis.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

iv. Status On the basis of the groups name the members originated from Nikaia (Bithynia).

X. ACTIVITIES

iv. Honours/Other activities Α wreath was offered to the deceased Philippos son of Philippos, who should have been an important citizen of Philippopolis (see below XI.i), though not necessarily a member of the group.

XI. INTERACTION

i. Local interaction The deceased Philippos son of Philippos, should have been an important citizen of Philippopolis, as indicated by the wreaths also offered to him by the βουλή, boule, and the δῆμος, demos, of the city, the Νικομηδεῖς, Nikomedeis (CAPInv. 806), the ῥωποπῶλαι, rhopopolai (CAPInv. 686) and the βυρσεῖς, byrseis (CAPInv. 583). The presence of two professional associations, of two associations of foreign residents at Philippopolis and the eastern origin of the deceased's brother (as indicated by the personal name Παπίας, Papias) are signs of his eastern origin and of his possible involvement with trade.

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The ethnic Nikaeis quite probably refers Nikaia of Bithynia, as indicated by the presence on the same stone of the Νικομηδεῖς, Nikomedeis, and the general influx to Thrace of immigrants from this region (see also CAPInv. 697).
iii. Bibliography Kolev, K. (1966), ‘Nadgrobna plotsa ot Filipopol’, Arheologija 8/2: 57-9.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Probable
Note The Νικαεῖς ὀλυμπιασταί, Nikaeis olympiastai, just like the Νικομηδεῖς, Nikomedeis, mentioned on the same stone, should have been residents of Philippopolis originating from the Bithynian city Nikaia (see also BE 1967: no. 375). Their collective name and the group's action of honouring a deceased are signs of an associative organisation.