Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/705Download as PDF
Last Updated on 13 Mar 2017

Author: Maria-Gabriella Parissaki

CAPInv. 705: Bakcheion Asianon

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Thrace
ii. Region Inland Thrace
iii. Site Nicopolis ad Istrum

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) Βακχεῖον Ἀσιανῶν (SEG 53: 726, ll. 3-4)
ii. Full name (transliterated) Bakcheion Asianon

III. DATE

i. Date(s) f. iii AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Ethnic:Ἀσιανοί, Asianoi, see CAPInv. 638, for further comments.
iii. Descriptive terms Βακχεῖον, Bakcheion
Note Bakcheion: SEG 53: 726, ll. 3-4

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) SEG 53: 726 (f. iii AD)
Note See also: AGRW 78; SEG 53: 726; AÉ (2003), no. 1563
Online Resources SEG 53: 726 and AGRW ID 3543
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Dedication in Greek
i.c. Physical format(s) Limestone column (h: 1.12, diam.: 0.295)
ii. Source(s) provenance Butovo

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

i. Archaeological remains Butovo, situated in the territory of Nicopolis ad Istrum, is known to have been an important centre for pottery production in the period spanning from the beginning of the 2nd cent. AD to the middle of the 3rd cent., see TIR Philippopolis, K-35/II, p. 65 (s.v.).
ii. References to buildings/objects The dedication to the Bakcheion is referred to in the text as a κίων, kion (l. 5).

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership ἱερεύς, hiereus (l. 5)

IX. MEMBERSHIP

i. Number Undefined; only one (the hiereus) mentioned by name in the text.
iv. Status See above (IV.ii) for the possible ethnic origin of the members.

XII. NOTES

i. Comments Βαχχίου Ἀσιανῶν,Bachchiou Asianon, on the stone.

Two bakcheia seem to have existed simultaneously at Nicopolis ad Istrum's territory: one gathering, at least initially, devotees originating from Asia Minor, and one for those designated as 'vernaculi', see CAPInv. 1753.

For cult associations of Ἀσιανοί, Asianoi, from the Roman provinces of Thracia and Moesia Inferior, see also Dionysopolis (IGBulg I2 23), Municipium Montanensium (IGBulg II 480) and Perinthos (I.Perinthos 56) (see CAPInv. 638); these are designated either as a σπεῖρα, speira, or as a βακχεῖον, bakchion. For neighbouring Macedonia, see CAPInv. 515 and an association from Napoca in Dacia, CIL III 870.
iii. Bibliography Loungarova, P. (2007), ‘Colonne à inscription du village de Boutovo (Moesia Inferior)’, in M. Mayer, G. Baratta and A. Guzman Almagro (eds.), Acta XII Congressus Internationalis Epigraphiae Gracae et Latinae, Barcelona: 847-50.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The term Βακχεῖον, Bakcheion, points to a Dionysiac cult association.