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Last Updated on 22 May 2019

Author: Nikolaos Giannakopoulos

CAPInv. 808: ho[i s]yngenis (l. syngeneis)

I. LOCATION

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

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) ο[ἱ σ]υνγενῖς (l. συνγενεῖς, I.Iznik 1513, l. 4)
ii. Full name (transliterated) ho[i s]yngenis (l. syngeneis)

III. DATE

i. Date(s) ii - iii AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Kinship-related:syngeneis

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) I.Iznik 1513 (ii - iii AD)
Online Resources I.Iznik 1513
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Dedication in Greek to Zeus Pappoos or Patroos set up by the syngeneis.
i.c. Physical format(s) Marble altar.
ii. Source(s) provenance The inscription was found at Pazaryeri in the area of Iznik.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

ii. References to buildings/objects An altar was dedicated by the syngeneis to Zeus Pappoos or Patroos.

VII. ORGANIZATION

iv. Officials The presence of hiereus in genitive plural (ἱερήων, hiereon, ll. 3-5), followed by what seems to be traces of personal names, may refer to officials of the group.
viii. Obligations On possible contributions see below under field XII.i: Comments.

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

ii. Realty The altar dedicated by the syngeneis probably belonged to the group.

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship The altar dedicated to Zeus Pappoos or Patroos by the syngeneis following the instructions received by the god (ll. 2-3: κατὰ ἐπιταγὴν, kata epitagen) suggests that the group of relatives performed cultic activities addressed to that deity. The dedication possibly followed or anticipated a benefaction perceived to have been provided by the god.
Deities worshipped Zeus Pappoos or Patroos

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The dedication was addressed to Διὶ Παππώῳ (Dii Pappooi, l. 2) but S. Şahin (in I.Iznik 1513, p. 289b) thinks that the correct reading may have been Διὶ Πατ̣ρ̣ώῳ, Dii Patrooi.
If the syngeneis constituted a formally established group, the cost of the altar may indicate the existence of a common treasury. However, there is no clear proof for that. The cost may have been covered from ad hoc contributions paid by the members of the group.
iii. Bibliography Poland, F. (1909), Geschichte des griechischen Vereinswesens. Leipzig.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Possible
Note On associations defined as syngeneia or with other correlated terms, see Poland 1909: 88. The dedication of the altar suggests lasting cultic activities on the part of the syngeneis. However, it cannot be established with certainty whether this term in our inscription corresponded to an organized association or was used to denote a simple group of relatives which dedicated the altar.