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Last Updated on 22 May 2019

Author: Nikolaos Giannakopoulos

CAPInv. 682: U-WAM-031

I. LOCATION

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

II. NAME

i. Association with unknown name U-WAM-031

III. DATE

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

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) I.Iznik 1210
Note See also Mendel 1900: 401 nr. 75.
Online Resources I.Iznik 1210
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Thanks-giving in Greek offered to Pauleine by Gennios from Dokimeion and the koinonoi.
i.c. Physical format(s) The inscription was engraved on the right side of the entrance of a rock-cut grave.
ii. Source(s) provenance The inscription was found at Kasimlar in the vicinity of Iznik.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

i. Archaeological remains Gennios and the koinonoi were allowed to be buried in Pauleine’s rock-cut grave (see Robert 1955: 60-61; Şahin in I. Iznik 1210).

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership The formula Γέννιος Δοκιμεὺς μετὰ τῶν κοινωνῶν, Gennios Dokimeus meta ton koinonon (ll.1-3) indicates probable leadership of the group by Gennios.
iii. Members The members are collectively called κοινωνοί, koinonoi (l. 3).

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

ii. Realty The right given to Gennios and the koinonoi to be buried in Pauleine’s grave (see Robert 1955: 60-61; Şahin in I.Iznik 1210) suggests use but not ownership of the tomb.

X. ACTIVITIES

iv. Honours/Other activities Gennios and the koinonoi thanked Pauleine for allowing them to be buried in her tomb. The exact nature of the relation between the two parties remains unspecified (see Robert 1955: 60-61; Şahin in I.Iznik 1210).

XII. NOTES

i. Comments A date after the age of the Antonines is suggested by Mendel (1900: 401) on the basis of the gravure and the form of the letters.
iii. Bibliography Mendel, G. (1900), ‘Inscriptions de Bithynie’, BCH 24: 361-426.
Poland, F. (1909), Geschichte des griechischen Vereinswesens. Leipzig.
Robert, L. (1955), Hellenica. Recueil d'épigraphie, de numismatique et d'antiquités grecques. Vol. 10. Paris.
Ziebarth, E. (1896), Das griechische Vereinswesen. Leipzig.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Possible
Note The vague term koinonoi, derived from koinonia, is commonly used for societies of business partners (Ziebarth 1896: 13-4, 19; Poland 1909: 164). However Aristotle in a well-known passage (Eth. Nic. 8.9 (1160a20) lists as examples of koinoniai (communities formed on the basis of common interests shared by the members), religious associations such as thiasotai and eranistai. Gennios’ koinonoi of our inscription may thus have been either business partners or members of an association (perhaps of persons originating from Dokimeion) to which Gennios himself also belonged.