Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/1516Download as PDF
Last Updated on 13 Jan 2019

Author: Mario C.D. Paganini

CAPInv. 1516: (synodos) synapothanoumenon

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Egypt
ii. Nome Alexandria (L00)
iii. Site Alexandria

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) σύνοδος συναποθανουμένων (Plu. Ant. 71.3)
ii. Full name (transliterated) (synodos) synapothanoumenon

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 31 BC

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Other:synapothanoumenoi 'Partners in Death, those who will die together'
iii. Descriptive terms σύνοδος, synodos (?)
Note It seems secure by the context that the descriptive term used to indicate this association was synodos: αὐτοὶ δὲ τὴν μὲν τῶν ἀμιμητοβίων ἐκείνην σύνοδον κατέλυσαν, ἑτέραν δὲ συνέταξαν ... ἣν συναποθανουμένων ἐκάλουν, autoi de ten men ton amimetobion ekeinen synodon katelysan, heteran de synetaxan ... hen synapothanoumenon ekaloun (Plu. Ant. 71.3).

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) Plu. Ant. 71.3
Online Resources Plu. Ant. 71
i.a. Source type(s) Literary source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Greek, Plutarch's Life of Antony.

VII. ORGANIZATION

i. Founder(s) Queen Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony.
Gender Male Female

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Women
Note Given the fact that the association was founded by Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony, it is probable that it was open to men and women. Their friends in fact became members of it, declaring themselves 'those who will die together': ἀπεγράφοντο γὰρ οἱ φίλοι συναποθανουμένους ἑαυτούς apegraphonto gar oh philoi synapothanoumenous heautous (Plu. Ant. 71.3).

X. ACTIVITIES

ii. Meetings and events The main activity of the association was banqueting: διῆγον εὐπαθοῦντες ἐν δείπνων περιόδοις, diegon eupathountes en deipnon periodois (Plu. Ant. 71.3).

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The present association was founded by Cleopatra and Mark Antony in order to replace the synodos of the amimetobioi (cf. CAPInv. 1515).

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The terminology used and the character of the proceedings makes it certain that the group here was a private association.
ii. Historical authenticity One may wonder the truth of Plutarch's statements and the actual existence of such a club.