Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/1517Download as PDF
Last Updated on 13 Jan 2019

Author: Mario C.D. Paganini

CAPInv. 1517: geloiastai

I. LOCATION

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

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) γελοιασταί (Ath. 246c)
ii. Full name (transliterated) geloiastai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 221 - 203 BC

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Theophoric:geloiastai 'buffoons, jesters' (see LSJ s.v.), likely deriving from γέλως, gelos 'laughter' (with possible connection with an epithet of Dionysus: see Tondriau 1946: 153).
Other:geloiastai 'buffoons, jesters' (see LSJ s.v.), likely deriving from γέλως, gelos 'laughter' (with possible connection with an epithet of Dionysus: see Tondriau 1946: 153).

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) Ath. 246c
Note Athenaeus is quoting Ptolemy son of Agesarchus, writer of a History of Philopator: FGrH 161 F 2.
Online Resources Ath. 246c
i.a. Source type(s) Literary source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Greek, Athaeneus's The Learned Banqueters (Deipnosophistae).

VII. ORGANIZATION

i. Founder(s) King Ptolemy IV Philopator (221-203 BC).
Gender Male
iii. Members The members of the club are called συμπόται, sympotai.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Note Given the terminology used and activities implied by it, it seems likely that the members were men only.

X. ACTIVITIES

ii. Meetings and events On the basis of the common name sympotai, it seems that the main activity of the club was drinking.

XII. NOTES

i. Comments It is stated in the text that drinking-buddies were being gathered from all over Alexandria by King Ptolemy IV and named geloiastai: συμπότας ... τῷ βασιλεῖ συνάγεσθαι ἐξ ἁπάσης τῆς πόλεως, οὓς προσαγορεύεσθαι γελοιαστάς, sympotas ... to basilei synagesthai ex hapases tes poleos, hous prosagoreuesthai geloiastas.
iii. Bibliography Tondriau, J. (1946), 'Les thiases dionysiaques royaux de la court ptolémaïque', CE 21: 149-171.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The fact that the group of fellow-drinkers had a proper name (geloiastai) points towards the fact that the group was well-established and organised as a private association.
ii. Historical authenticity One may wonder the reliability of the source and the actual existence of this club.