Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/1923Download as PDF
Last Updated on 27 Feb 2017

Author: Mario C.D. Paganini

CAPInv. 1923: xystos

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Western Greece with the Ionian Islands
ii. Region Korkyra
iii. Site Kassiopi

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) ξυστός (IG IX.12.4 845, l. 5)
ii. Full name (transliterated) xystos

III. DATE

i. Date(s) ii AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

iii. Descriptive terms ξυστός, xystos
Note xystos: IG IX.12.4 845, ll. 5, 16-17

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) IG IX.12.4 845 (II AD)
Note Text published in Arch. Deltion 17 (1961/2) 206.
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Greek dedication of thanks (ex voto) to Zeus Kassios by Sabeinos, archigrammateus of the athletic xystos of Ephesus, for the safe passage to Greece from Rome (presumably).
i.c. Physical format(s) Marble base.
ii. Source(s) provenance Village of Kassiopi, on Corfu.

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership See below: VII.iv Officials.
iv. Officials ἀρχιγραμματεύς, archigrammateus (l. 4): the man was called Sabeinos and belonged to the athletic xystos of Ephesus. He set up the dedication of thanks to Zeus Cassius for his safe passage, presumably from Italy (ll. 9-11). The man is also called ξυστοῦ πρόμος, xystou promos (ll. 16-7) 'foreman, chief of the xystos': he may have been at the head of the Ephesian branch of the xystos (instead of a xystarches), however in this case the frase may be used poetically (the passage is a hexameter poem of dedication) and may be thus better understood as 'one of the most prominent men in the xystos'.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Note Given the character of the athletic xystos, it seems reasonable that the members were men.
iii. Age Adults
Note Given the character of the athletic xystos, it seems reasonable that the members were adults.
iv. Status The archigrammateus Sabeinos is an Ephesios (l. 3).

XI. INTERACTION

ii. Interaction abroad The members of the athletic xystos performed worldwide, travelled often, and had a vast international network, first of all with Rome. This dedication of thanks on Corfu by the archigrammateus of the xystos of Ephesus is but one example of such a network by the athletic association.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The terminology employed (xystos, archigrammateus), the internal organisation, and the nature of the well-known international association of athletes make it certain that we are dealing here with a private association.