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Last Updated on 21 Feb 2017

Author: Ilias Arnaoutoglou

CAPInv. 264: thiasotai

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Attica with Salamis
ii. Region Attica
iii. Site Piraeus

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) θιασῶται (IG II2 1271, ll. 2, 9, 13, 15, 21)
ii. Full name (transliterated) thiasotai

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 299 / 298 BC

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Cultic:thiasotai

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) IG II2 1271 (299/8 BC)
Note Ed. pr. RA 1864 (II), 399.
Other publications: Lueders no. 21; Foucart no. 26; Michel no. 977; GRA I 13
Cf. SEG 52: 105, SEG 57: 29
Online Resources IG II2 1271 and AGRW ID 3643
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Part of a Greek honorific decree for Menis, son of Mnesitheos of Herakleia, because, when a treasurer, he sponsored a major refurbishment of the sanctuary and he has financially supported the association.
i.c. Physical format(s) Marble stele measuring 0,62x0,30m.
ii. Source(s) provenance Found in Piraeus, now in the Epigraphical Museum, EM 7846.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

ii. References to buildings/objects References are being made to a sanctuary (ἱερόν, hieron, ll. 3, 19 and 22), to a stone stele (στήλη λιθίνη, stele lithine, l. 22) and to a painted portrait (εἰκὼν ἐν πίνακι, eikon en pinaki, ll. 17-8).

VII. ORGANIZATION

iv. Officials Treasurer (ταμίας, tamias, l. 3).
Priest (ἱερεύς, hiereus, ll. 13-4).
Known practice of appointment The appointment to the office of the treasurer was based on election; the term used is αἱρεθείς, hairetheis, l. 3.
vi. Laws and rules In ll. 16-18 it is mentioned that a painted portrait of the honoured shall be erected according to a law of the association (ἀναθεῖναι | δ’ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰκόνα τοῦ ἱεροῦ οὗ ἂν εἶ κάλλιστον γράψαν|τας ἐν πίνακι κατὰ τὸν νόμον, anatheinai d' autou kai eikona tou hierou hou an ei kalliston grapsantas en pinaki kata ton nomon).

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

ii. Realty The association probably owned the sanctuary (ἱερόν, hieron, l. 3, 19, and 22), the pediment (ἀέτωμα, aetoma) and portico (πρόστωιον, prostoion) of which were repaired, ll. 5-6.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Note Μῆνις Μνησιθέου Ἡρακλεώτης, Athenian Onomasticon s.v. (13).
iii. Age Adults
iv. Status The honoured person is a non-Athenian, probably a resident foreigner (metic).

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship Since the group was involved in the refurbishment of the sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos, they may have worshipped that divinity.
Deities worshipped Zeus Labraundos (?)
iv. Honours/Other activities Menis is praised (ἐπαινέσαι, epainesai, l. 15) and honoured with an olive-leaves crown (θαλλοῦ στέφανος, thallou stephanos, l. 16) and a painted portrait (γραπτὴ εἰκών, grapte eikon, ll. 17-8).

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The decree passed in the archonship of Euktemon (the archon name is almost wholly restored).
ii. Poland concordance Poland A16
iii. Bibliography Pakkanen, P. (1996), Interpreting early Hellenistic religion. A study based on the mystery cult of Demeter and the cult of Isis. Helsinki. (SEG 46.2363)
Parker, R. (1996), Athenian religion. A history. Oxford, 338. (SEG 47.26)
Mikalson, J. (1998), Religion in Hellenistic Athens. Los Angeles, 147.
Carless Unwin, N. (2014), ‘The travels of Zeus Labraundos’, in L. Karlsson, S. Karlsson & J. Blid Kullberg (eds.), Labrys. Studies presented to Pontus Hellstrom. Uppsala: 43-56.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The association displays all the hallmarks of a private association: distinct name, membership, organization, property and durability.