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Last Updated on 11 Jun 2019

Author: Stella Skaltsa

CAPInv. 54: to koinon ton eraniston

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Aegean Islands
ii. Region Syros
iii. Site Hermoupolis

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) τὸ κοινὸν τῶν ἐρανιστῶν (IG XII.5.1 672, l. 2)
ii. Full name (transliterated) to koinon ton eraniston

III. DATE

i. Date(s) iii BC

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Other:eranos
iii. Descriptive terms κοινόν, koinon

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) IG XII.5.1 672 (iii BC)
Online Resources IG XII.5.1 672
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Dedication in Greek by the koinon to Poseidon and Amphitrite.
i.c. Physical format(s) Base (W. 74 x H. 33 x. Th. 96 cm).
ii. Source(s) provenance The base was found in Hermoupolis in the area called Enthermos.

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership Maron was the leader of the koinon (ἡρχεράνιζε IG XII.5.1 672, l. 3).
iv. Officials ἱερεύς, hiereus (IG XII.5.1 672, l. 1): the dedication was made in the priesthood of Nikagoras (ἐπὶ ἱερέως Νικαγόρου).
Eponymous officials This dating formula (epi hiereos) is otherwise unattested only in Syros. It seems possible that this is not an eponymous official of the city but of the association itself.

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship The koinon set up a dedication to Poseidon and Amphitrite.
Deities worshipped Poseidon
Amphitrite

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The provenance of the inscription has been contested. Although it was found on Syros, its provenance was questioned on the grounds of the deities to which the dedication is addressed and onomastics. The name Maron is otherwise unattested in Syros. In light of the divinities to which the dedication is addressed (Poseidon and Amphitrite), Fraser and Bean (1954: 171) attributed the stone to Tenos (sanctuary of Poseidon in Tenos). In light of the dating formula and on the basis that associations of eranistai are often attested in Rhodes (Poland 1909: 32), Robert (1937, 513-17), followed by Wiemer (2002, 276 n. 47), argued that the stone came from Rhodes or a place under Rhodian influence. Habicht (2003), however, has shown that Nikanor is not attested among the priests of Helios in Rhodes.
It should be noted that there is another dedication addressed to Poseidon, which was found in the same area in Hermoupolis (IG XII.5.1 671). This provides additional support to the view that the stone was either moved from Tenos or that a sanctuary of Poseidon may be envisaged for Syros too.
ii. Poland concordance Poland B 211
iii. Bibliography Fraser, P.M. & Bean, G.E. (1954) The Rhodian Peraea and Islands. Oxford.
Habicht, Ch. (2003) 'Rhodian Amphora Stamps and Rhodian Eponyms', REA 105: 541-78.
Robert, L. (1937) Études anatoliennes: recherches sur les inscriptions grecques de l'Asie mineure. Paris.
Wiemer, U. (2002) Krieg, Handel und Piraterie: Untersuchungen zur Geschichte des hellenistischen Rhodos. Berlin.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The name koinon ton eraniston together with the internal organization (archiranizo) suggest that this groups is a private association.