Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/636Download as PDF
Last Updated on 23 Mar 2017

Author: Benedikt Eckhardt

CAPInv. 636: U-NEA-007

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area The Near East and Beyond
ii. Region Syria
iii. Site Palmyra

II. NAME

i. Association with unknown name U-NEA-007

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 59 - 68 AD

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

iii. Descriptive terms מרזחא, mrzḥ’
Note mrzḥ’: PAT 0177, l. 1

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) PAT 0177 (AD 67)
PAT 0178 (AD 59-68?)
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script PAT 0177 is a dedicatory inscription; PAT 0178 is a list of names. Both are Aramaic texts.
ii. Source(s) provenance Sanctuary of Baalshamin at Palmyra

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

ii. References to buildings/objects The group has dedicated a banquet hall (smk’: PAT 0177 l. 1).

VII. ORGANIZATION

iii. Members בני מרזחא, bny mrzḥ’ (PAT 0177 l. 1, according to the restoration m[rzḥ’] by Milik 1972: 120)

IX. MEMBERSHIP

i. Number 18 (?) (see comments)

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship The banquet hall is dedicated to Baalshamin (in whose sanctuary it was built) and Durahlun.
Deities worshipped Baalshamin and Durahlun

XII. NOTES

i. Comments According to Milik 1972: 120, the list PAT 0178 originally contained 12 names in the first line and 6 in the second. According to his model of a Semitic association that would consists of either 10 or 12 persons, he believes that the 12 persons are the "real" members, while the 6 are "acolytes ou serviteurs". This approach seems questionable.
iii. Bibliography Kaizer, T. (2002), The Religious Life of Palmyra. A Study of the Social Patterns of Worship in the Roman Period. Stuttgart (81-2).
Milik, J.T. (1972), Dédicaces faites par des dieux (Palmyre, Hatra, Tyr) et des thiases sémitiques à l’époque romaine. Paris.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Probable
Note The terminology used suggests a private association