Stable URL: http://assocgr.saxo.sc.ku.dk/assoc/160Download as PDF
Last Updated on 25 Nov 2018

Author: Mario C.D. Paganini

CAPInv. 160: U-EGY-007

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Egypt
ii. Nome Gynaikopolites (L03)
iii. Site Taposiris Parva

II. NAME

i. Association with unknown name U-EGY-007

III. DATE

i. Date(s) 205 - 181 BC

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) SB V 8873 (205-181 BC)
Note Other editions of the text: OGIS 97.
Online Resources OGIS 97
TM 6393
i.a. Source type(s) Epigraphic source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Greek dedication of the association to Osiris, Sarapis, and Isis.
i.c. Physical format(s) Marble altar base.

VI. BUILT AND VISUAL SPACE

ii. References to buildings/objects The association dedicates to the divinities a βωμός, bomos, and some περσέαι, perseai, a type of tree.

VII. ORGANIZATION

ii. Leadership The man, called Sparis, mentioned in l. 10, may be the leader of the association. However this is uncertain.
iii. Members The members are called οἱ θιασεῖται, hoi thiaseitai (l. 11), l. θιασῖται, thiasitai.
v. Other staff In ll. 10-11, there is mention of οἱ κωμεγ|έται, hoi komegetai: they probably were officials in charge of festive processions (κῶμοι, komoi).

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

i. Treasury/Funds The associations probably had funds as they could pay for the altar and the setting up to the inscription.
ii. Realty The land upon which the trees dedicated by the association stood may have belonged to them: however this is not stated in the text and therefore remains uncertain.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Note The gender of the nouns employed suggests that the members were men.
vi. Proper names and physical features Σπάρις

X. ACTIVITIES

iii. Worship The association dedicated the altar and some trees to Osiris, Sarapis, Isis and all the gods and goddesses: Ὀσόρῳ τε | καὶ Σαράπιδι καὶ Ἴσιδι | καὶ Ἀνούβιδι, θεοῖς | πᾶσι καὶ πάσαις, τὸμ | βωμὸν καὶ τὰς περσέας, Osoro te kai Sarapidi kai Isidi kai Anoubidi, theois pasi kai pasais, ton bomon kai tas perseas (5-9). For discussion of the divinities and of the trees, see Caneva 2016.
Deities worshipped Osiris
Sarapis
Isis
iv. Honours/Other activities The dedication is made on behalf of the King and Queen (ll. 1-5: ὑπὲρ βασιλέως | Πτολεμαίου καὶ | βασιλίσσης Κλεοπάτρας, | θεῶν Ἐπιφανῶν καὶ Εὐ|χαρίστων, hyper basileos Ptolemaiou kai basilisses Kleopatras, theon Epiphanon kai Euchariston), thus showing the association's loyalty to the Royal House.

XII. NOTES

i. Comments The localisation of Taposiris Parva in the Gynaikopolites nome is uncertain: cf. Trismegistos s.v.
ii. Poland concordance Poland B 452
iii. Bibliography Caneva, S.G. (2016), 'The Persea Tree from Alexander to Late Antiquity: A Contribution to the Cultural and Social History of Greco-Roman Egypt', AncSoc 46 (2016): 39-66.

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Certain
Note The term thiasitai, the presence of a possible organised internal structure with officials and funds points towards this being a private association.