SEG 59.151 Decree of a thiasos of Bendis on Salamis (272/1 BC)

Decree of a thiasos of Bendis on Salamis (272/1 BC)

SEG 59.151 Date: 272/1 BC

In the archonship of Lysitheides (272/1), on the second of Skirophorion, [at the principal assembly]. -sinos proposed: since [those appointed?] treasurer and joint managers (sunepimelētai) have managed the sacrifices [for which they were responsible] well and with love of honour (philotimōs) and [the other matters] relating to the society of the thiasotai^[1] and [have presented accounts of all their expenses ?], (5) for good fortune, the thiasotai shall decide to praise the managers and crown each of them with a foliage crown [for their love of honour (philotimias) and] justice: Nikias^[2] treasurer, -sias manager, . . . [manager], . . . [Ophelio?]n^[3] manager, Stratokles^[4] secretary; [and to praise also the priest,?] -doros; and the treasurer shall assign to them . . . [15? drachmas] (10) for a dedication; [and the managers, having received the money, shall dedicate in the?] sanctuary of Bendis . . .

Nikias Names of other honorands not preserved

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Greek text

References:

SEG 59.151 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG II² 1317 (PHI)

Kloppenborg and Ascough, Greco-Roman Associations, I pp. 118-121

Guicharrousse, Athènes en partage no. 11

Translation by: Stephen Lambert, Robert Parker

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Decree (Thiasos of Bendis)

Original location: [Salamis (acropolis, sanctuary of Bendis)]

Findspot: Salamis (Kamatero, acropolis) (Lost)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This is the earliest of five decrees attributable to worshippers of Bendis on Salamis, the texts and chronology of which were revised by M. J. Osborne, Horos 17-21 (2004-2009), 657-72 (SEG 59.150-55; in this case the stone is lost and Osborne has reconstructed the text from an early transcript). While the associations of Bendis worshippers on the mainland were “orgeones” (LSCG 45, with notes), the Salaminian groups describe themselves as thiasotai, a term of similar sense, but generally more informal feel. The key substantive difference in this case is that while the cult served by the orgeones of the mainland was formally incorporated into the city’s cult system, this was not, so far as we know, the case with the Salamis groups. We do not know whether the Salamis groups were in any sense offshoots of the Piraeus orgeones just a short ferry ride away across the water (cf. Aischin. 3.58, Lambert, ZPE 119, 1997, 101-103); they existed before the orgeones of the city (Athens) were founded, cf. IG II² 1283. Since the officials for the year of Hieron named in IG II² 1317b and SEG 59.155 are different, two distinct Salaminian associations existed, to judge from findspots one based on the acropolis (this decree, IG II² 1317b, SEG 59.152), one at the harbour (SEG 59.155; SEG 44.60. Bendis is not named in these two texts, but is doubtless the goddess concerned). They seem, however, to have been linked, e.g. both commonly held meetings on Skirophorion 2 (SEG 59.152, SEG 59.155). It seems that the two groups split at some point. Various causes for this split have been proposed. Salamis was an out-of-the-way place for Athenian citizens to reside (e.g. Dem. 44.10, ZPE 119, 1997, 102), none of the Salaminian worshippers is named with patronymic, and several of their names are often borne by slaves, though usually not by them alone, and at least one member seems to have been a citizen, SEG 59.152 l. 11. [2] Nikias also proposes SEG 59.152, and is honoured as a manager in IG II² 1317b. [3] Cf. SEG 59.152, l. 10. [4] Stratokles (of Eleusis) is also secretary at SEG 59.152 and IG II² 1317b.

Added: 12 Jul 2017
Updated: 21 Jul 2024
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