Research Article

The Gerousia of Akmonia

Volume: 10 May 15, 2013
EN TR

The Gerousia of Akmonia

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the information on the institution of the Gerousia provided by three inscriptions from Akmonia, meticulously published by Ender Varinlioğlu in REA (108) 2006. The decree for Demades (64 AD) was introduced by the proegoros of the body and this post testifies to the complex nature of the Gerousia's legal and financial affairs. Moreover, the award of the asymbolos status to a new member chosen exclusively by Demades (the freedman Karpos), is the first undisputed proof that the Gerousia imposed regular contributions to its own members. Although we cannot be sure whether this decree was passed by the Gerousia itself or by the Council and the Assembly in response to a Gerousia's initiative, the ratification of Demades' choice by vote illustrates a carefully articulated scheme which sought to integrate a prominent individual's supremacy into the exigencies of the collective impersonal principles governing the function of Greek civic bodies and associations. A contemporary decree dated to 68 AD informs us that Demades son of Dionysogenes erected a group of three statues standing on the city gate which represented the Polis, the Demos and the Gerousia. The absence of the Council in this scheme suggests that, when it came to the symbolical representation of Akmonia's political community, civic hierarchy was flexible enough to allow the Gerousia to occupy a more prominent place. The Gerousia's public significance in Akmonia is further highlighted by the body's involvement in the pandemon decree for the Roman officer L. Egnatius Quartus dated to 2nd or the 3rd century AD. The same man had been previously honoured solely by the Council and the People but, when it was decided to award him the highly esteemed titles of ktistes and euergetes, the participation of the Gerousia was judged indispensable.

Keywords

References

  1. Arnaoutoglou 1994
  2. I. Arnaoutoglou, Thusias eneken kai synousias: private religious associations in Hellenistic Athens, Athens 2003.
  3. C. Bailey, Gerousia of Ephesus (PhD Diss.), University of British Columbia 2006.
  4. E. Birley, The Roman Army. Papers 1929–1986, Amsterdam 1987.
  5. Th. Boulay, Les «groupes de reference» au sein du corps civique de Téos, in: P. Fröhlich – P. Hamon (edd.), Groupes et associations dans les cités grecques (IIIe siècle av. J.-C. – IIe siècle apr. J.-C.), Genève 2013, 251–275.
  6. A. Bresson, Recueil des inscriptions de la Pérée rhodienne (Pérée integrée), Paris 1991.
  7. W. H. Buckler, A Charitable Foundation of A.D. 237, JHS 57, 1937, 1–10.
  8. K. Buraselis, Kos between Hellenism and Rome, Philadelphia 2000.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

-

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 15, 2013

Submission Date

September 3, 2012

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2013 Volume: 10

APA
Giannakopoulos, N. (2013). The Gerousia of Akmonia. Gephyra, 10, 13-31. https://izlik.org/JA37NR75MY
AMA
1.Giannakopoulos N. The Gerousia of Akmonia. GEPHYRA. 2013;10:13-31. https://izlik.org/JA37NR75MY
Chicago
Giannakopoulos, Nikos. 2013. “The Gerousia of Akmonia”. Gephyra 10 (May): 13-31. https://izlik.org/JA37NR75MY.
EndNote
Giannakopoulos N (May 1, 2013) The Gerousia of Akmonia. Gephyra 10 13–31.
IEEE
[1]N. Giannakopoulos, “The Gerousia of Akmonia”, GEPHYRA, vol. 10, pp. 13–31, May 2013, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA37NR75MY
ISNAD
Giannakopoulos, Nikos. “The Gerousia of Akmonia”. Gephyra 10 (May 1, 2013): 13-31. https://izlik.org/JA37NR75MY.
JAMA
1.Giannakopoulos N. The Gerousia of Akmonia. GEPHYRA. 2013;10:13–31.
MLA
Giannakopoulos, Nikos. “The Gerousia of Akmonia”. Gephyra, vol. 10, May 2013, pp. 13-31, https://izlik.org/JA37NR75MY.
Vancouver
1.Nikos Giannakopoulos. The Gerousia of Akmonia. GEPHYRA [Internet]. 2013 May 1;10:13-31. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA37NR75MY