The Palmyrene prosopography

• Main Author: Piersimoni, Palmira
• Published: University College London (University of London) 1995
• Subjects: 301
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.363509

The Palmyrene Prosopography is a study of the Palmyrene social organisation through a direct analysis of the available epigraphical material based upon published and unpublished sources. The work is organized in the following divisions: CATALOGUE. Six thousand anthroponyms have been listed in alphabetical order. Each name is followed by its Greek or Latin transcription (this in the case of bilingual or trilingual texts), the date and the document where it is attested. The genealogy of each person is also provided. TRIBES, CLANS and FAMILIES. Palmyrene society had a tribal structure; tribes and smaller social groups belonging to them have been identified. Each family is graphically represented by genealogical trees showing the relationship amongst members of the same family. They are labelled with reference to the ancestor who often is the eponym from which the whole family takes its name. At Palmyra, the most common onomastic formula is represented by the individual's personal name, his patronymic and his clan or familial name. The individual is identified by tribal and family names. The single name is the first element of identification; thus whenever possible, an etymological explanation of names has been provided to understand the ethnic origin of each family. OFFICES and PROFESSIONS. Private citizens may also be identified through professional information. The analysis of offices and charges partially allows to reconstruct the social stratification. Religious offices were the most prestigious ones and the clergy came from the most important tribes. It has to be noted that the limited number of professions is due to the nature of the epigraphical material. Four main categories have been recognized: public, religious, commercial and military. A more complex picture of the society can be obtained from the analysis of offices and titles, onomastics, and rights of succession. This also sheds light on the position of freedmen and women within it.