eranos

(ἔρανος, Lat. cena collaticia). The Greek term for an organized club or society, for the purposes of feasting and amusement, whose members were called ἐρανισταί. Sometimes it would be formed in connection with the worship of particular deities. Sometimes, again, the object of an ἔρανος would be mutual assistance by advances of money. The government encouraged these clubs, because their corporate character made it easier to settle with expedition any legal proceedings arising out of their affairs. Trials of this kind, for refusal to pay subscriptions, or to repay loans, had to be settled within a month. See Becker-Göll, Charikles, ii. pp. 296 foll.