judaism_and_rome 2026-07-22T01:04:12+02:00 1 222 Inscription https://heurist.huma-num.fr/heurist/?recID=222&db=judaism_and_rome 2022-08-16 23:18:41 2025-07-22 16:56:40 public T. Flavius Damianus, Ephesus and the Roman army Square base. Most of the text is beautifully carved inside a moulded frame, except for the name of the honouree. Only the upper and left sides of the stone are partly damaged. 0166 0166 4190 2293 40842d94cf36137253d80f0d2a051e71b9bff5a7 t._fl._damianus.jpg image/jpeg 32 2022-08-12 11:57:08 T. Flavius Damianus, Ephesus and the Roman army, 4190, t._fl._damianus.jpg (32.24 KB)) https://heurist.huma-num.fr/heurist/?db=judaism_and_rome&file=40842d94cf36137253d80f0d2a051e71b9bff5a7 Greek 2342 2341 2340 2339 3221 2337 3672 2336 2335 <p>Titus Flavius Damianus is one of the most famous figures from Ephesus between the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries CE. A renowned rhetor and teacher of Philostratus, his career can be well studied from the information provided by the <em>Life of the Sophists </em>(II.23), and the numerous inscriptions discovered in Ephesus related to him (Puech, <em>Orateurs et sophistes grecs</em>, p. 190-200). Our commentary will not seek to review this wealth of evidence but, rather, analyse his participation in the reception of the troops returning from the Parthian campaign in c. 166 CE. <br /><br />Damianus’s collaboration with the Roman army is attested in two almost identical bases which were discovered in reused contexts but which were originally meant to be displayed at the market of Ephesus (see Kalinowski, Angela, “Of Stones and Stonecutters”). In fact, the first one (<em>I.Eph. </em>672) was commissioned by a group conducting business in the <em>agora</em>. The setting up of these honours (l. 21-22: ἀνάστασις τῆς τειμῆς/<em>anastasis tês teimês</em>) was supervised by C. Licinius Artimetes Aurelianus, a worshipper of Artemis and secretary of the temples of imperial cult in Ephesus, who acted on behalf of another honouring association, the πλατεῖα/<em>plateia</em> (literally, “the (broad) street”). This group, most likely connected with trading activities, presented Damianus as an “incomparable benefactor” (εὐεργέτης καὶ ἀσύνκριτος/<em>euergetês kai asynkritos</em>) and attached a list of actions for which such a superlative praise was justified. Even though all of them are presented as benefactions, they did not have the same degree of exceptionality. The secretary of the people (or γραμματεὺς τοῦ δήμου/<em>grammateus tou dêmou</em>) was one of the top magistracies in the political career of Ephesus and, as such, it is widely attested in the epigraphic evidence of the city (see Schulte, <em>Die Grammateis</em>). The “incomparability” of Damianus’s term of office is based on the fact that he managed to produce a surplus (περισσεία/<em>perisseia</em>) of several thousand <em>denarii</em> for the city as recorded in lines 16 to 20. With regards to promises to finance buildings for public use, these were also common in the Greek cities of the Roman Empire (see Pont, <em>Orner la cité</em>, 378-416). So, in this case, it is stressed that the room (οἶκος/<em>oikos</em>) prepared for the Varus’s Baths excelled with all elements of architecture (οἰκοδομη/<em>oikodomê</em>) and ornament (κόσμος/<em>kosmos</em>). No reference is made to the fact that Damianus was married to Vedia Phaedrina, the daughter of the Publius Vedius Antoninus who was praised by Antoninus Pius for this great construction project.<br /><br />On top of these exceptional euergetic actions, the honouring association placed a delivery (μετρήσας/<em>metrêsas</em>) of grain. Again, such distributions sponsored by the local elites were common in the urban centres of the eastern Mediterranean (see Strubbe, “The Sitonia”). However, the conditions in which Damianus performed this benefaction were rather special. Firstly, the amount delivered was particularly massive because 201.006<em> medimnoi </em>are equivalent to more than 8000 tonnes. Secondly, the distribution was not a one-off event but extended over 13 full months (l. 7). Finally, it happened during a period in which the army (στρατόπεδα/<em>stratopeda</em>) was hosted (ὑποδεξάμενον/<em>hypodexamenon</em>). The troops were returning following a victory (νείκη/<em>neikê</em>) over the Parthians that corresponds to the end of<ins style="font-size: 13.008px;" cite="mailto:Katell%20Berthelot" datetime="2017-06-06T18:58"> </ins>the eastern campaign led by Lucius Verus in 165/6. The entire expedition had departed from Italy in 162 and Ephesus played a prominent role from the very beginning. The city is known to have hosted the co-emperor at least twice (<em>I.Eph.</em> 728, 3072) and, on one of these occasions, Lucius Verus is reported to have married Lucilla – Marcus Aurelius’s daughter – according to the <em>Historia Augusta </em>(<em>Luc. Ver.</em> VII.7). This special relation can explain why the imperial army chose Ephesus as a suitable location for their long stopover (see Keil, <em>Ephesos und der Etappendienst</em>). Indeed, local bronze coinage with the portrait of Lucius celebrated the ΡΩΜΑΙΩΝ ΝΕΙΚΗ (“victory of the Romans”, <em>RPC</em> IV.1143) soon after the final victory in Ctesiphon was achieved. Likewise, a new agonistic festival to commemorate the victory (or <em>epinikia</em>) started in the same period (<em>I.Eph.</em> 619b, 721, see Nollé, “Ein ephesischer Kult”). There is therefore no doubt that the Ephesian population publicly rejoiced in the Roman success. And yet, hosting the triumphal troops created a heavy burden that the public finances of the capital of Asia could hardly bear on their own.<br /><br />The general context for this massive distribution of grain was not particularly favourable. We know that already in 165 the cities of Anatolia started to be affected by an infectious disease that the soldiers themselves help to propagate (see Kirbihler, “Les émissions de monnaies d'homonoia”). The so-called Antonine plague had a profound impact not only on the imperial recruitment – as attested in Termessos ­– but also on the euergetic patterns of the Asian elites (Filippini, “Anomalie dell'evergetismo”). Under such circumstances, the exceptional nature of Damianus’s benefaction deserved to be highlighted. Furthermore, our inscription also mentions that, when he was spending several thousands to prevent famine, he simultaneously contributed to the organisation of one of the most important events of Ephesus: the Great Ephesia. In other words, not only was this personality attentive to the needs of the imperial army, but he also cared for the well-being of a community that could enjoy its beloved festival and then admire the magnificence of his new room of public leisure in the Baths of Varus. Damianus’s wealth certainly facilitated such praiseworthy activities despite the incipient effects of the plague. However, it is equally important to note that this member of the highest provincial elite is not known to have attempted to embark on the imperial careers that other Ephesians such as Vibius Salutaris or Publius Vedius Antoninus had successfully completed in the first half of the 2^nd century. While Titus Flavius Damianus’s descendants even reached the consulate (Philostratus, <em>Life of the Sophists </em>II.23 [p.605]; <em>I.Eph. </em>3082-3084; <em>AE</em> 2011.1319), his personal fidelity towards the fatherland must have been highly esteemed and this can explain the numerous honorific inscriptions dedicated to him. At the same time, the local benefactor contributed to alleviating the negative impression that the Roman army with its long stay could cause in Ephesus. In such an interconnected chain of mutual alliance between the Ephesian community, its provincial aristocracy and the imperial army, the biggest beneficiary was, after all, Roman rule; a power which could be affected by destructive plagues but still managed to have its victory celebrated through civic inscriptions, coins and festivities.</p> Ephesus Lucius Verus Parthia Roman victory benefaction association civic office local career famine plague Antonine plague Roman army grain festival Artemis honours imperial visit Epigraphic depot, Ephesus Archaeological site (Turkey) Marble 95 cm high, 48 cm wide, 48 cm thick. Letters are between 3.5 and 1.2 cm tall. 2nd CE 5832 Tetragonos Agora of Ephesus 195 242 191 191 212 183 Roman Greek Die Inschriften von Ephesos VII,1 no. 3080 No <p>This edition is taken from Keil, Josef, “Inschriften,” in <em>Forschungen in Ephesos</em>, Vienna: A. Hölder, 1923, p. 162, no. 80. Diacritical marks have been updated to comply with the Leiden conventions and the revision provided in <em>Die Inschriften von Ephesos VII,1</em> no. 3080 is also taken into consideration. </p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">Τ(ίτον) Φλ(άουιον) Δαμιανὸν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">τὸν ἴδιον εὐεργέτην καὶ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">ἐν πᾶσιν ἀσύνκριτον ἡ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">πλατεῖα, γραμματεύσαντα</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left">5</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">ἐπιφανῶς καὶ μετρήσαντα</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">μυριάδας μεδίμνων κʹ καὶ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">͵αϛʹ μησὶν ιγʹ ὅλοις, καὶ ὑπο-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">δεξάμενον ἐν τούτοις στρα-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">τόπεδα ἀπὸ τῆς κατὰ Πάρθων</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left">10</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">νείκης ὑποστρέφοντα, καὶ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">πανηγυριαρχήσαντα κατὰ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">τὸ αὐτὸ τῶν μεγάλων Ἐφεσή-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">ων ἐκτενῶς, καὶ ἔργον ὑποσχό-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">μενον ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ ἐνιαυτῷ οἶ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left">15</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">κον ἐν τῷ Οὐαρίῳ Βαλανείῳ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">μετὰ οἰκοδομῆς καὶ παντὸς</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">κόσμου, καὶ μυριάδας ποιή-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">σαντα περισσείας ἐκ τῶν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">προσόδων τῆς ἰδίας γραμ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left">20</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">ματείας τῇ πόλει ιβʹ ͵ζωιϛʹ·</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">ἐπιμεληθέντος τῆς ἀνασ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">τάσεως τῆς τειμῆς Γ(αΐου) Λικινίου</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">Ἀρτειμήτου Αὐρηλιανοῦ νεω-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">ποιοῦ τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ γραμμα-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="34"> <div align="left">25</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="417"> <div align="left">τέως τῆς Ἀσίας ναῶν τῶν ἐν Ἐφέσῳ.</div> </td> </tr></tbody></table> <p>The translation is my own. It seeks to remain as close to the Greek syntax as possible in order to facilitate reading it with the original text.</p> <p>To T(itus) F(lavius) D(amianus), its benefactor and incomparable in everything, the Street (honours him), who illustriously acted as secretary and provided 201.006medimnoi for thirteen full months, and received during those the army returning from the victory over the Parthians, and at the same time organised the Great Ephesia zealously, and promised in the same year a construction in the Baths of Varus, a room with every kind of architecture and ornament, and produced a surplus of 127.816 for the city out of the funds of his secretary. In charge of the setting up of the honour was C(aius) Licinius Artimetes Aurelianus, <em>neopoios</em> of Artemis and secretary of the temples of Asia (located) in Ephesus.  </p> <p> </p> Translation by author of the database record Yes An Ephesian notable is honoured for his extraordinary benefactions, especially, those concerning the Roman army. εὐεργέτης ἀσύνκριτος μετρέω μέδιμνος ὑποδέχομαι Νίκη στρατόπεδον ἔργον οἶκος οἰκοδομη κόσμος βαλανείον πανηγυριάρχης περισσεία τιμή ἀνάστασις γραμματεύς Ἀσία Ἄρτεμις Aitor Blanco Pérez English Honorific Yes 139 155 266 335 1