<rs type="textType">Letter</rs> of Gordian III to Aphrodisias

Joyce M. Reynolds1982

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Originally published in Reynolds (1982).

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Description of Monument

Archive wall: column four, lowest course, below 8.28.

Description of Text

Inscribed area specially prepared (1.97 x 0.27).

Letters

second to third centuries A.D., less carefully cut than in previous documents: ave. 0.02, l.8 0.022. Ligatured ΤΗΝ, l.6; apex in l.3; bars above the figures in l.2, and the abbreviated nomen in l.8.

Date

239 A.D. (titulature, lettering)

Edition αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ Μᾶρκος Ἀντώνιος Γορδιανὸς Εὐσεβὴς Εὐτυχὴς Σεβαστός ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ β ὕπατος πατὴρ πατρίδος Ἀφροδεισιέων τοῖς ἄρχουσιν καὶ τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ χαίρειν · καὶ τῇ ἀρχαιότητι ὑμῶν καὶ τῇ εὐνοίᾳ καὶ τῇ φιλίᾳ τῇ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους προσῆκον ἦν ὦ Ἀφροδεισιεῖς οὕτως διατεθῆναι ἐπὶ τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῇ ἐμῇ ὡς ἐδηλοῦτε διὰ τοῦ πρός με ψηφίσματος ἀνθ’ ὧν δὴ καὶ ἀμειβόμενος ὑμῶν τὴν εὐσεβῆ διάθεσιν φυλάττω βεβαίαν τὴν ἀπόλαυσιν πάντων τῶν ὑπαρχόντων ὑμεῖν δικαίων φυλασσομένων τε μέχρι τῶν καίρων τῆς βασιλείας τῆς ἐμῆς ἐπρέσβευεν Κλαύδιος Ἡγεμονεύς εὐτυχεῖτε
Translation

Imperator Caesar M. Antonius Gordianus, Pius, Felix, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, holding the tribunician power for the second time, consul, father of his country, to the Magistrates, Council and People of the Aphrodisians, greetings.

It befitted both your ancient origins and your goodwill and friendship towards the Romans, O Aphrodisians, that you should be so disposed to my kingship as you demonstrated in your decree for me. In response to this and in recompense for your pious (loyal) attitude, I preserve your secure enjoyment of all your rights, as they have been preserved up to the time of my kingship. Claudius Hegemoneus carried out the duties of ambassador.

Farewell.

Commentary

See Aphrodisias and Rome, 132-133.

Locations

Theatre: north parodos wall Theatre: north parodos wall Findspot

Text Constituted From

transcription (Reynolds)

History of Recording

Recorded by the NYU expedition in 1967.

Bibliography

Published by Reynolds, A&R 20 whence SEG 32, 1982.1097, BE 1983.381, AnnEpig 1984,874, McCabe PHI Aphrodisias 59 .Discussed: Millar, Emperor in the Roman World, 417.

Photographs

View, below 8.29, 8.32, 8.33, 8.28 (1977)
View, below 8.32, 8.33, 8.28 (1977)
Archive Wall view (1994)