<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 5, lowest course. The blocks at the left side are intact; those at the right side are damaged, but are substantially restored with small fragments found fallen in front of the wall.

Description of Text

Inscribed area specially prepared, 2.38 x 0.31. Line 1 outspaced.

Letters

Third century A.D.; ave 0.017; less carefully cut than 8.27, 8.28, 8.29, 8.30, 8.31, 8.32, 8.33, 8.34, 8.35, 8.36, 8.37 and 8.99; ligatures: ΤΗ l.2, l.3 (three times), l.6, l.8; ΗΝ, l.4; ΝΜ l.5, l.7; ΜΗΜ l.6. Circular stops in ll.2, 8; star for stop in l.8; bars above the figures in l.2 and above ΟΥ in l.7.

Date

243 A.D. (titulature, lettering)

Edition αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ Μᾶρκος Ἀντώνιος Γορδιανὸς Εὐσεβὴς Εὐτυχὴς Σεβαστός ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος δημαρχι κῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ Ϛ ὕπατος τὸ β πατὴρ πατρίδος ἀνθύπατος Ἀφροδεισιέων τοῖς ἄρχουσι καὶ τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ χαίρειν τὸ τῆς Ἀσίας βούλευμα τὸ καὶ ὑμᾶς καταστῆσαν εἰς κοινωνίαν τῆς πρὸς τοὺς ἀτυχήσαντας ἐπικουρίας οὐκ ἐπίταγμα ἦν οὐδὲ γὰρ οἷόν τε ἐπιτάγματι χρῆσθαι πρὸς τοὺς ἐλευθέρους ἀλλὰ πολείτευμα χρηστὸν ἐν μετουσίᾳ καθιστᾶν ὑμᾶς φιλανθρώπου πράξεως καὶ οἵης καὶ καθ’ ὑμᾶς πράττετε ἐν κατασκευῇ τινος οἰκοδομήματος συνεπιλαμβανόμενοι τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῖς δεομένοις ὑπὲρ δὲ τοῦ μέλλοντος ἥκιστα χρὴ δεδιέναι τοῖς γὰρ ἐλευθέροις οὗ πλεῖστον μετέχετε μόνος ἐστὶν πρὸς τὰ τοιαῦτα νόμος τὸ ἑκούσιον . ἐπρέσβευον Αὐρήλιος Κτησίας καὶ Αἴλιος Καλλικράτης εὐτυχεῖτε θεῖα ἀντιγραφὴ κατὰ Λαοδικεῖς ἡ προτεταγμένη
Translation

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

The resolution of Asia which associated you too with those assisting the victims of misfortune was not a command, for it is not possible to issue a command to those who are free, but a good administrative act placing you among those who take part in beneficent activity of a type which you undertake also among yourselves when you help with preparations for the erection of a house for those in need. And for the future there is no necessity for fear; for among free men, and you have a very great share of freedom, the only law in such matters is what you are willing to do. Aurelius Ktesias and Aelius Kallikrates carried out the duties of ambassadors. Farewell.

The above (?) is the divine (imperial) reply in the matter of (?) the Laodiceans.

Commentary

See Aphrodisias and Rome, 133-5.

Locations

Theatre: north parodos wall, and fragments found fallen Theatre: north parodos wall Findspot; fragments in Museum

Text Constituted From

transcription (Reynolds)

History of Recording

Recorded by the NYU expedition in 1966 and later; fallen fragments inventory numbers 66.608 69.468 and unnumbered fragments.

Bibliography

Published by Reynolds, A&R 21 whence SEG 32, 1982.1097, BE 1983.382, AnnEpig 1984, 857, McCabe PHI Aphrodisias 60 .

Photographs

Left end in situ, view below 8.35, 8.36, 8.37, 8.99, (1977)
Left end in situ, view below 8.36, 8.37, 8.99 (1977)
Archive Wall view (1994)