Epigrams for Pamphyliarchs in Termessos and Roman Governors in Pamphylia. Primacy and Honours

Abstract

The use of epigrams on stone during the Late Empire to honour important individuals, whether Roman officials or local benefactors, is a well-known phenomenon, although little explored to elucidate questions of political and institutional history, especially tricky due to the poetic nature of the material. In this field of study, the present work is focused on two epigrams from the Pisidian city of Termessos honouring Pamphyliarchs with the expressions ψῆφος Παμφύλων and γῆς κάρα Παμφύλων. After briefly reviewing the historical links of Termessos with Pamphylia, the main objective is to analyse these expressions as poetic allusions to the honorific title πρῶτος, used in the epigraphy of Asia Minor during the Roman period to designate individual primacy. The last section highlights similarities with two other epigrams from the cities of Perge and Attaleia in Pamphylia in honour of Roman governors, while discussing their identity and the title πιστή of the city of Side.

Keywords

• küçük asya
• yunan epigrafisi
• onursal epigramlar
• geç i̇mparatorluk
• küçük asya
• öncelik
• greek epigraphy
• honorific epigrams
• late empire
• asia minor
• primacy