Roman Ionia

First full-length study of the cultural identity of the Ionian Greeks in Western Asia Minor under Roman rule.

Through a detailed study of Roman Ionia, this book offers insight into the perceptions and constructions of collective cultural identities in the ancient world. It will benefit scholars and students interested in the issues of regional identities and the cultural history of Ancient Greece overall.How did the cities of Ionia construct and express a distinct sense of Ionian identity under Roman rule? With the creation of the Roman province of Asia and the ever-growing incorporation of the Greeks into the Roman Empire, issues of identity gained new relevance and urgency for the Greek provincials. The Ionian cities are a special case as they, unlike many other cities in Asia Minor, were all old Greek poleis and could look back on a glorious tradition of great antiquity. Martin Hallmannsecker provides answers to this question using studies of the extant literary sources complemented with analyses of the rich epigraphic and numismatic material from the cities of Ionia. In doing so, he draws a more holistic and nuanced picture of the region and furthers understanding of Greek culture under the Roman Empire.