Roman Ionia: Constructions of Cultural Identity in Western Asia Minor

Roman IoniaConstructions of Cultural Identity in Western Asia MinorPart of Greek Culture in the Roman WorldAUTHOR: Martin Hallmannsecker, Universität Wien, AustriaHow 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.Provides a holistic picture of an important cultural regionCombines the literary sources with analyses of the rich surviving epigraphic and numismatic evidenceIntegrates close-readings and technical studies of inscriptions, coins and texts into an accessible narrative structureTable of ContentsIntroduction1. Mental geographies2. The Ionian Koinon3. Cults and myths4. Times and names5. The Ionic dialect6. Ionianness outside IoniaConcluding remarks.