Roman Ionia
Constructions of Cultural Identity in Western Asia Minor

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

Martin Hallmannsecker (Author)

9781009158510, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 December 2023

326 pages, 1 b/w illus. 19 colour illus. 6 maps 11 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.473 kg

'… comprehensive and skillful presentation of the evidence … Readers will discover intelligent, incisive, and intriguing interpretations of a wide variety of texts and images throughout this valuable work … a stimulating contribution to the study of Greek cultural identity during the Roman empire.' Guy Rogers, Gnomon

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.

Introduction
1. Mental geographies
2. The Ionian Koinon
3. Cults and myths
4. Times and names
5. The Ionic dialect
6. Ionianness outside Ionia
Concluding remarks.

Subject Areas: Human geography [RGC], Social & cultural history [HBTB], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1]