Some aspects of the socio-cultural life of Roman Heraclea Pontica in the light of the epigraphic, numismatic and literary evidence

Abstract

The ancient city of Heraclea Pontica, named after Heracles, is situated in the Eregli district of Zonguldak province in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey. Ancient authors tell us that it was founded by Megarians and Boeotians, known as Dorian tribes, in ca. 560 BC. In addition to its coastal site, with its powerful policy based on tyranny in 4th century BC, it became one of the most important polities in the region until AD 70 when it fell under Roman dominion. In the Roman Imperial period, Heraclea was a part of the provincia Pontus et Bithynia which the Romans constituted and maintained its importance administratively and economically. The epigraphic studies carried on in Karadeniz Eregli Museum since 2007 have revealed much new material about the city in Roman Imperial times. New votive and grave inscriptions enrich our understanding of its social and cultural life. The dedications of individuals give an idea about religious life of Roman Heraclea: a dedication to goddess Ma shows the presence of this Anatolian goddess not only in Heraclea but also in the Bithynian region for the first time. A statuette dedication to Heracles Alexikakos demonstrates the continuity of the cult of Heracles in the Roman period. From a dedication by Aurelius Zeuxios to an unknown deity, we learn of his religious position as hieropoios. Grave inscriptions are important as well for understanding social and cultural life: that of Aurelius Artemonianos Menios, gives his magistracy titles as ephebarchos and paraphylax, providing knowledge about the ephebarchia and education. A gravestone of estate and farm managers presents the traces of Roman-period farms in the territory of Heraclea. © Archaeopress and the individual authors 2023. All rights reserved.