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Acclamations in the Later Roman Empire: New Evidence from Aphrodisias

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2012

Charlotte Roueché
Charlotte Roueché
Affiliation:
University College London
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Extract

This article has been engendered by yet another important discovery made during the current excavations at Aphrodisias in Caria, of a unique series of acclamatory texts in honour of a local benefactor, Albinus. The texts were inscribed, probably in the first half of the sixth century, on the twenty columns of the west portico of the Agora, nineteen of which survive. They provide relatively little information either about Albinus or about the history of Aphrodisias; but they are of outstanding interest as the fullest series of inscribed acclamations which has yet been identified anywhere. The purpose of this article is to consider the status and function of acclamations in late Roman society, and their relationship to earlier practice, in order to assess the full significance of the texts presented here.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Roman Studies , Volume 74 , November 1984 , pp. 181 - 199
Copyright
Copyright © Charlotte Roueché 1984. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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References

1 The excavations at Aphrodisias have been conducted since 1961 by Professor Kenan T. Erim of New York University, with the support of various sponsors, chiefly of the National Geographic Society.

2 The fundamental modern study is still the brilliant book by Erik Peterson, Εἲς θεός published in 1926 (referred to hereafter as Peterson). Since then, there has been no single study of the subject, but a series of illuminating observations on the use of acclamations has been made by Professor Louis Robert; the references will be found in the notes which follow. There is a useful summary of the material, and a good bibliography, by Klauser, T., art. Akklamation in RAC I (1950), 213–33Google Scholar, with comments by Wenger, L., Die Quellen des römischen Rechts (1953), 379 n. 95Google Scholar; there are important discussions in Liebeschuetz, J. H. W. G., Antioch: City and Imperial Administration in the Later Roman Empire (1972)Google Scholar, and in Cameron, Alan, Circus Factions (1976)Google Scholar.

3 See the summary by Klauser, art. cit. above.

4 See Weinstock, S., Divus Julius (1971), 65 ffGoogle Scholar.

5 L. Robert, CRAI (1982), 55–7.

6 OGIS 595; compare the account of a meeting in Egypt in 192: τῶν π[αρ]εστώτων ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως ἐπιφωνη[σ]άντων, Hunt, A. S. and Edgar, C. C., Select Papyri II (1934), 241Google Scholar. 33–4. For a useful collection of evidence on the use of acclamations in legislative and judicial contexts see Colin, J., Les villes libres de l'Orient Gréco-Romain (1965)Google Scholar, Ch. IV, ‘Le vote par acclamations populaires’.

7 OGIS 515.

8 Anderson, J. G. C., JRS 3 (1913), 284–7Google Scholar.

9 Syll. 3 898.

10 P. Oxy. 41, whence Select Papyri II, 239; there is a summary by Jones, LRE 722. For the occasion see Bowman, A. K., Town Councils of Roman Egypt (1971), 34 n. 45Google Scholar; on the acclamations see E. Peterson, RhM 78 (1929), 221–3. Acclamations by the Council at Oxyrhynchus are cited in Select Papyri 240, of 370; for their use by the Council see Bowman, op. cit., 104–6.

11 Syll. 3 1109. 10–30. Compare also the reference to euphēmiai at a meeting of a corporation—perhaps of bankers—in fifth-century Egypt, PSI 1265. 12.

12 Mansi III, 23 B, 23 D, 24 C; cf. 23 A; in several other canons there are variations on this formula, but without the preceding invitation of assent.

13 Talbert, R. J. A., The Senate of Imperial Rome (1984)Google Scholar, Ch. 8. I am particularly grateful to Dr Talbert for letting me see the relevant passages in proof stage.

14 The Gesta Senatus are conserved and published as an introduction to the Theodosian Code; there is a useful summary by Jones, LRE 331. For a comparison of the acclamations in the Gesta with those recorded in the Historia Augusta, as a possible indication of senatorial practice in the later fourth or early fifth century, see Baldwin, B., Athenaeum 59 (1981), 138–49Google Scholar.

15 Robert, L., Hellenica XIII, 215–16Google Scholar; REG 94 (1981), 360–1.

16 Caesar, BC 2. 26. 1: ‘conclamatione’; Tac, Ann. 3. 74. 6: ‘conclamabantur’. In general, see Weinstock, op. cit. (n. 4), 108 ff.

17 Livy 5. 49. 7.

18 The fundamental study is that of A. Alföldi, first published in MDAI (R) 49 (1934), 79–88, reprinted in id., Die monarchische Repräsentation im römischen Kaiserreiche (1970).

19 Speech: P. Oxy. 2435. Edict: Select Papyri II, 211, whence Ehrenberg, V. and Jones, A. H. M., Documents illustrating the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius (1955), 320 bGoogle Scholar.

20 Suet., Gaius 6. I; cf. also the acclamation on the death of Tiberius cited in the commentary on text 11, below. For metre in acclamations, see below, p. 189.

21 Popidius Rufus: CIL IV. 3. 7346, to be taken with 7343; Augustus: CIL IV. 427, cf. 2460; ‘Iudiciis …’: CIL IV. 1074, whence with commentary, G. O. Onorato, Iscrizioni Pompeiane (1958), no. 89 (cf. no. 90). In view of this evidence, it is necessary to treat with caution Tacitus' descriptions of such behaviour as new (e.g. at Ann. 16. 4–5); that this is a recurrent criticism is suggested by its use by Libanius of acclamations at Antioch: ἔν γε τοῖς προτέροις χρόνοις οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον οὔτε ἐλέγετο οὔτε ἐπράττετο, Or. 41. 15.

22 Alföldi, op. cit. (n. 18), 82–3.

23 See Cameron, , Circus Factions, 157–92Google Scholar.

24 Tertullian, Apol. 40. 2. On the phenomenon, see Barnes, T. D., Tertullian (1971), 158–60Google Scholar; more extensively, MacMullen, R., Enemies of the Roman Order (1967), 170 ffGoogle Scholar.

25 Published by Beschaouch, A., CRAI (1966), 134–57Google Scholar.

26 Chaireas and Callirhoe, I. II, 3. 4. 17, 7. 3. 10.

27 Liebeschuetz, Antioch, 209.

28 See, for example, the discussion by Katkov, G., Russia 1917 (1967), 251Google Scholar. The acclamations themselves, it should be noted, are not strictly comparable to ancient ones; there were relatively few slogans, and they were circulated in pamphlets, and displayed on banners.

29 On Libanius' account, see Browning, R., JRS 42 (1952), 16Google Scholar; cf. also R. MacMullen, op. cit. (n. 24), 173 n. 13.

30 For Germanicus, see n. 19; Vespasian: Acta Alexandrinorum, ed. Musurillo, H. A. (1954), 30–1Google Scholar.

31 Plin., Pan. 75. 2: ‘Ante orationes principum tantum eius modi genere monimentorum’ (that is, bronze tablets) ‘mandari aeternitate solebant, acclamationes quidem nostrae parietibus curiae claudebantur’. Pliny, using acclamations to reinforce his argument, implies that they are customary; contrast n. 21.

32 Acta Fratrum Arvaliutn, ed. Henzen, G. (1874), 45–6Google Scholar.

33 Cod. Theod. 7. 20. 2.

34 Published in French by Batiffol, P., ‘Un épisode du Concile d'Éphèse’, Mélanges Schlumberger (1924), 35Google Scholar Published, with a German translation of the Syriac original, by Flemming, J., Akten der Ephesenischen Synode (1917)Google Scholar.

36 De Cer. 410–12, 418–25, and 426–30.

37 Cameron, , Circus Factions, 245–6Google Scholar.

38 Lib., Or. 31. 28 and 33, with Liebeschuetz, Antioch, 242–3. More generally, see Marrou, H.-I., Histoire de l'éducation dans l'antiquité (1965), 448–50Google Scholar. For minute-taking at church meetings see the passage from Augustine, below, p. 186.

39 Coles, R. A., Reports of Proceedings in Papyri (1966), 24 and cf. 25–7Google Scholar; I am grateful to Professor F. Millar for this reference.

40 Oliver, J. H. and Palmer, R. E., ‘Minutes of an act of the Roman Senate’, Hesperia 24 (1955), 320–47CrossRefGoogle Scholar, especially 323–4.

41 WS 24 (1902), 599–600.

42 C. Foss, ZPE 26 (1977), 161–71.

43 Mitford, T., Byzantion 20 (1950), 136Google Scholar, no. 10, explained at Bull. Ep. 1951, 236a, pp. 206–8.

44 Robert, L., Hellenica XI–XII, 548 ff.Google Scholar; on the acclamation εὐτύχως/‘feliciter’, see Peterson, 223.

45 J. M. Reynolds, JThS 20 (1960), 286, no. 5 and 287 n. 1. The date must be after Diocletian's creation of the province of Libya, but before the abandonment of the house in which they were found, probably in 365 (Goodchild, R., Kyrene und Apollonia (1971), 89Google Scholar).

46 Hirschfeld, O., ‘Die römischen Meilensteine’, Kleine Schriften (1913), 703–54, especially 719Google Scholar.

47 Four were published by Welles, in Gerasa, ed. Kraeling, C. H. (1938), 489–90Google Scholar, nos. 345–48; another three in Brünnow, R. E. and von Domaszewski, A., Die Provincia Arabia II (1905), 230 and 337Google Scholar; see Peterson, 270–3.

48 MAMA VI, 94 and 95; see also J. and Robert, L., La Carie II (1954), 199–200Google Scholar, nos. 123 and 124.

49 e.g. SNG von Aulock 590, Nicaea; 6080, Tarsus. See Pick, B., Journ. Int. archéol. mumismatique I (1898), 451–63Google Scholar.

50 SEG VI. 64, and S. Mitchell, ‘Inscriptions of Ancyra’, AS 27 (1977), 64, no. 1.

51 This part of the Aphrodisias text has not yet been published; the reading comes from study of the fragments by J. M. Reynolds. It is hoped to include a full text of the Diocletianic Edicts from Aphrodisias in the forthcoming publication of the later inscriptions.

52 Cod. Theod. I. 16. 6, retained as Cod. Just. I. 40. 3.

53 Cod. Theod. 8. 5. 32.

54 Now published as Ins. Eph. 44; see Bull. Ep. 1961, 537.

55 Most recently published as Ins. Eph. 1352; for the date see PLRE II, Phlegethius 2.

56 Aug., Ep. 213.

57 ACO II. I. 1., 70 and 93.

58 Batiffol, op. cit. (n. 34), 32, 36, 38.

59 Ep. 59, PL 54. 867 A.

60 ACO III. 71–6 (acclamations), 76 (speech).

61 ACO III. 85–7 (acclamations), 84 (letter).

62 ACO III. 102–3. The various assemblies of 518 were discussed, and most of the acclamations translated, by Vasiliev, A., Justin I (1950), 137–44Google Scholar.

63 So Cameron, , Circus Factions, 241Google Scholar.

64 loc. cit., n. 52. On ancient suspicion of such manipulation, see above, n. 29.

65 So Peterson, 189–93.

66 De inan. glor., ed. M.-A. Malingrey (1972), 4. On this vivid account of the acclamation of a benefactor, and his later rejection, see E. Peterson, RhM 78 (1929), 221–3; Robert, L., Hellenica XI–XII, 569 ffGoogle Scholar.

67 ACO I. 1.2, 54.

68 Peterson, 144 ff.

69 Apul., Apol. 73.

70 Dio 75. 4. 5; cf. Peterson, 145. Dio's account struck Whittaker, C. R., Historia 13 (1964), 363Google Scholar, as ‘the height of naiveté’, but is defended by Cameron, , Circus Factions, 236–7Google Scholar.

71 ACO II. 1. 1, 89.

72 ACO III. 76.

73 John of Beit Aphthonia, Vita Severi, ed. and trans. M. Kugener, PO 2 (1904), 238. Severus showed proper respect for the status of acclamations: ‘the great Severus delighted more in cries than in praises’ (ibid. 242).

74 Peterson, 213 ff.

75 HE 6. 29, cited by Peterson, 145.

76 See the passage from Augustine cited above, and Kantorowicz, E., Laudes Regiae (1946), 118–20Google Scholar; I am grateful to Professor Robert for drawing my attention to this classic study.

77 Pan. 73. 2; in general, 71–5.

78 e.g. at the crowning of Saul, I Sam. 10. 24, and of Solomon, I Kings 1. 39.

79 On the function of ritual chants and acclamations in Byzantine imperial ceremonial the standard work is still Treitinger, O., Die oströmische Kaiser- und Reichsidee 2 (1956)Google Scholar; on the use of acclamations by both eastern and western emperors see Kantorowicz, op. cit. (n. 76).

80 Peterson, 149 ff.

81 Lib., Or. 56. 16, as analysed by O. Seeck, RhM 73 (1920), 84–101, at p. 89.

82 Zach. Rhet., Vit. Sev., PO 2 (1904), 35.

83 Procop., BG I (v). 6. 4.

84 ACO II. 1. 2, 110.

85 ACO III. 85.

86 The Times, 5, 12.1983. There are many accounts of crowds in present-day Iran maintaining acclamations for long periods.

87 Aug., Ep. 213 (cited above, p. 186); on this see the analysis by Hirschfeld, O., ‘Die römische Staatzeitung und die Akklamationen im Senat’, Kleine Schriften (1913), 682–702Google Scholar.

88 See Peterson, 146 ff.

89 BZ 20 (1912), 28–51.

90 On these developments see in general E. Kantorowicz, op. cit. (n. 76).

91 See Cameron, , Circus Factions, Appendix C, 318–33Google Scholar.

92 For the abundant discussion on this topic see the critical bibliography by Alexiou, M. and Holton, D., Mandatophoros 9 (1976), 22–34Google Scholar. I am very grateful to Margaret Alexiou for her help in analysing the acclamations for Albinus.

93 Jones, LRE 529.

94 For the texts see Robert, L., Hellenica IV, 127–33Google Scholar; their dating is discussed in my forthcoming publication of the later inscriptions from Aphrodisias.

95 L. Robert, op. cit. above, 129.

96 For his career see, most recently, Dagron, G. and Marcillet-Jaubert, J., Belleten 42 (1978), 407–11Google Scholar.

97 See Jones, LRE 722 ff.; Cameron, , Circus Factions, 238Google Scholar.

98 See Wissowa, art. ‘Dedicatio’, RE IV (1901), 2356–9; Koep, art. ‘Dedicatio’, RAC III (1957), 643–7.

99 For speeches made on these occasions see references at Millar, F. G. B., The Emperor in the Roman World (1977), 607 n. 88Google Scholar.

100 Ep. 4. I, 5–6.

101 Ins. Kyme 13. ii, whose relevance was pointed out to me by Riet van Bremen.

102 Plin., Ep. 10. 116, 1, describing the practice in Bithynia.

103 See A. Wilhelm, MDAI(A) 51 (1926), 1–2; Bull. Ep. 1944. 162; Ins. Kyme 13. iii.

104 Parast. 56, with translation and commentary in Averil Cameron and Judith Herrin (edd.), Constantinople in the 8th century; the Parastaseis syntomoi chronikai (1984).

105 For Aphrodisias see, provisionally, C. Roueché GRBS 20 (1979), 182.

106 As observed by Liebeschuetz, Antioch, 216. On the wider issue, see Millar, F. G. B., JRS 73 (1983), 76–96Google Scholar.

107 Thompson, E. P., Whigs and Hunters (1975), 265Google Scholar.

108 Cameron, Circus Factions, Chapter x.

109 On the revolt see Stein, A., Histoire du Bas-Empire 11 (1949), 449–56Google Scholar; Circus Factions, 278–80.

110 Mansi IX, 229 (Theodore), 346 (Ibas).

111 Circus Factions, Chapter IX, especially 249 ff.