DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4679#0065
3. HISTORY, TRADE, FINANCE. 39
Diocletian about A. d. 295 divided the vast province Asia into
a number of smaller provinces. If we could trust Malalas, Diocletian
would have instituted a single province Phrygia, which was after-
wards divided into two 1 by Constantine; but it is certain that the
subdivision was made before 325, and Diocletian is the probable
author. Laodiceia may be assumed to have been the metropolis of
the western province of Phrygia, which was called at first Great or
Prima, Avhile the other (metropolis Synnada) was called Small or
Secunda; but towards the end of the fourth century the names
Pacatiana and Salutaris were introduced and soon became universal.
See Appendix III.
When the Themes were instituted Laodiceia was classed in the
Thrakesian (p. 83).
Cistophori of the Greek type were struck at Laodiceia during the
first seventj' years of the Roman government. They are marked with
AAO on the left of the ordinary cistophoric type on the reverse2.
This class of coins (which are often dated from 133 as era) ceased
after 67 b. c. ; and cistophori of the Roman type were substituted for
them. Those Avhich were struck at Laodiceia bear the names of both
Roman and Greek officials.
T ■ AMPIUS • T ■ F ■ PROCOS (57-6 B.C.): THAEKPATHZ.
P • LENTULUS • P • F • IMP (56-3 B.C.): APTEMIAnPOZ • AA-
MOKPATOY (province Cilicia, Add. 1).
AP • PULCHER • AP • F • PRO ■ COS (53-1 B.C.): ATTOAAIiNIOZ ■
AAMOKPATOY ■ ZnZIMOZ (province Cilicia).
M • TULLiUS ■ IMP (51-0 B.C.): AABAZ • T7YPPOY (Cilicia).
Laodiceia was one of the richest cities of Asia. It might say (as
in the letter to the Church in Laodiceia), ' I am rich and have gotten
riches, and have need of nothing3.' The city, from its central position,
naturally became a centre of banking and financial transactions.
Cicero intended to cash his bills of exchange there (ad Fam. Ill 5 :
1 Malalas XIII p. 323 is contradicted Nicodemi. See Pinder in Beii. Akad.
by the Verona list, which has Phrygia Abhandl. 1855 p. 533 f.
Prima and Secunda; and Mommsen * Revelation III ly. The boast in its
rightly disbelieves him. See App. Ill self-sufficiency suits a city which needed
on the formation and names of the two no help from the imperial exchequer to
Phrygias. recover from the devastation of an
2 Magistrates' names occur on these earthquake (Tac. Ann. XIV 27). The
coins, Apollonius Evarchi, Diodorus, recollection of this proof of power and
Zeuxis Apollonii Amyntae, Olympio- wealth remained fresh even in a.d.
dorus Hermogenis, Sostratus, Di . . . 90-95.
Diocletian about A. d. 295 divided the vast province Asia into
a number of smaller provinces. If we could trust Malalas, Diocletian
would have instituted a single province Phrygia, which was after-
wards divided into two 1 by Constantine; but it is certain that the
subdivision was made before 325, and Diocletian is the probable
author. Laodiceia may be assumed to have been the metropolis of
the western province of Phrygia, which was called at first Great or
Prima, Avhile the other (metropolis Synnada) was called Small or
Secunda; but towards the end of the fourth century the names
Pacatiana and Salutaris were introduced and soon became universal.
See Appendix III.
When the Themes were instituted Laodiceia was classed in the
Thrakesian (p. 83).
Cistophori of the Greek type were struck at Laodiceia during the
first seventj' years of the Roman government. They are marked with
AAO on the left of the ordinary cistophoric type on the reverse2.
This class of coins (which are often dated from 133 as era) ceased
after 67 b. c. ; and cistophori of the Roman type were substituted for
them. Those Avhich were struck at Laodiceia bear the names of both
Roman and Greek officials.
T ■ AMPIUS • T ■ F ■ PROCOS (57-6 B.C.): THAEKPATHZ.
P • LENTULUS • P • F • IMP (56-3 B.C.): APTEMIAnPOZ • AA-
MOKPATOY (province Cilicia, Add. 1).
AP • PULCHER • AP • F • PRO ■ COS (53-1 B.C.): ATTOAAIiNIOZ ■
AAMOKPATOY ■ ZnZIMOZ (province Cilicia).
M • TULLiUS ■ IMP (51-0 B.C.): AABAZ • T7YPPOY (Cilicia).
Laodiceia was one of the richest cities of Asia. It might say (as
in the letter to the Church in Laodiceia), ' I am rich and have gotten
riches, and have need of nothing3.' The city, from its central position,
naturally became a centre of banking and financial transactions.
Cicero intended to cash his bills of exchange there (ad Fam. Ill 5 :
1 Malalas XIII p. 323 is contradicted Nicodemi. See Pinder in Beii. Akad.
by the Verona list, which has Phrygia Abhandl. 1855 p. 533 f.
Prima and Secunda; and Mommsen * Revelation III ly. The boast in its
rightly disbelieves him. See App. Ill self-sufficiency suits a city which needed
on the formation and names of the two no help from the imperial exchequer to
Phrygias. recover from the devastation of an
2 Magistrates' names occur on these earthquake (Tac. Ann. XIV 27). The
coins, Apollonius Evarchi, Diodorus, recollection of this proof of power and
Zeuxis Apollonii Amyntae, Olympio- wealth remained fresh even in a.d.
dorus Hermogenis, Sostratus, Di . . . 90-95.