Citation with stable link: Philip A. Harland, 'Italian and Roman diasporas: Inscriptional evidence,' Ethnic Relations and Migration in the Ancient World, last modified March 9, 2023, http://philipharland.com/Blog/?p=6838.
Comments: When it comes to migrants settled in the eastern parts of the empire, Romans and Italians are most certainly the most widely attested in the inscriptions. The Roman empire was not predominantly a “settler” form of colonialism in which the colonial power controlled the area primarily by sending their own people to settle (although there were formal Roman colonies for retired soldiers), but rather an administrative one. Rome primariliy ruled through making friends with local notables or client kings. As with any empire, though, the acquisition and control of vast territories and, therefore, resources brought many opportunities for those most closely aligned with the ruling power, in this case Roman and Italian businessmen. So the main way in which we find immigrants from Rome and Italy is in the form of merchants, traders, tax-collectors, and similar. Early on we see Romans integrated within economic networks at the important trade centre on Delos island (see the inscriptions below). The relationship between the Roman and Italian settlers and the locals could most certainly be a tense one at times, as the extreme case of the mass slaughter of Romans in Asia Minor by Greeks in 88 BCE shows (with key organization by the king of Pontos, Mithridates VI Eupator). Yet, as the inscriptions below demonstrate, Romans and Italians could be well integrated within social and economic life at other times and places, particularly by the Roman imperial period.
If you’d like to read more on associations of Romans and Italians including the inscriptions mentioned below, see Harland’s article: “Dedication to Roma by Roman Businessmen”.
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Asia Minor
- Honors by the Roman Businessmen for Alkippides (25-1 BCE) ║ Adramytteion – Mysia and the Troad
- Honors (frag.) by Roman Settlers (?) (25-1 BCE) ║ Adramytteion – Mysia and the Troad
- Honors by Roman Settlers for the Goddess Roma (27 BCE-37 CE) ║ Assos – Mysia and the Troad
- Honors by Roman Settlers for Livia as the Goddess Hera (27 BCE-37 CE) ║ Assos – Mysia and the Troad
- Honors by the Roman Businessmen for Gaius Caesar (1-4 CE) ║ Assos – Mysia and the Troad
- Family Grave with Posthumous Honors by Roman Businessmen (I CE) ║ Assos – Mysia and the Troad
- Posthumous Honors by Roman Businessmen for Apollonis (25-50 CE) ║ Kyzikos – Mysia and the Troad
- Honors by Amisos and the Romans for Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) ║ Pergamon – Mysia and the Troad
- Honors by Italian Businessmen for L. Munatius Plancus (before 88 BCE) ║ Sardis – Lydia
- Honors by the People and the Roman Businessmen for a Resident Foreigner (50/51 BCE) ║ Thyatira – Lydia
- Honors by Leather-cutters for the Leader of an Association of Romans (late I CE) ║ Thyatira – Lydia
- Honors (frag.) for a Curator of the Company of Romans (undated) ║ Thyatira – Lydia
- Dedication to Domitian by the Roman Settlers (88 CE) ║ Akmoneia area [Nais] – Phrygia
- Dedication to Zeus by Romans (88/89 CE) ║ Akmoneia area [Sebaste] – Phrygia
- Honors By Roman Settlers for a Roman (undated) ║ Akmoneia – Phrygia
- Honors by Roman Settlers for Lucius Arruntius Thyrsos (undated) ║ Akmoneia area [Synnada] – Phrygia
- Dedication by Romans for the People of Apameia (54-55 CE) ║ Apameia Kelainai – Phrygia
- Dedication to Vespasian by the Roman Settlers (65-69 CE) ║ Apameia Kelainai – Phrygia
- Honors by Roman Settlers for a Priest of Roma (I CE) ║ Apameia Kelainai – Phrygia
- Honors by Roman Settlers for Proclus (I CE) ║ Apameia Kelainai – Phrygia
- Honors by Roman Settlers for an Imperial Freedman (161-167 CE) ║ Apameia Kelainai – Phrygia
- Honors by the Sanhedrin of Romans and Other Groups for Apollonides (pre-212 CE) ║ Hierapolis – Phrygia
- Honors by Resident Romans and the People for Philemon (I CE) ║ Laodikeia on the Lykos – Phrygia
- Posthumous Honors by Romans and Greeks for Q. Pomponius Flaccus (I-II CE) ║ Laodikeia on the Lykos – Phrygia
- Honors by Italian Businessmen for the Consul Cocceius Nerva (36 BCE) ║ Ephesos – Ionia
- Dedication of a Statue of Emperor Claudius by Roman Businessmen (43/44 CE) ║ Ephesos – Ionia
- Dedication to the Emperor Claudius by Roman Businessmen (44 CE) ║ Ephesos – Ionia
- Honorary Statue for Lucius Agrius Publeianus by Italian Businessmen (60s BCE) ║ Ephesos – Ionia
- Honors by Romans and a Society (I-II CE) ║ Smyrna – Ionia
- Honors (frag.) by Romans and Other Groups (II CE) ║ Tralles – Caria
- Honors by Romans and Other Groups for Koibilos (II CE) ║ Tralles – Caria
- Honors by Milyadians, Romans, and Thracians for Augustus (5/4 BCE) ║ Milyas area – Pisidia
- Honors (frag.) by Roman Businessmen for a Person (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Honors by Romans for Maximus (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Honors by Roman Businessmen for Mas (?) (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Honors by Roman Businessmen for Mithres (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Honors by Roman Businessmen for Ge and Meleager (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Honors by Roman Businessmen for Astrania (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Funerary Honors by Businessmen for Chryseros (80/81 CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Funerary Honors by Roman Businessmen for Kallikles (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Funerary Honors by Roman Businessmen for Sosos (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Funerary Honors by Roman Businessmen for Alexandros (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Funerary Honors by Roman Businessmen for the Child Magas (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Funerary Honors by Roman Businessmen for Troilos (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Funerary Honors by Roman Businessmen for Tateis (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Funerary Honors by Roman Businessmen for Pankrates (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
- Funerary Honors by Roman Businessmen for Apollonios (I BCE-I CE) ║ Kibyra – Lycia
Delos island
- Honors by Romans, Merchants, and Shippers for Zenon (after 166 BCE)
- Dedication of a Monument Architrave by Italian Hermaists (?) (after 166 BCE)
- Dedication (frag.) of an Architrave by Italian Hermaists (?) (after 166 BCE)
- Series of Dedications by Italian Hermaists (?) (after 166 BCE)
- Honors (frag.) by Athenians, Romans, and Merchants for Dionysios (after 166 BCE)
- Dedication of a Structure by Italian Hermaists (?) (after 166 BCE)
- Honors by Athenians and Resident Romans for Epigenes (166-125 BCE)
- Honors by Berytian Poseidoniasts for Minatius the Roman Banker (ca. 150 BCE)
- Dedication to Mercury and Maia by Italian Hermaists (150-125 BCE)
- Dedication of an Altar to Maia by a Group of Italians (142-134 BCE)
- Dedication of a Temple to Mercury and Maia by Italian Hermaists (ca. 140 BCE)
- Honors by Athenians, Romans, and Foreigners for Theophrastos (126/125 BCE)
- Dedication to Apollo by Italian Apolloniasts (ca. 125 BCE)
- Dedication of a Clock and Altar by Competaliasts (after 125 BCE)
- Dedication to Zeus Eleutherios by Competaliasts (after 125 BCE)
- Honors by Athenians, Romans, Merchants and Shippers for Menophilos (124/123 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Merchants, and Shippers for Thrasippos (124/123 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Merchants and Shippers for Kalliphon (124/123 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Greeks, Merchants, and Shippers for Aropos (94/93 BCE)
- Honors by Athenians, Romans, and Foreigners for an Island Supervisor (123 or 101 BCE)
- Honors (frag.) by Athenians, Romans, and Foreigners for an Island Supervisor (before 118/117 BCE)
- Honors by Athenians, Romans, and Foreigners for Xenon (118/117 BCE)
- Honors by Athenians, Romans, and Greeks for Drakon (112/111 BCE)
- Honors by Athenians, Romans, and Other Greeks for Dionysios (110/109 BCE)
- Honors by Greeks and Italians for the Quaestor L. Cornelius Lentulus (after 110 BCE)
- Dedication of a Bench for Italians by Midas son of Zenon (ca. 105 BCE)
- Honors by Athenians, Romans, and Other Greeks for the Priest Ammonios (103-101 BCE)
- Dedication for Apollo and the Italians by Philostratos the Banker (1) (ca. 100 BCE)
- Dedication for Apollo and the Italians by Philostratos the Banker (2) (ca. 100 BCE)
- Honors by Italians for Philostratos the Banker (ca. 100 BCE)
- Honors (frag.) by Italian and Greek Businessmen for the Banker Gerillanus (ca. 100 BCE)
- Honors by Italians for Gaius Ofellius Farus (ca. 100 BCE)
- Dedication for Italians by Hermaists (ca. 100 BCE)
- Dedication of a Statue of Hermes (?) for Italians (ca. 100 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Merchants, and Shippers for the Banker Gerillanus (ca. 100 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Merchants and Workers for Lucius Aufidius (ca. 100 BCE)
- Dedication to the Gods by Competaliasts (ca. 100 BCE)
- Dedication of a Base by Competaliasts (ca. 100 BCE)
- Dedication (frag.) by Competaliasts (ca. 100 BCE)
- Membership List of Competaliasts (ca. 100-98 BCE)
- Honors by Italian Businessmen from Alexandria for the Legate Gaius Marius (99 BCE)
- Dedication to Pistis (Faith) by Competaliasts (98/97 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Greeks, Merchants, and Shippers for Aropos (ca. 96/5 BCE)
- Dedication (frag.) to the Gods by Competaliasts (96/95 BCE)
- Dedication (frag.) to Roma by Competaliasts (94 BCE)
- Dedication (frag.) to Herakles by Competaliasts (93 BCE)
- Honors by Greek and Italian Businessmen for L. Munatius Plancus (ca. 88 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Greeks, Merchants, and Shippers for Manlius (85-78 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Greeks, Merchants, and Shippers for Manius (85-78 BCE)
- Honors by Greek and Italian Businessmen for Aulus Terentius Varro (ca. 82 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Greeks, Merchants, and Shippers for Asklepiades (ca. 70 BCE)
- Dedication of a Temple and Statues by Italian Hermaists (57/56 BCE)
- Honors by Romans, Merchants, and Shippers for Alexandros (54/53 BCE)
- Honors (frag.) by Merchants and Shippers for Appuleius (51/50 BCE)
- Honors by Greeks, Romans, Merchants and Shippers (I BCE)
Other Greek islands
- Dedication to Aphrodite by Roman Businessmen (ca. 100 BCE) ║ Paphos on Cyprus – Southeastern islands
- Honors by Roman Businessmen for Koan Citizens and Julius Caesar (44 BCE) ║ Kos – Southeastern islands
Macedonia and Moesia