The Roman Imperial Cult in Smyrna

Year 2012, , 385 - 402, 01.08.2012

Murat Kılıç

https://doi.org/10.37879/belleten.2012.385

Abstract

The origins of the imperial cult in Smyrna date back to the Hellenistic period. It is a fact that political concerns were effective in the generation of such cults. Predicting the super power of the future and proving to be a loyal ally whilst acting in satisfactory behaviors were essential factors. The right preference made between two fighting or contending powers ensured that a city would benefit from various privileges in the future. For example, Symrna, which had established a cult in the city previously on behalf of Stratonice, the mother of Antiochus II of Seleucid dynasty, would do the same by building a temple in the name of the dty of Rome for the first time in Asia in 195 BC, after recognizing the rising power. Later on, while giving permission to the provinces that wanted to establish an imperial cult, the Roman emperors and the Senate would consider first, their relationships with Rome in the past and second, their origins. Smyrna, building its relationships with the Roman state on a solid basis, was granted the title of neokoros three times by the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Hadrianus and Caracalla, respectively. In this essay, the development of the Roman imperial cult in Smyrna is discussed within the historical process outlined above. An attempt has been made to put forth new opinions about the issue by discussing the academicians’ evaluations on the imperial cult, which apparently was effectively executed in Smyrna between the first and third centuries AD, with the support of epigraphic and numismatic evidences.

Keywords

Smyrna, Izmir, neokoros, Roman imperial cult, the cult of Tiberius, Livia and Senate, the cult of Zeus Acraeus/Hadrian, the cult of Rome/Caracalla

Smyrna’da Roma İmparatorluk Kültü

Abstract

Smyrna’da, imparatorluk kültünün kökenleri, Helenistik Döneme kadar uzanır. Bu tür kültlerin oluşmasında, siyasi kaygıların etkili olduğu bir gerçektir. Geleceğin süper gücünü görmek ve onu memnun edici davranışlarda bulunurken sadık bir müttefik olduğunu kanıtlamak önemli olan unsurlardır. Savaşan ya da çekişen her iki güç arasında yapılacak doğru bir tercih, ileride bir şehrin çeşitli ayrıcalıklardan yararlanmasını sağlamaktaydı. Örneğin, daha önce Seleukos Hanedanından Antiokhos Il’nin annesi Stratonike adına kentte bir kült oluşturan Smyrna, yükselen gücü görerek aynı davranışı, M.Ö. 195 yılında Asia’da ilk kez Roma şehri adına bir tapmak inşa etmekle sergileyecektir. İlerleyen süreçte, Roma imparatorları ve Senato, imparatorluk kültü kurmak isteyen kentlere izin verirken, ilk olarak bunların geçmişte Roma’yla olan ilişkilerini, ikincil olarak da kökenlerini göz önünde bulunduracaklardır. Roma devletiyle ilişkilerini sağlam temellere dayandıran Smyrna, sırasıyla Roma imparatorları Tiberius, Hadrianus ve Caracalla tarafından üç kez neokoros unvanıyla onurlandırılacaktır. Bu makalede, yukarıda ana hatları belirtilen tarihsel süreç içerisinde, Roma imparatorluk kültünün Smyrna kentindeki gelişimi tartışılmaktadır. Smyrna’da, İ.S. 1. ve 3. yüzyıllar arasında etkin bir şekilde yürütüldüğü anlaşılan imparatorluk kültü konusunda akademisyenlerin yapmış olduğu değerlendirmeler, epigrafik ve nümismatik kanıtların desteğinde ele alınarak konu hakkında yeni düşünceler ortaya konulmaya çalışılmıştır.

Keywords

Smyrna, İzmir, neokoros, Roma imparatorluk kültü, Tiberius, Livia ve Senato Kültü, Zeus Akraios/Hadrianus Kültü, Roma/Caracalla Kültü

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