Although they present definite characteristics that distinguish them from those of Rome and other parts of the Empire, Anatolian portraits are not usually regarded as a fully homogeneous group. On the other hand, several important centres such as Aphrodisias, Ephesus, Side and Pergamon must be recognised as they produced at various times groups of remarkable portraits that can justifiably take their place among the best that Roman and, above ali, early Byzantine portrait art created (l).Indeed, there can be littie doubt that the best late portraits from the fourth and fifth centuries come from one of these centres, and particularly from Aphrodisias.