Honorific Inscriptions and Their Pontic Recipients

Abstract

This article discusses the phenomenon of public munificence as seen in the Greek cities on the western/northern Black Sea coast between the fifth c. BC and the third c. AD. The analysis of over three hundred local honorific inscriptions demonstrated that certain trends, such as the growing popularity of euergetism in the second c. AD, closely resembled those seen in other communities of the Eastern Mediterranean. Nonetheless, the occurrence of particular deeds in the material that was analysed deviates from the contemporaneous standards of the Eastern Mediterranean. More expensive contributions, such as building funds or large direct donations, were relatively rare in western and northern Pontic Greek cities, possibly due to their precarious political and financial position. The material that was analysed showcases that the Greek poleis from the northwest Pontic region initially experienced constant pressure from the hinterland tribes. Records of envoys to natives decline in number between the Hellenistic and Roman periods, proving that, thanks to the pax Romana, the barbarian threat was substantially reduced.