Weitere ‹Statthaltergewichte› von Nikomedeia. Neue Ergebnisse zur Stadt- und Reichsgeschichte

Abstract

New and improved readings are offered for three ‹governor weights›, previously published in the Corpus Ponderum Antiquorum et Islamicorum, Turkey. They attest further names of hitherto unknown governors of the province of Pontus et Bithynia. Based on the 23 weights now known, made in Nikomedeia between 114 and 273/4, a number of central problems relating to this series are investigated: what significance did the function of legatus Augusti pro praetor Ponti et Bithyniae have in a senatorial career? Why did three such governors hold office as curatores rei publicae of Nikomedeia? Are there reasons for the remarkably uneven incidence of the weights throughout these 160 years? Why do some weights show traces of reengraving in the areas giving the years and the names of the agoranomoi? Finally, the weights, as well as papyri and coins, are used to identify the dies imperii of Emperor Decius and the development of his name.