Hunting, bathing, having fun, laughing — That is living!

We shall examine ten cities: seven examples from the eastern Mediterranean, and three from western Europe. Our exploration will begin with Athens, and then move in a clockwise direction to Ephesus and Pergamon, Perge, Palmyra, Jerash, and Lepcis Magna. We shall then cross the Mediterranean to France, England, and Germany, to finish with a look at Nimes, London, and Trier (see the map, Figure 23.1). These cities raise questions about Roman cities that we should keep in mind as we explore our examples. Seven themes seem of particular interest. First, the blend of Roman culture with pre-existing cultures, and how this mix was expressed in the urban landscape will be key in the eastern region with its several thousand years of urban experience. Athens was a cultural heirloom for the Romans, a seat of revered Greek culture, but nonetheless the Romans introduced their favorite building types. Second, religious syncretisms, or the multiplicity of cults, result in variations of temple and tomb structures. In Ephesus and Pergamon, Egyptian cults mingled with Greek and Roman religions, whereas in Syrian Palmyra, the Classical mixes with the native Near Eastern. Third, the varying economic bases of towns, dependent on the geographic location of cities, may affect the appearance of cities, and the experiences of their inhabitants. Fourth, city layouts may vary, with newly founded cities having different types of plans from older, established cities. In addition, local topographies can affect city plans. Fifth, building types and plans, the elements of the physical world of the city: to what degree are they uniform throughout this region, to what degree do they differ? Sixth, the traditions of construction: to what degree were these techniques local, to what degree brought from Italy? Seventh and last, we are also interested in benefactors, imperial and local: who were they, and what did they hope to gain from their gifts to their city? In sum, what constitutes a Roman city? Can we indeed recognize a Roman city, no matter where we might be in the Empire?