New Inscriptions from Perge 4: The Procurator Aurelius Heraclida (Heraklides) Honors Emperor Diocletian in Perge Neue Inschriften aus Perge 4: Der Procurator Aurelius Heraclida (Heraklides) ehrt Kaiser Diocletian in Perge
Libri (Turkey), sa.12, ss.87-99, 2026 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.5281/zenodo.21699434
- Dergi Adı: Libri (Turkey)
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.87-99
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Aurelius Heraclida, Diocletian, Inscription, Lycia-Pamphylia, Perge
- İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This article examines a new Latin honorific inscription documented during the 2024 excavation season along the East Street of Perge, carved on a block reused as spolia. The inscription honors Emperor Diocletian with the title Restitutor Orbis Terrarum and identifies the dedicator as Aurelius Heraclida, who holds the titles vir egregius, ducenarius, and procurator Lyciae-Pamphyliae. The study first evaluates the epigraphic features of the inscription before discussing the political and ideological background of the title Restitutor Orbis Terrarum within the context of Diocletianic restoration ideology. The identity of Aurelius Heraclida is analyzed in detail using the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire (PLRE) alongside other textual sources, presenting compelling evidence that he may be identical to the vir perfectissimus and dux Aurelius Heraclida known from an inscription in Udruh (Arabia province). The variations in honorific titles between the two documents are assessed within the framework of Late Roman career progression and rank hierarchy. Furthermore, Heraclida’s sphere of authority is reinterpreted in light of the administrative and military structure of the province of Lycia-Pamphylia in the late 3rd century CE. Consequently, this study provides new data regarding provincial administration, military-administrative reforms, and the reception of imperial ideology in Asia Minor during the early Tetrarchy.