Foreigners at Rome: Citizens and Strangers

375 Pages·2000·2.75 MB·English

by  David Noy

FOREIGNERS AT ROME

FOREIGNERS
AT ROME
C S
ITIZENS AND TRANGERS
David Noy
Duckworth
with
The Classical Press of Wales
First published in 2000 by
Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd.
61 Frith Street, London W1V 5TA
Distributor in the United States of America:
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Originated and prepared for press at
The Classical Press of Wales
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© 2000
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
permission of the publisher.
ISBN 0 7156 29522
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Typeset by Ernest Buckley, Clunton, Shropshire
Printed and bound in the UK by Antony Rowe Ltd., Chippenham, Wiltshire
To the memory of
Jean Norris Midgley
1914–1996

CONTENTS
Page
Introduction ix
Section I. Evidence and ancient attitudes
1. The evidence and the problems 1
i. Latin terminology 1
ii. Temporary and permanent residence at Rome 3
iii. Status 4
iv. The limitations of the evidence 4
v. Integration and separation 10
2. The demographic and legal background 15
i. The size of Rome’s whole population 15
ii. Natural demographic decrease 18
iii. The military population 19
iv. Fluctuations in immigration 22
v. Citizenship among foreigners at Rome 23
3. Attitudes to foreigners 31
i. Positive statements about the presence of foreigners at Rome 31
ii. Neutral statements 33
iii. Negative statements 34
iv. Foreign slaves 37
v. Expulsions of foreigners from Rome 37
vi. Expulsions of specific groups 41
vii. Encouragement of immigration 47
Section II. Moving to Rome
4. Who moved to Rome? 53
i. Patterns of migration 53
ii. Socio-economic background of migrants 56
iii. Where did immigrants come from? 57
iv. The gender of immigrants 60
v. The ages of immigrants 63
vi. The immigration of individuals and family groups 67
vii. Legal status of immigrants 75
5. Why did people move to Rome? 85
i. Evidence 85
vii
ii. Push and pull factors 86
iii. Types of motivation suggested by Seneca 90
iv. Education 91
v. Government and politics 97
vi. Provision of goods and services 110
vii. Family and religion 123
6. The practicalities of moving to Rome 141
i. How to get to Rome 141
ii. First impressions of Rome 144
iii. Where to go when you reached Rome 146
iv. Where to stay 149
v. Finding work 150
vi. Location of housing 151
Section III. Living at Rome
7. Aspects of foreigners’ lives at Rome 157
i. Group identity – and lack of it 157
ii. Stationes 160
iii. Contact with the homeland 164
iv. Homesickness 167
v. Language 169
vi. Names 179
vii. Cults 183
viii. Burial practices 187
8. Foreign groups at Rome 205
i. Gaul and Hispania 205
ii. Central and Eastern Europe 212
iii. Greece 223
iv. Asia Minor 227
v. Syria 234
vi. Egypt 245
vii. North Africa 251
viii. Jews 255
Conclusion 285
Appendix: A list of individual immigrants recorded in 289
inscriptions
Glossary 329
Abbreviations 331
Bibliography 333
Index 351
viii
INTRODUCTION
Leaving behind Nicaea in Bithynia while I was still a youth,
I went to the glorious city and the land of the Ausonians.
In hallowed Rome I taught accounts and measures.
I, Basileus, obtained the tomb, the work of my mind.
IGUR 1176
In the second year of the dictatorship of C. Caesar,
with M. Antonius as magister equitum [47 BCE],
the site of the tomb was bought from Q. Modius L.f. Qui.
24 feet wide, 24 feet deep.
C. Numitorius C.l. Nicanor, by birth a Theban, eye doctor.
Numitoria C.l. Philumina, by birth a Phrygian.
C. Numitorius C.l. Stabilio, by birth a native slave.
P. Opitreius C.l. Butas, by birth a Smyrnan.
They built the foundation. In their tomb is buried:
Numitoria C.l. Erotis, by birth a Carthaginian.
Q. Numitorius C.l. Isio is buried there.
AE (1972) 14
Papiria Rhome made this (monument) for herself while alive, and for
Papiria Cladilla aged 19, and for P. Papirius Proculus aged 13(?), her
children. Here the wretched(?) mother held two funerals, and she buried
their bones with rites which are not just. For at Rome a falling roof-tile
carried off Proculus. The deceased Cladilla lay on her funeral pyre at
Sipontum. Your parental wishes did you harm. The cruel gods gave more
good things so they could take more away. Also for P. Papirius Cladus her
husband and for P. Papirius Celerio and Papiria Hispanilla her ex-slaves.
CIL iii 2083 (Salona)
Flavia Valeria placed this inscription for her well-deserving daughter
Flavia Viventia, who lived 18 years. She had her burial on 31st July. This
girl came from the province of Pannonia. She (lived) with her husband
one year 8 months. In peace.
ICUR 13155
Be of good cheer Serenus, child, untimely dead, aged 4 years 8 months
19 days. Fuscinus the emperor’s provocator his father and Taon his
mother, Egyptians, made this (tomb), being left behind.
IGUR 939 = ICUR 4032
ix