Euergesia in the cities of lykia and pamphylia in Antiquity

IV EUERGESIA IN THE CITIES OF LYKIA AND PAMPHYLIA IN ANTIQUITY The Greeks did not honour their ancestors, in the fifth century BC. who fought heroically for the freedom of the state, because Tip/n was regarded shameful. But with time they considered that they were not doing justice to their ancestors and tıurı began to be the most desirable aim. This concept of tiut|, associated with the competitiveness of the Greek national character, formed the basis of euergesia. In the Hellenistic period, these features passed to the city states in Asia Minor and continued developing in association with the Anatolian patriotism. Althaugh the cities in Asia Minor were under the Roman domination, they also had sovereignty in their internal affairs. They could legislate (autonomia) and support themselves on their own sources (autarkeia). Public service was discharged by the richer citizens on their own expense. This behavior was regarded as honourable and it could bring on higher degrees of honour. This prestigious way of living, then, made this elite class spend voluntarily more money in addition to the expenses while doing their public service for most of the activities necessary for the city and people. They voluntarily provided food and money in enormous amounts, covering the ambassy expenses, the setting up fetes and competitions and the embellishment of the cities with huge buildings such as theatres, palaestra, markets, wrestling schools, council-chambers etc.. They even donated their riches for establishing foundations for the welfare of the city. This elite class was called euergetai and their activities euergesiai. For acknowledgement to these activities and encourage new euergesiai, the cities were issuing decrees which honoured and praised the euergetai and granted them golden garlands, bronze icons, the privilege of sitting in the front-seats in the public games and eating at the prytaneion. These individuals were regarded as patrons, saviors and founders of the city. Euergesia was mainly for the basic needs of the people during the Hellenistic period. However, the wealth and profusion of Pax Romana brought euergesia to the top of the list of expenditure for luxury and comfort. An euergetes had to have wealth, generousity and moral principles. Such a person won renown as kccXoc Kal cVyaGoç, a good and virtious person, and was titled as the mother, or father, or daughter, or son of the city. The efforts made for the benefit of the city by the ancestors of the euergetes were also important, for he felt impelled to do more. Certainly, not only they received honours and won titles, they also played significant roles in the administration of their city and even in the Lycian League. Moreover, they turned into leading classes in the 1st and 2nd. centuries AD.