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Province, 117 CE

Asia

Senatorial province (proconsul)Capital: EphesusRoman since 129 BCE

The single richest province in the empire, willed to Rome outright by its last king, Attalus III of Pergamon, in 133 BCE. Its governorship was the most prestigious senatorial posting a former consul could draw by lot — one rung below actually commanding an army. Ephesus outgrew the old royal capital Pergamon as the real seat of provincial business, its harbor handling trade for the whole Anatolian interior.

Bequeathed to Rome by King Attalus III of Pergamon in 133 BCE; formally organized as a province in 129 BCE once the revolt of the pretender Aristonicus was crushed.

Cities on the map

72 places on the map

Sources

  • Strabo, Geography 13.4
  • OGIS 338 (Attalus III's will)
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Aristonicus

Roman Maps shows the empire frozen at 11 August 117 CE, the day Trajan died — its moment of greatest territorial extent. Explore the full map →