TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > The third-century crisis and the inscriptions of Aphrodisias
- Crisis 3rd century universal plenty of inscriptions in above city that hardly suffered
- 250 – 550 only 250 inscriptions as opposed to 15000 in previous 300 yrs – lack of benefactors and stylistically more public record, decorative value, aesthetic ceremonial than political.
- Progressive weakening of local politics- hands of imperial governor Aphrodisias – traditional chief magistrate last inscription 284-301 and monumental honour naming council 360s. Urban elite no longer compete for office
- Empire wide phenomenon but at different rates
- Indian summer of inscriptions middle fifth to middle 6th centuries – more inscriptions commemorating benefactors and the ‘father of the city’. Inscriptions come an end around 600 AD – later ones are ecclesiastical or funerary – approaching end pf Aphrodisias as a classical city.
- Peaks of building activity in the West and the East in 5th century – church building Aquitaine peaked 6th century
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