Letter of Gordian III to Aphrodisias
created: transcription (Reynolds)
source date: 243 C.E.
language: en; grc
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Αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ Μᾶρκος Ἀντώνιος Γορδιανὸς Εὐσεβὴς Εὐτυχὴς Σεβαστός ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας τὸ Ϛ ὕπατος τὸ β πατὴρ πατρίδος ἀνθύπατος Ἀφροδεισιέων τοῖς ἄρχουσι καὶ τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ χαίρειν Τὸ τῆς Ἀσίας βούλευμα τὸ καὶ ὑμᾶς καταστῆσαν εἰς κοινωνίαν τῆς πρὸς τοὺς ἀτυχήσαντας ἐπικουρίας οὐκ ἐπίταγμα ἦν οὐδὲ γὰρ οἷόν τε ἐπιτάγματι χρῆσθαι πρὸς τοὺς ἐλευθέρους ἀλλὰ πολείτευμα χρηστὸν ἐν μετουσίᾳ καθιστᾶν ὑμᾶς φιλανθρώπου πράξεως καὶ οἵης καὶ καθ’ ὑμᾶς πράττετε ἐν κατασκευῇ τινος οἰκοδομήματος συνεπιλαμβανόμενοι τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῖς δεομένοις ὑπὲρ δὲ τοῦ μέλλοντος ἥκιστα χρὴ δεδιέναι τοῖς γὰρ ἐλευθέροις οὗ πλεῖστον μετέχετε μόνος ἐστὶν πρὸς τὰ τοιαῦτα νόμος τὸ ἑκούσιον ἐπρέσβευον Αὐρήλιος Κτησίας καὶ Αἴλιος Καλλικράτης εὐτυχεῖτε θεῖα ἀντιγραφὴ κατὰ Λαοδικεῖς ἡ προτεταγμένη

Imperator Caesar M. Antonius Gordianus, Pius, Felix, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, holding the tribunician power for the sixth time, consul for the second, father of his country, proconsul, to the Magistrates, Council and People of the Aphrodisians, greetings.

The resolution of Asia which associated you too with those assisting the victims of misfortune was not a command, for it is not possible to issue a command to those who are free, but a good administrative act placing you among those who take part in beneficent activity of a type which you undertake also among yourselves when you help with preparations for the erection of a house for those in need. And for the future there is no necessity for fear; for among free men, and you have a very great share of freedom, the only law in such matters is what you are willing to do. Aurelius Ktesias and Aelius Kallikrates carried out the duties of ambassadors. Farewell

The above (?) is the divine (imperial) reply in the matter of (?) the Laodiceans.

[...] 66.608 69.468 and unnumbered fragments.

[...] 21 whence [...] 32.1097 , [...] 1983.382 , [...] 1984.875 , [...] 60 ; [...] 8.103.