Tiberius Claudius Aristion

Tiberius Claudius Aristion was a wealthy citizen of the city of Ephesus at the turn of the 1st to the 2nd century AD, who had several buildings built in the city.

Aristion is known through numerous inscriptions, but also through its mention in a letter of the younger Pliny ( ep. 6, 31, 3), who was present around 104 AD at a trial in which Aristion of unnamed opponents before Emperor Trajan was charged. Aristion was able to defend itself successfully. Pliny characterizes him as princeps Ephesiorum, homo munificus et innoxie popularis (freely translated: "a leading figure among the Ephesians, a generous person who has gained popularity in a harmless way").

As his name indicates, Aristion had Roman citizenship . During Domitian's reign he had already taken on the important function of high priest at the newly built temple for the imperial cult . In addition, he held the post of grammateus tou demou (literally: "writer of the people", the most important office of the city administration).

Nymphaeum Traiani (reconstructed)

The most important buildings he built were:

• The so-called Nymphaeum Traiani , a magnificent fountain on the important connecting road (so-called Kuretenstraße ) in the center of Ephesus. In addition to the city goddess Artemis , the fountain was dedicated to Emperor Trajan , whose statue was also placed in the central niche of the facade. Today an architectural sample of the Nymphaeum has been set up again.

• Another nymphaeum (the so-called "street fountain") in the upper part of the city.

• A water pipe that led to these two wells. It was 210 stadiums (approx. 40 km) long and was named after Aristion, but administered by the city.

• Participation in the expansion of the "Hafen Thermen ".

• Construction supervision for the completion of the Celsus library .

Aristion was married to Iulia Lydia Laterane, who apparently helped finance some of his buildings. A sarcophagus with a male skeleton and a portrait head made of marble, excavated a few years ago on Kuretenstrasse , was proposed to be attributed to Aristion. His grave may originally have been east of the Nymphaeum Traiani.

literature

• Hilke Thür: Portrait of an imperial priest and patron from Ephesus . In: Forum Archaeologiae 7, 1998 ( online )
• Hilke Thür (Ed.): ... and beautified the city ... An Ephesian priest of the imperial cult in his environment . ÖAI, Vienna 1997. ISBN 3-900305-18-8