Poseidonios son of Menandros from Bargylia : Local élite, polis religion and civic pride in the 2nd century BC

The few epigraphic documents from Bargylia in Karia provide us with a substantial amount of information about Poseidonios son of Menandros, a member of the city’s élite, who was certainly active at the time of the war against Aristonikos. A long honorary decree indicates Poseidonios’ remarkable civic and supra-civic standing. Along with other magistrates, he was rogator of decrees that advocated important changes in civic and religious matters. He placed his economic, relational and intellectual resources at the service of the well-being and status of his city, also in his relations with Rome. He suggested a fitting way to express the public charis and devotion to Artemis Kindyas, who had prodigiously shown her favour towards the city. In doing so, he also gave voice to the pride of a small community, for which he was able to carve out a more significant space in Karia.