The Cities of Lydia

This chapter discusses the identity consciousness, religious beliefs, and cultural and economic life of the cities in Lydia under Roman rule. The integration of Lydian society into the Roman Empire took considerably longer than those of the coastal regions of Asia Minor. At the same time, the inhabitants of Roman Lydia benefited from the blessings of their geography famous for its agricultural productivity. Just as their ancestors had done, they continued to produce luxury goods, such as textiles, shoes, and precious stones. Music and dance dating back to the old Lydian kingdom were also fundamental performing arts in the cultural life of Roman Imperial Lydia. © Oxford University Press 2024.