The Aphrodisias Copy of Diocletian's Edict on Maximum Prices

Abstract

One group of fragments from the Aphrodisias copy of Diocletian's Edict on Maximum Prices has already been published in this Journal; and the discovery of some 150 new pieces in the Portico of Tiberius during the campaign of excavation in 1970 has also been announced; more in fact came to light in the same area in 1971 and 1972. Work has proceeded meanwhile on the assembly of what may be described as an enormous jig-saw puzzle in which many of the pieces are too heavy to move freely, and others too heavy to move at all without tackle. It will take some time to complete, but there seems a case for publishing now the somewhat idiosyncratic version of the imperial titles which headed the copy and one substantial section of the price list which it has been possible to recompose in large part. All the fragments used are stored in the Aphrodisias Depot.

Glass Making in the Greco-Roman World: Results of the ARCHGLASS project

“…The text contains six lines referring to glass, and only Alexandrian and Judaean glasses are mentioned by name (Erim and Reynolds, 1973). It is unclear from the text whether the names refer to production locations for the glass or broader glass categories (as was suggested by Barag (Barag, 1987)).…”

“…In relation to Judaean glass, the edict mentions 'vitri Judaici svirdis'. Svirdis has been interpreted as being either 'viridis' or 'subviridis' (Erim and Reynolds, 1973) meaning green or greenish glass. This does not mean, however, that all green glass or only green glass was made in Judaea, especially since the text also mentions Judaean plain glass cups and vessels.…”

Glass Making in the Greco-Roman World: Results of the ARCHGLASS project

“…Further literary evidence of glass production comes from the Edict on Maximum Prices issued by Diocletian in 301 AD. The text contains six lines referring to glass, and only Alexandrian and Judaean glasses are mentioned by name (Erim and Reynolds, 1973). It is unclear from the text whether the names refer to production locations for the glass or broader glass categories (as was suggested by Barag (Barag, 1987)).…”