Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book introduces the public places of the cities of western Asia Minor, which were shaped primarily by power relations between mass and elite. It investigates how Roman governors understood the cityscapes of Asia Minor. Governors carried out their chief duties in public, often before large audiences of provincials. The book explores the ceremonies surrounding a governor's arrival, which were orchestrated by the host city's leading notables to present a carefully constructed image of the community and its place in the Empire. It describes the techniques of frame analysis to consider how the settings in which governors tried cases molded local perceptions of their authority. The book borrows concepts from actor-network theory to investigate the complex social negotiations that surrounded both visiting governors and provincial cityscapes during festivals.