ABSTRACT
Debates over the involvement of Asian cities in the promotion of the imperial cult continue. Little attention has been focused on the aspirations of Laodikeia on the Lycus for membership in the select group of provincial cities awarded the special status of neokoros, imperial cult guardian. A recently published inscription from Laodikeia has problematized the already-complicated history of the neokorate award to Laodikeia and prompts a re-examination of Laodikeia’s efforts to gain the prize. The elements of Tacitus’s comments on the initial conferring of the award (on Smyrna) provide a template for discerning the concerted efforts of the city over a considerable period to position itself to gain this imperial favor.
