Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/311389 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Citation: 
[Journal:] The Journal of European Economic History (JEEH) [ISSN:] 2499-8281 [Volume:] 53 [Issue:] 2 [Year:] 2024 [Pages:] 69-103
Publisher: 
Associazione Bancaria Italiana, Roma
Abstract: 
During the Hadrianic period (117-138 CE), Attalos Adrastos of Aphrodisias left two generous endowments to fund civic and reli- gious services. Although private donations are common means of civic up-keeping, at a closer look Adrastos employed financial de- vices that allowed him to profit from his own gifts both in terms of social and economic assets. The present paper will present Adras- tos' benefactions as exemplar of the donors' financial behaviour, uncovering their personal economic interests lying behind appar- ently selfless euergetic acts. Through a careful re-reading of the in- scriptions in their historic context, I will prove that ancient donations were not conceived as means of spreading wealth more equally within the urban fabric, but rather of accumulating material and im- material capital more firmly in the hands of the benefactors and their kins by creatively employing conscious investment-schemes to minimize the expenses while maximizing the profits.
Document Type: 
Article

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