Local Roman Women in Pontus and Bithynia

This paper is about how women in Pontus et Bithynia appear with Roman names, even with names imitating tria nomina, in honorific and funeral inscriptions set up to themselves, their sons, fathers or their husbands. It has been commonly believed that Greeks were reluctant or skeptic towards the influence from Rome, and provincials in Greek communities made an effort to uphold their Greek cultural identity. That is often true. But the use of Roman names to female members of the family was one way to demonstrate a belonging to the Roman community and it shows how the influence from Rome affected one of the strongest markers of identity, how one refers to oneself and one's children.