Professions, Identity, and Romanization: Craftmanship in Palmyra and Rome in the 3rd Century CE

Craft associations are attested in Palmyra only on four inscriptions out of some hundreds. The four inscriptions are perfectly contemporary, and were engraved in those years when Odaenatus became “master of Palmyra” (rš du tdmwr). It was on imitation of the Roman society where the craft associations plaid an important role. In those very years the Emperor Aurelian built the walls of Rome summoning the craft associations to fulfill such a huge enterprise.