The imperial presence in Dalmatian epigraphy from Decius to Diocletian. A note on the epigraphic landscape

The goal of this paper is to analyze Imperial power visibility in the provinces during the second half of the 3rd century, when the so-called crisis was at its peak and a new order was reestablished, even if temporary, thanks to the initiative of the Dalmatian Diocletian. The “civilisations de l’épigraphie” is possibly the best way to verify the imperial visibility in the city or outside it in this period. In comparison with Gordian III and the two Philips, the previous emperors, starting from Decius, the number of epigraphes of imperial family members massively decreases inside urban contexts, while it is still high along the roads, thanks to Miliaria. That situation does not change during the Tetrarchy, when we would expected a major display of imperial power.