Æ32 - Caracalla ΕΦΕϹΙΩΝ ΤΡΙϹ ΝΕΟΚΟΡΩΝ, ΚΑΙ ΤΗϹ ΑΡΤΕΜΙΔΟϹ

Ephesus held the title of neokoros — temple warden — three times over by Caracalla's reign, a distinction it wore aggressively in civic competition with Smyrna and Pergamon. The inclusion of Artemis in the civic title formula was specific to Ephesus, reflecting the temple's federal religious status across the province of Asia rather than simple local pride. These honorific titles were granted by Rome and fiercely litigated; cities occasionally lost them as political punishment.