Monuments of Aurelia Paulina and her portrayal of social change in Roman Asia Minor

Few women embody life during a period of social transition more than Aurelia Paulina of Perge in Asia Minor, a wealthy, non-senatorial woman, who was originally from Syria. Holding a unique position as an elite woman in the city at a time of a Syrian empress, Aurelia Paulina was well-placed to take advantage of fortuitous circumstances. A benefac- tress during the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries AD, Aurelia Paulina donated a decorated nymphaeum which highlighted the links between herself, the gods, and the imperial family. Aurelia Paulina represented both her ethnic background and her cultural identity while aligning herself with the most powerful family in the Roman Empire. The building inscrip- tion highlights her as the sole benefactor of the fountain structure indicating a potential shift in attitudes towards elite female power and influence. This paper analyzes the assertion of power communicated by Aurelia Paulina’s monuments and the unique dress choices conveying her Syrian ethnic identity.