Diodorus Pasparus

Diodorus Pasparus (Ancient Greek: Διόδωρος Ἡρώιδου Πάσπαρος, romanized: Diodōros Hērōidou Pasparos, fl. 85-69 BC), son of Heroides, was the leading statesman and benefactor at Pergamon, in the period of the Mithridatic Wars, when the city's place within the Roman province of Asia was contested. He is known solely from a series of inscribed honorific decrees. The earliest of these is IGR IV 292 which belongs in the late 80s or 70s BC. IGR IV 293 dates to 69 BC. The others are IGR IV 294, IPergamon II 256, and MDAI(A) 35, p. 409, no. 3, which cannot be precisely dated, but all belong around 69 BC.^[1] These decrees honour him for a range of activities, including embassies to Rome, service as gymnasiarch, revival of festivals, and building works.

Diodorus is part of a class of civic leaders in the province in this period, like Aulus Aemilius Zosimus of Priene, Theophanes of Mytilene, and Theopompus of Cnidus, whose close connections with Rome and regular benefactions helped to restore the prosperity of the province's cities, thwart social unrest, and maintain good relations with Rome. Their actions laid the foundations for the close relationship between Roman power and the civic elites of Asia, which endured through the Roman empire.^[2]