Jewish Places of Assembly

“Lucius Antonius, the son of Marcus, proquaestor, and propraetor, to the magistrates, Senate, and people of Sardis, greetings. Our Jewish citizens have come to me and demonstrated that they have had an assembly of their own, according to their ancestral laws, from the beginning, as well as a place of their own where they decide their affairs and controversies with one another. Upon their petition to me, therefore, that these things might be lawful for them, I determined that their privileges be preserved and that they be permitted to do so accordingly.” [ . . . ]

The decree of the people of Sardis: “This decree was made by the Senate and people, upon the proposing of the magistrates. Whereas the Jewish citizens who have been living in our city from the beginning have consistently maintained many great privileges by the people and have come now to the Senate and the people and entreated that, since their laws and liberty have been reinstated to them by the Senate and the Roman people, they may assemble together, conduct their polity, and adjudicate their legal disputes among one another according to their customary practices, and that a place may be given them where they may gather together with their wives and children and offer their ancestral prayers and sacrifices to God. Now the Senate and people have decreed that they may assemble together on appointed days and practice those things that are in accordance with their own laws; and moreover, that a place be set apart for them by the magistrates for building and habitation, one that they shall accept as suitable for that purpose; and that the market overseers of the city shall take care that suitable foods are brought into the city for them.”