Epigraphy honoring benefactors allows for understanding that in the 1stand 2ndcenturies CE Asia Minor experienced unprecedented levels of benefaction. Elite community members were mostly responsible for the benefactions, sometimes guilds too but on a different scale.Thus far scholars have cited this unprecendented benefaction to, essentially, egos by saying these occurances happened so theindividual could receive honor. This thesis states While this may apply in some or perhaps all cases, it is not plausable ego gratification alone would have driven such a trend: the indiviuals who donated benefaction funds did so with the intent of gaining tourist revenue for their cities by attracting tourists.The Pax Romana,
