People Abroad in Lugdunum

Abstract

Since its founding, Lugdunum had a complex, diverse population. The presence of foreigners was strong, though we do not know their exact proportion within the colony. The first inhabitants from Campania and Italy were joined by the Gallic components gathered around the Federal Altar, and this established its roots. The status of capital and the presence of the monetary workshop demanded an important military presence. We have the testimony of the inscriptions of the legions of Germania stationed there. Finally, the group of foreigners from the East or from Greece and their descendants living in Lyon had a significant impact on the economic life of the capital. However, apart from a few iconographic documents, most of our knowledge of these immigrant populations comes from epigraphy.