In the Roman world, size was grounds for civic pride. The larger the population of the city and the grander and more numerous its public buildings, the greater the basis for boasting. Residents argued over whose temple or amphitheater was bigger. The loyalty of urban citizens to their city is clear in both Greek and Roman culture. For example, graffiti on a tavern wall in Italy shows the competitiveness: under the boast, “Pergamum, golden city,” is written “Rome, golden city.”4 Rome