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The inscribed base of a statue of Iulius Menekles Diophantus, neocoros of the cult of the emperor at Smyrna (3rd century A.D.).
May good fortune attend. In beauty and size the first and most famous city of Asia, the capital, three times neocoros in accordance with the decision of the most sacred council (The Roman Senate), the adornment of Ionia and his beloved home country, Smyrna, (has honored) Julius Menaces Diophantus, chief priest of the Imperial cult in Asia [= Asiarch], who organized gladiator games including fights with sharp weapons and lasting five consecutive days”. [translation from a sign at the site of Smyrna]
The title "neocoros" is here used of an elite person who had the honor of officiating at the imperial cult temple at Smyrna. It was also used as a title of cities who had been granted permission to construct a temple for the cult of the Emperor. Smyrna received this title three times! Pergamum and Ephesus took the title twice.
