Friendship and Rivalry: Local Relations and Cultural Environment in Constantinople and Nicomedia in the Light of Libanius' Orations and Letters

Nicomedia and Constantinople, the two largest cities of Roman Empire on Marmara coast, drew attention as very rich developed metropoleis in 3rd 4th centuries. These cities, which were successor capitals, also attracted aristocrats, scholars, orators statesmen period with their cultural environment. The sophist Libanius Antioch, who lived both these gives valuable information about cities. Orations letters provide quite detailed remarkably interesting topics such friendship relations, local rivalries factions, schools, educators, social networks policies emperors great By putting center, this study aims to show relations Constantinople century, well socio-cultural environment differences between In addition, contributing factors that allowed compete new residence emperors, until devastating earthquakes Nicomedia, discussed.