Editing Lugdunum (section)

==Growth and prosperity in the first centuries of the Empire==
[[File:Aqueducchapo02.JPG|thumb|[[Aqueduct of the Gier]]]]
In the 2nd century, Lugdunum prospered and grew to a population of 40,000 to 200,000 persons.<ref>''L'Express''. No. 3074 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> Four [[aqueduct (water supply)|aqueducts]] brought water to the city's [[fountain]]s, [[public bathing|public baths]], and wealthy homes. The aqueducts were well engineered and included several [[siphon]]s. 
{{Expand French|topic=geo|Aqueducs antiques de Lyon|date=June 2016}}

It continued to be a provincial capital with additional government functions and services such as the mint and customs service. Lugdunum had at least two [[Banking in ancient Rome|bank]]s and became the principal manufacturing center for pottery, metal working, and weaving in Gaul. Lyonnais [[terra cotta]], [[pottery]] and wine were traded throughout Gaul, and many other items were crafted for export.

The city itself was run by a "senate" of [[Decurion (administrative)|decurion]]s (the ''ordo decurionum'') and a hierarchy of magistrates: [[quaestor]]s, [[aedile]]s, and [[duumvir]]s. The social classes of the time consisted of the decurions at the top, who could aspire to Senate status, followed by the knights ([[equites]]), and the Augustales, six of whom were in charge of the municipal imperial cult. This latter status was the highest distinction to which a wealthy freedman could aspire. Many of the wealthy merchants and craftsmen were freedmen. Below them were the workmen and slaves.

The Rhône and Saône rivers were navigable, as were most of the rivers of Gaul, and river traffic was heavy. The Lyonnais company of boatmen (''nautae'') was the largest and "most honored" in Gaul. Archeological evidence suggests the right bank of the Saône had the largest concentration of wharves, quays and warehouses. Lyonnais boatmen dominated the wine trade from Narbonensis and Italy, as well as oil from Spain, to the rest of Gaul.

The heavy concentration of trade made Lugdunum one of the most cosmopolitan cities of Gaul, and inscriptions attest to a large foreign-born population, especially Italians, Greeks, and immigrants from the oriental provinces of [[Asia Minor]] and [[Syria-Palestine]].

There is evidence of numerous temples and shrines in Lugdunum. Traditional Gallic gods like mallet-bearing [[Sucellus]] and the [[mother goddess]]es called the [[Matres]] (depicted with [[cornucopia]]e) continued to be worshiped somewhat [[syncretism|syncretistically]] along with the Roman gods. Additional religious cults came with the oriental immigrants, who brought the eastern [[mystery religion]]s to the Rhône valley. A major shrine of the [[Phrygia]]n goddess [[Cybele]] was built in nearby Vienne, and she also seems to have found special favor in Lugdunum in the late 1st century and 2nd century.