WP 0005

IRT2021
Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania 2021

0058. Dedication to Valens

Description: Rectangular base (w: 0.63 x h: 1.15 x d: 0.56) of grey limestone.
Text: Inscribed on one face within a recessed panel (die, w: 0.52 x h: 1.00
Letters: Fourth century capitals: 0.06.

Date: CE 364-367 (reign)

Findspot: Sabratha: Forum, in situ within the north west angle of the Curia. Uniform with 57 and closely related to 472, 473.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location: Findspot

Interpretive

Iustitia pariter ac pieta-
te caelesti adq(ue) Romanạ[e]
felicitatis perpetuo
fundatori d(omino) n(ostro)
5Ualenti uictori-
osissimo ac totius or-
bis Augusto
Antonius Dracon-
tius u(ir) c(larissimus) agens uicem
10praefectorum prae-
torio per Africanas
prouincias numini e[t]
maiestati eius semper dic̣[a-]
tissimus

Diplomatic

IUSTITIAPARITERACPIETA
TECAELESTIADQROMAN.[.]
FELICITATISPERPETUO
FUNDATORIDN
5UALENTIUICTORI
OSISSIMOACTOTIUSOR
BISAUGUSTO
ANTONIUSDRACON
TIUSUCAGENSUICEM
10PRAEFECTORUMPRAE
TORIOPERAFRICANAS
PROUINCIASNUMINIE[.]
MAIESTATIEIUSSEMPERDI.[.-]
TISSIMUS

English translation

Translation by: J. M. Reynolds

To one who is in justice and sense of duty alike heavenly, and perpetual founder of Roman good fortune, our lord Valens, most victorious, and Augustus of the whole world; Antonius Dracontius, outstanding man (i.e. member of the Roman Senate), deputy for the praetorian prefects throughout the African provinces, always most devoted to his divine power and majesty.

Commentary

Dracontius: PLRE I, Dracontius 3.

Bibliography: Bartoccini, 1950, 32, 2 , whence AE 1950.148b; IRT, 1952, 58, whence IRT, 2009, 58; from these EDH 021892; for BSR images see BSR Digital Collections.

Images

   Fig. 1. Ward-Perkins, 1946 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 46.V.23)

   Fig. 2. Ward-Perkins, 1947 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 47.IV.28)