WP 0005

IRT2021
Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania 2021

0343. Fragmentary dedication? to ?Vespasian

Description: Four blocks of brown limestone, two complete and two fragmentary (h: 0.42 x d: 0.51 with traces of cornice-moulding above). a) two blocks, together, length 1.19. b) one block, length: 0.71; c, adjoining b: w: 0.69 x h: 0.42 x d: 0.51.
Text: Inscribed on one face.
Letters: Lapidary capitals: 0.12-0.13.

Date: CE 69-79 (reign)

Findspot: Lepcis Magna: Probably re-used in the Fourth century wall.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location: Now lying loose beside the West Gate.

Interpretive

a
[--- Imp(eratoris)] Uespasiani C[aesaris Aug(usti) pont(ificis)] max(imi) tr(ibunicia) po[t(estate)]
[---] censoris
[---] co(n)s(ul) patronus dedicauit
[---] faciendi egerunt M(arcus) Aelius Rufus, L(ucius) Aelius Ae[---] (sic)

Diplomatic

a
[---....]UESPASIANIC[................]MAXTRPO[.]
[---]CENSORIS
[---]COSPATRONUSDEDICAUIT
[---]FACIENDIEGERUNTMAELIUSRUFUSLAELIUSAE[---](sic)

English translation

Translation by: J. M. Reynolds

a. [---] of [emperor] Vespasian Caesar Augustus [---]

b. [---] chief priest, holding tribunician power [---]

(as 351): Of [·· ? ··] censor [·· ? ··] consul, patron (all nominative) [·· ? ··] saw to the making [·· ? ··]

(as 482.b.): [·· ? ···· ? ··] dedicated (singular subject) [·· ? ··]lius Rufus, Lucius Aelius Ae[·· ? ··]

Commentary

The text was assembled by Silvestrini (art.cit.).

Bibliography: Part of line 1: Romanelli, 1925, 84; all of line 1 IRT, 1952, 343, whence IRT, 2009, 343; lines 2-4: CIL VIII, suppl.4, 1916 22671b; IRT, 1952, 351, whence IRT, 2009, 351; line 4 (end): Romanelli, 1925, 84, IRT, 1952, 482.bb, whence IRT, 2009, 482.b; combined, Silvestrini, 1985 283-287, whence AE 1987.990; EDH 012941; for BSR images see BSR Digital Collections.

Images

   Fig. 1. Ward-Perkins, 1948 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 48.XIII.4)

   Fig. 2. Ward-Perkins, 1948 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 48.XIII.5)

   Fig. 3. Ward-Perkins, 1948 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 48.XIII.7)

   Fig. 4. From left, 482, 343: Ward-Perkins, 1948 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 48.XIII.6)