Description: Fragments of two or more uniform panels of grey marble ( w:
not calculable x h:
0.405 x d:
0.041).
The surviving dimensions correspond exactly to those of the recess which contained the dedicatory inscription of the quadruple
tetrapylon
base in the Portico behind the Theatre, a monument of the characteristic Severan materials and workmanship, which may be conjectured
to have been dedicated to Septimius Severus, Julia Domna, Caracalla and Geta.
Some of the surviving fragments, here attributed to Septimius Severus and Caracalla, could equally well refer to any of the
four members of the Severan dynasty.
Text: Inscribed within a moulded border.
Letters: Rustic capitals: 0.09.
Date: CE 198-209 (reign)
Findspot:
Lepcis Magna: Regio V,
Found in or near the Theatre.
Original location: Portico behind the Theatre
Last recorded location:
Findspot
Interpretive
a
Imp[(eratori) Caes(ari)] diu[i Marci filio] diu[i Antonini Pii nepoti diui H]adrian[i pr]onep[oti diui Traiani Parthici abnepoti
diui]
Ṇ[eruae adnepoti L(ucio) Septimio Seuero Pio Pertinaci] Aug(usto) [Arab]ico A[diabenico Parthico m]axim[o Lepticani pu]bli[ce]
b
[I]mp(eratoris) [C]aes(aris) L(uci) Ṣẹp̣t[im]i Seueri Pii Pert(inacis) [Au]g̣(usti) Arab(ici) [Adiab(enici) Parth(ici)
max(imi) fil(lio) diui Marci nep(oti) diui Pii pronep(oti) diui Hadriani abnep(oti)]
diui Traiani Part[hi]ci et di[ui Neruae adnep(oti) Imp(eratori) Caes(ari) M(arco) Aurellio Antonino Aug(usto) Parthico maximo
Lepcitani] publice
Diplomatic
a
IMP[.....]DIU[...........]DIU[.......................]ADRIAN[...]ONEP[..................................]
.[........................................]AUG[....]ICOA[..................]AXIM[............]BLI[..] b
[.]MP[.]AESL...T[..]ISEUERIPIIPERT[..].ARAB[..........................................................]
DIUITRAIANIPART[..]CIETDI[...............................................................]PUBLICE
English translation
Translation by: J. M. Reynolds
a. To emperor [Caesar, son] of deified [Marcus, grandson of] deified [Antoninus Pius], great grandson [of deified Hadrian,
great great grandson of deified] N[erva, Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax] Augustus, [Uictor in Arab]ia, victor in A[diabene],
greatest [Uictor in Parthia], the Lepcitanians publicly.
b. [To the son] of emperor Caesar Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pert[inax Au]gustus, victor in Arabia, [Uictor in Adiabene,
greatest victor in Parthia, grandson of deified Marcus, great grandson of deified Pius, great great grandson of deified Hadrian],
great great great grandson of deified Trajan, victor in Parthia and of deified [Nerva, Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurellius Antoninus
Augustus, greatest victor in Parthia, the Lepcitanians] publicly.
Bibliography: IRT, 1952, 398, whence IRT, 2009, 398, whence EDH 059317; for BSR images see BSR Digital Collections.
Images
Fig. 1. Ward-Perkins, 1948 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 48.XXIV.35)
Fig. 2. Ward-Perkins, 1948 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 48.XXIV.36)
Fig. 3. Ward-Perkins, 1948 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 48.XXIV.37)
