Description: Eight fragments of a moulded marble
base, found scattered and recomposed, and since again scattered
(together, w:
0.95 x h:
0.62).
Text: Inscribed on one face: line 1, on the upper edge, lines 2-3,
on one of the upper mouldings; lines 4-14, within a moulded panel (die, h:
0.43 wide)
from which a previous text has been erased; line 15, below the die.
Letters: Fourth century CE capitals: line 1, 0.045; lines 2-3, 0.02: lines 4-14, 0.04-0.05; line 15, 0.02.
Date: 8-9 June 378 CE: GODOT (internal date)
Findspot:
Lepcis Magna: ,
Forum Severianum, East Portico.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location:
Findspot
Interpretive
[Be]nedictii u(iri) p̣(erfectissimi)
( vac. 1 line)
[Ded]icata die VI idum Iuniarum ( vac. 4) dd(ominis) nn(ostris) Ualente VI et
Ualentiniano II Augg(ustis) conss(ulibus) ((stop))
( vac. 1 line)
[Flauio] Uiui[o Be]ṇedi[cto]
5[u(iro) p(erfectissimo) p]ṛaesidi pro[uinc(iae) Trip(olitanae)]
te[n]aci iustitiạ[e in-]
terp̣raeti iur[is i]nno-
ceṇtium [f]ạutori
uindici libeṛ[t]ạtis no-
10xiorum omniu[m] p̣ercuss-
sori ( vac. 2) ordo splen(didissimus) [ci]ụịṭ(atis)
Lepcima[gnensium ---]
NO [---]
[---]POỊGAU[---]
15[---] dign(?)- et patr(?)- ỤF̣Ị[---]
Diplomatic
[..]NEDICTIIU.
vacat
[...]ICATADIEVIIDUMIUNIARUM DDNNUALENTEVIET
UALENTINIANOIIAUGGCONSS •
vacat
[......]UIUI[...].EDI[...]
5[...].AESIDIPRO[....][.....]
TE[.]ACIIUSTITI.[...-]
TER.RAETIIUR[...]NNO
CE.TIUM[.].UTORI
UINDICILIBE.[.].TISNO
10XIORUMOMNIU[.].ERCUSS
SORI ORDOSPLEN[..]...
LEPCIMA[........---]
NO[---]
[---]PO.GAU[---]
15[---]DIGNETPATR...[---]
English translation
Translation by: J. M. Reynolds
(scil. In honour) of Benedictius, excellent man (of equestrian status). Dedicated on the ninth day of June, in the consulship of our lords the Augusti, Valens for the sixth time, Valentinian for
the second. To Flavius Vivius Benedictus, excellent man (of equestrian status), governor of the province of Tripolitania, steadfast in justice, interpreter of the law, supporter of the innocent, defender
of freedom, scourge of all criminals, the most splendid city-council [---] of the Lepcimagnensians, to their patron [---]
Italian translation
Translation source: Tantillo-Bigi, 2010
Benedictus, uomo perfettissimo! Dedicata il sesto (?) giorno prima delle idi di giugno, sotto il consolato dei nostri signori
Augusti Valente (console) per la sesta volta e Valentiniano (console) per la seconda volta. A Flavius Vivius Benedictus, uomo
perfettissimo, governatore della Prouincia di Tripolitania, saldo nella giustizia, interprete del diritto, fautore degli innocenti,
garante della libertà, castigatore di tutti i colpevoli, l’ordine splendidissimo della città di Leptis Magna . . . al patrono
(?) . . .
English translation
Translation source: LSA, 2012
(Statue of) Benedictus, of perfectissimus rank. Dedicated on the sixth(?) day of the Ides of June in the consulship of our
lords the Augusti, Valens for the sixth time and Valentinian for the second time. To Flavius Benedictus, of perfectissimus
rank, governor (praeses) of the province of Tripolitania; steady in justice, interpreter of the law, supporter of the innocent, vindicator of freedom,
punisher of all evils. The most splendid council (ordo) of the city of Lepcis Magna . . . to the patron(?). . .
Bibliography: IRT, 1952, 571, on which Degrassi A., 1954 , Guey, 1953 345-6, whence AE 1954.201g, and with readings by Goodchild, Reynolds, 1955, 144, whence AE 1957.245, whence IRT, 2009, 571; Tantillo-Bigi, 2010, 42, whence LSA, 2012, 2188 (Tantillo and Bigi), EDH (Bigi, 2014) 059435; for BSR images see BSR Digital Collections..
Images
Fig. 1. Upper moulding fragment: Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR
Fig. 2. Assembled fragments: Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (Sopr. CLM 81)
Fig. 3. Assembled fragments, drawing: Bigi (2009)
Fig. 4. Assembled fragments: Tantillo (n.d.)
Fig. 5. Detail: Tantillo (n.d.)
