Description: Moulded marble
base (
w:
0.82 x h:
1.10 x d:
0.82; height incomplete), the upper part of which
is fragmentary. Fragments found since 1951: a) from the left-hand corner, on the second face of the new fragments of
522; b) from the right-hand edge (w:
0.165 x h:
0.325 x d:
0.135).
Text: Inscribed (die, w:
0.57 x h:
0.67 approx.) on the face opposite to the original
inscription, which was set within a moulded panel and was subsequently erased to make
way for 477. The first line is cut above the die, on the upper border; the fragment
containing the right-hand end of lines 6-8 is known only from a photograph.
Letters: Late third to fourth centuries CE capitals: 0.04-0.05; dot for stop.
Date: Fourth century CE (lettering, titulature)
Findspot:
Lepcis Magna:
Forum Severianum, East Portico.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location:
Findspot; the additional fragments found after 1951 have not been seen again.
Interpretive
[---]POR[---]
[ - - - - - - - - - - ]
Ae[c. 14] u(iro) p(erfectissimo)
prạẹ[sidi prouinc(iae) Tr]ip(olitanae)
omnium uirtut[um ui]ro
5 innocentis ((stop)) inte[g]rita-
tis uigoratae laenitatis
sublimis moderat[i]onis
iustitiae laudab[i]lis to-
tius ((stop)) aequitatis ((stop)) L[e]pci-
10magnenses ((stop)) ex decreto
spl(endidissimi) ordinis ((stop)) patrono benign(o)
Diplomatic
[---]POR[---]
[ - - - - - - - - - - ]
AE[··············]UP
PR..[.............]IP
OMNIUMUIRTUT[....]RO
5INNOCENTIS • INTE[.]RITA
TISUIGORATAELAENITATIS
SUBLIMISMODERAT[.]ONIS
IUSTITIAELAUDAB[.]LISTO
TIUS • AEQUITATIS • L[.]PCI
10MAGNENSES • EXDECRETO
SPLORDINIS • PATRONOBENIGN
English translation
Translation by: J. M. Reynolds
[---] to Ae[c. 14] excellent man (of equestrian status), governor of the province of Tripolitania, a man of all the virtues, of integrity that does no harm, of real gentleness.
of outstanding moderation, of praiseworthy justice, of absolute equity; the Lepcimagnensians, in accordance with a decree
of the most splendid city council (scil. set this up) to a kindly patron.
Italian translation
Translation source: Tantillo-Bigi, 2010
. . . ? Ae- . . . uomo perfettissimo, governatore della Prouincia di Tripolitania, uomo dotato di ogni virtù, di intemerata
integrità, di vigorosa mitezza, di sublime moderazione, di lodevole giustizia e di ogni equità, gli abitanti di Leptis Magna,
per decreto dello splendidissimo ordine, al patrono benigno.
English translation
Translation source: LSA, 2012
Statue of …por… . To Ae … , of perfectissimus rank, governor (praeses) of the province of Tripolitania, a man of all virtues,
of blameless integrity, vigorous mildness, sublime moderation, laudable justice, of total fairness. The people of Lepcis Magna
(Lepcimagnenses), by decree of the most splendid council (ordo) [set this up] to their benign patron.
Bibliography: IRT, 1952, 610, with Reynolds, 1955 131, whence AE 1957.237, IRT, 2009, 610; Tantillo-Bigi, 2010, 36, whence LSA, 2012, 2182 (Tantillo and Bigi), EDH (Bigi, 2014) 059411; for BSR images see BSR Digital Collections.
Images
Fig. 1. Upper moulding fragment: Ward-Perkins, 1948 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 48.XI.25)
Fig. 2. Main block: Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (Sopr. CLM 587)
