Description: Moulded marble
base (w:
1.00 x h:
1.55 x d:
1.00); uniform with 473 and closely related to 57,
58.
Text: Inscribed on one face within a recessed panel (die, w:
0.47 x h:
0.64). The face has already had two earlier inscriptions; a trace of the second is a wreath, at the upper right. (Tantillo-Bigi).
Letters: Fourth century CE capitals: 0.04-0.05; dot for stop
Date: CE 364-367 (reign)
Findspot:
Lepcis Magna:
Forum Severianum, North Portico.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location:
Findspot
Interpretive
Iustitia pariter ac ((stop))
pietate caelestibus adq(ue) ((stop))
Romanae felicitatis perpe-
tuis fundatoribus ((stop)) d ((stop)) d(ominis) ((stop)) nn(ostris) ((stop))
5Ualentiniano et Ualenti
uictoriosissimis principi-
bus ac totius orbis ((stop)) Aug((stop))g(ustis)((stop))
Antonius Dracontius ((stop)) u(ir) ((stop)) c(larissimus) ((stop))
a ((stop)) g(ens) ((stop)) uic(es) ((stop)) praef(ectorum) ((stop)) praetorio per
10Africanas prouincias ni (sic)-
mini et maiestati eorum
semper dicatissimus ((leaf))
Diplomatic
IUSTITIAPARITERAC •
PIETATECAELESTIBUSADQ •
ROMANAEFELICITATISPERPE
TUISFUNDATORIBUS • D • D • NN •
5UALENTINIANOETUALENTI
UICTORIOSISSIMISPRINCIPI
BUSACTOTIUSORBIS • AUG • G •
ANTONIUSDRACONTIUS • U • C •
A • G • UIC • PRAEF • PRAETORIOPER
10AFRICANASPROUINCIASNI(sic)
MINIETMAIESTATIEORUM
SEMPERDICATISSIMUS ❦
English translation
Translation by: J. M. Reynolds
To (scil. those) equally godlike in justice and piety and perpetual founders of Roman good fortune, our lords Valentinian
and Valens, most victorious emperors and Augusti of the whole world; Antonius Dracontius, splendid man (i.e. of senatorial status), deputy for the praetorian prefects throughout the African provinces, always deeply devoted to their divine power and majesty,
(scil. set this up).
Italian translation
Translation source: Tantillo-Bigi, 2010
Divini tanto per giustizia quanto per pietà, perpetui sostegni della fortuna di Roma, ai nostri signori Valentiniano e Valente,
vittoriosissimi principi e Augusti di tutto l’orbe, Antonius Dracontius, uomo chiarissimo, facente le veci dei prefetti al
pretorio nelle province africane, quanto mai devoto al loro nume e alla loro maestà
English translation
Translation source: LSA, 2012
To [rulers] equally celestial in justice as in piety, and perpetual founders of Roman happiness, our lords Valentinianus and
Valens, most victorious princes and Augusti of the entire world. Antonius Dracontius, of clarissimus rank, acting as vicar
of the praetorian prefect for the provinces of Africa, always most dedicated to their divine spirit and majesty, [set this
up].
Bibliography: Bartoccini, 1928, 48, whence AE 1929.5; IRT, 1952, 472, whence IRT, 2009, 472; Tantillo-Bigi, 2010, 9, whence LSA, 2012, 2155 (Tantillo and Bigi), EDH (Bigi, 2014) 024259; for BSR images see BSR Digital Collections.
Images
Fig. 1. Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (Sopr. DLM 223 lastre)
Fig. 2. View: Tantillo, 2008 (P1050702)
Fig. 3. Face: Tantillo (2005)
Fig. 4. Right face and back: Tantillo (2008)
Fig. 5. Left face and back: Tantillo (2008)
Fig. 6. Top: Tantillo, 2008 (P1050694)
Fig. 7. Drawing, illustrating uses of the base: from left, a. hypothetical first text; b. second text; c. third, visible text (Bigi,
2010)
