Description: Moulded base (w:
0.80 x h:
1.55 x d:
0.55)
of coarse white marble with heavy brown veining, badly weathered.
Text: Inscribed on one face on the upper moulding, (line 1, followed by a formal spray and
wreath) and within a recessed panel (die, w:
0.52 x h:
0.62).
Letters: Fourth century CE capitals: line 1, 0.065; remainder, 0.035-0.02.
Date: 355-361 CE (prosopography)
Findspot:
Lepcis Magna:
Forum Vetus, in the apse of Church II.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location:
Findspot
Interpretive
( vac. ) Nilii ((palm)) ((wreath)) ( vac. )
( vac. 1 line)
Uigiliis adque consilio domi f[o]risque pr[a]e-
stanti integritate praecipuo iustitia
et iu[dic]i[o]rum mọ[d]eratione perpenso
5instauratori moenium publicorum
ọṛdinis ciui[umq]ụ[e omnium] ṣạḷụṭ[is pr]o-
uide[ntissimo] c̣ustodị [ueritatis honesta-]
tis et f̣ị[dei a]micissimo
Fl(auio) Archontio Nilo u(iro) p(erfectissimo) coṃ[iti et p]rạes[idi]
10proui[nciae Trip(olitanae) patrono optimo ob infinita]
[eius beneficia quibus uel separat]im uel
cum om[ni p]rouincia su[ble]ua[ti ac] recrae-
ati Lepcimagnenses gratula[mur un]ọ c̣[on-]
sensu statuam decreuerunṭ ẹ[am]q̣[ue propter]
15praecipuum eius meritum coloniae [---]
censuerunt esse iungendam ((palm))
Diplomatic
NILII ⸙ wreath
vacat
UIGILIISADQUECONSILIODOMIF[.]RISQUEPR[.]E
STANTIINTEGRITATEPRAECIPUOIUSTITIA
ETIU[...]I[.]RUMM.[.]ERATIONEPERPENSO
5INSTAURATORIMOENIUMPUBLICORUM
..DINISCIUI[...].[.......].....[....]O
UIDE[........].USTOD.[................-]
TISET..[....]MICISSIMO
FLARCHONTIONILOUPCO.[......]R.ES[...]
10PROUI[................................]
[.............................]IMUEL
CUMOM[...]ROUINCIASU[...]UA[....]RECRAE
ATILEPCIMAGNENSESGRATULA[.....]..[..-]
SENSUSTATUAMDECREUERUN..[..].[.........]
15PRAECIPUUMEIUSMERITUMCOLONIAE[---]
CENSUERUNTESSEIUNGENDAM ⸙
English translation
Translation by: J. M. Reynolds
(scil. In honour) of Nilius. To one who is outstanding in vigilance and good counsel at home and abroad, exceptional in integrity,
balanced in justice and in the carefully weighed moderation of his judgments, rebuilder of the city walls, most provident
guardian of the security of the city council and of all citizens, strongly attached to truth, rectitude, and good faith, Flavius
Archontius Nilus, excellent man (of equestrian status), count and governor of the province of Tripolitania, our very good patron, on account of his innumerable benefactions by
which we, the citizens of Lepcis Magna, separately or in common with the whole province, have been raised and revived, we
offer our thanks; with all in agreement, they decreed a statue which, on account of his especial merit to the colony they
decided should be joined [---](text breaks off)
Italian translation
Translation source: Tantillo-Bigi, 2010
Nilus! Eccellente per vigilanza e per saggezza, in pace come in guerra, eminente per integrità, ponderato nella giustizia
e nella moderazione dei giudizi, restauratore degli edifici pubblici, previdentissimo custode della salvezza dell’ordine e
di tutti i cittadini, quanto mai amico della verità, dell’onestà e della lealtà, a Flavius Archontius Nilus, uomo perfettissimo,
conte e governatore della Prouincia di Tripolitania, patrono ottimo, per i suoi infiniti benefici con i quali, separatamente
o assieme al resto della provincia, furono sollevati e rianimati, gli abitanti di Leptis Magna – e noi ci congratuliamo (?)
con unanime consenso! – decretarono una statua, e quella, per il suo speciale merito, decisero di aggiungere al decoro della
colonia.
English translation
Translation source: LSA, 2012
(Statue of) Nilus. To a man outstanding in vigilance and advice at home and abroad (= in peace and war), foremost by integrity,
measured by justice and the moderation of his judgements, the restorer of public buildings, a most far-seeing guardian of
the safety of the council (ordo) and of all citizens, safeguarder of truth and the greatest friend of honesty and loyalty, Flavius Archontius Nilus, of perfectissimus
rank, military commander (comes) and governor (praeses) of the province of Tripolitania. To ther best patron, on account of his infinite good deeds by which both separately and
with the entire province they have been raised and reborn, the people of Lepcis Magna (Lepcimagnenses) show their joy; unanimously they decreed a statue and because of his exceptional merit they decided that it should be added
to the décor of the city.
Bibliography: Bartoccini, 1931, 39 ff., whence AE 1934.173; Aurigemma, 1940b, 138 ff., fig. 2, whence AE 1948.6; IRT, 1952, 563, whence Guey, 1951a , AE 1952, page 56 IRT, 2009, 563; Tantillo-Bigi, 2010, 39, whence LSA, 2012, 2185 (Tantillo and Bigi), EDH (Bigi, 2014) 019677; for BSR images see BSR Digital Collections..
Images
Fig. 1. Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (Sopr. CLM 753)
Fig. 2. Face, drawing showing current state (left) and reconstruction (right): Bigi (2009)
Fig. 3. View, with left side: Tantillo, 2008 (P1060280)
Fig. 4. Face: Tantillo, 2005
Fig. 5. View, with right side: Tantillo, 2008 (P1060279)
Fig. 6. View, with top: Tantillo, 2008 (P1060154)
