IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

A.51. Boundary marker

Description: Part of a brown limestone stele (w: 0.25 x h: 1.165 x d: 0.645).
Text: Inscribed on two of the three surviving faces. To the left of A.50, on what must originally have been the reverse of the stele; the surface is in very bad condition.
Letters: 0.036.

Date: CE 69-79 cf. A.54

Findspot: Apollonia: reused in a modern house near the Extra-Mural Church; found in 1956.
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location: Apollonia Museum.

Interpretive

[---]E
[---]ESỊ[---]E
[---]AU[---]Λ̣Ị
[---]ESṬỤ[---]C̣Ọ
5[---]N
[---]TAI[---]AẸ
[---] ḷọc̣ạụịṭ
[---] Apolḷọnio
[--- qu]adringeniṣ
10[---]ạ et
[---] ob un-
[um? ---] medi-
[mnia? ---] ( vac. 3)

Diplomatic

[---]E
[---]ES.[---]E
[---]AU[---]..
[---]ES..[---]..
5[---]N
[---]TAI[---]A.
[---].......
[---]APOL..NIO
[---..]ADRINGENI.
10[---].ET
[---]OBUN
[..---]MEDI
[....---]      

English translation

Translation by: Joyce M. Reynolds

. . . ] leased [ . . . ] to Apollonios [ . . . ] four hundred [ . . . ] on account of ?one [ . . . ] medimnia [ . . .

Commentary

Lines 1-6 are too badly worn to yield a text; it is a reasonable guess that some part of Caesar stood in line 2 and perhaps of Augustus in line 3.

From line 7 onwards enough survives to recall the terms of the lease of land belonging to the city of Apollonia given in the reign of Vespasian to Apollonios son of Paraebatas at an annual rent of 408 denari for 23 1/2 medimnia: see A.54. The name of G. Arinius Modestus (PIR Addenda) the proconsul concerned on that occasion could be read in lines 3-4. This stone, taken with A.54, suggests that Vespasian decided to sell public land near the city (which was no doubt particularly difficult to keep clear of encroachment) and sold it to the city but exercised, through the proconsul, some supervision over the leases given.

Bibliography: Reynolds, 1971c, 3.b, whence SEG 26.1816, whence PHI 324711; AE 1974.684b, whence EDH 011700; Reynolds, 1976, 59.b, whence SEG 27.1132; mentioned Kenrick, 2013, 285..
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).

Images

   Fig. 1. Face (2008, H.Walda)

   Fig. 2. Face (2008, H.Walda)