Description: Limestone block with a narrow cutaway
(0.08) on each side
(w:
1.12 x h:
0.57 x d:
0.42).
Text: Inscribed on one face which is very badly damaged.
Letters: Probably first century CE; 0.07-0.08.
Date: Probably Augustan
Findspot:
Cyrene:
Augusteum, built into the East wall close to its junction with the back wall,
opposite and corresponding to C.107;
found in 1916.
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location:
Findspot.
1: Dianae Gasperini, 1965
English translation
Translation by: Editors
[Sacred] to Diana Augusta
Commentary
Restored by reference to the companion text, C.107; two other fragmentary texts, C.108 and C.109 appear to be related, but the divinities cannot be identified. Gasperini reckoned that there might have been at least ten.
The use of Latin for these dedications probably indicates an officially sponsored cult which would appeal in the first place to the Italian immigrants resident in Cyrene.
It is likely that both texts belong to the reign of Augustus who, after Actium, especially favoured Diana and Apollo, cf. their appearance on coins of 29-27 (RIC I Augustus 272, at OCRE), and again in 16-14 BCE, e.g for Apollo, RIC I Augustus 366, at OCRE, and for Diana, RIC I Augustus 172, at OCRE. For the stress on the cult in the celebration of the Ludi Saeculares in 17 BCE, see e.g. F. Altheim, A history of Roman Religion 350f., 394f. His successors were not particularly concerned with this cult.
The earliest known instance of Diana as Augusta seems to be CIL VI.128 (EDR134390) probably of 8 BCE, and of Augustus as a title for Apollo CIL VI.33 of 3-2 BCE
Bibliography: Gasperini, 1965, 212 and pl. XXXVI.3 also fig. opp. p. 212 and fig. 132 (drawings), whence AE 1968.532, whence EDH 008151; Gasperini, 1967a, 27 and fig. 210.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
Fig. 1. Text (Reynolds XIII.51)