Description: Limestone block, probably the right half of a
composite stele, broken above and on all
edges (w:
0.53 x h:
0.92 x d:
0.66).
Text: Inscribed on one face which
is damaged at many points.
Letters: Probably first century CE; line 2 0.095; lines 3-4, 0.07; stops between the words.
Date: Probably first century CE
Findspot:
Cyrene: Agora, North Stoa; photographed in 1936.
Original location: North Stoa, probably from the balustrade of the stair leading
downwards, to the north of the stoa.
Last recorded location:
Standing at the East end of the row of tabernae under the northern
Portico.
1: L might be E and I is very uncertain.
1-2: [C.Clodius C.F. Vesta]li[s /praet(or) p]roco(n)s(ul) Gasperini, 1965
3: per ueter]anos Augusti Gasperini, 1965
English translation
Translation by: Editors
. . . ]LI [ . . .] proconsul [ . . . by veter]ans of Augustus [ . . .] was responsible for the construction.
Commentary
line 2 Gasperini's restoration of the name and title of C. Clodius Vestalis, for whom see commetary on C.113, is very attractive, but not quite certain; among difficulties in his version are omission of the filiation from the name (contrast C.322) and the unusual addition of the title praet(or) before p]roco(n)s(ul). This is not adequately justified by comparison with IRT 338' lines 13-15 which may well have been drafted by a Lepcitanian ignorant of procedure, whereas the Cyrene text should have originated in the proconsul's office). Tt might be possible to obviate both, by restoring: [C. Clodius C.F. V]e[s]/[talis p]oco(n)s(ul) , but the division of the cognomen is unhappy.
line 3 the only obvious supplement seems to be [per veter]anos August[i], and for the use of veterans on public works in Cyrenaica see M.227, under Trajan. There is no independent evidence for the presence and use of veterans in Cyrenaica in the first century CE;, but it would not be unlikely if the governor were carrying out repairs and extensions of public buildings in the aftermath of the Marmaric War.
Bibliography: Gasperini, 1965, 230-231 and pl. XXXIX.3, whence AE 1968.538, whence EDH 015566; Gasperini, 1967a, 35 and fig. 218
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
Fig. 1. Face (Department of Antiquities, E.2504)
Fig. 2. Face