Description: Part of a marble base,
planed down above and cut horizontally below through the middle of the second line of the text
(w:
0.55 x h:
0.15 x d:
0.58)
Text: Inscribed on the exposed face
Letters: Fourth century: line l 0.05; line 2 not measurable.
Date: CE 375-378
Findspot:
Cyrene:
East Church, re-used in the footing of the Chancel screen near the
Western apse; found in 1955
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location:
Findspot.
English translation
Translation by: Charlotte Roueché
Born of [divine] stock, [Valentinian and Gratia]n and Valens, pious, [ fortunate, eternal Augusti].
Commentary
Line 1. For divina stirpe progenito apparently for Valentinian II see dedications by the governor of Tripolitania at Lepcis IRT 476 and also at Gigthis (ILS 779); the term was also used of Constantine and his sons: see E. Sironen, Lateinische Ehreninschriften für Constantin den Großen und seine Nachfolger, (2001). The emphasis on divine descent suggests that the emperors honoured here are Valentinian II and Gratian (as being the sons of an emperor) with their uncle Valens: this would indicate the period after the death of Valentinian I, in 375, and before the death of Valens in 379.
Bibliography:
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
Fig. 1. Face (Joyce Reynolds, I. 75)
Fig. 2. Face (Joyce Reynolds, I. 75)