IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

C.319. Dedication on behalf of Augustus

Description: Curved marble statue base with traces of moulding above (w: across chord 1.44 x h: 0.26 x d: 0.54)
Text: Inscribed on the concave face.
Letters: Augustan: 0.036.

Date: 12-10 BCE

Findspot: Cyrene: Fountain Terrace at the foot of the retaining wall; first recorded in 1825, again in 1932.
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location: Cyrene Museum.

Interpretive

[ὑπὲρ τᾶς Αὐτοκράτορος Καίσαρος θεῶ υ]ἱ̣ῶ Σεβαστῶ ἀρχιερέως σωτηρίας Κόϊντος Λουκάνιο[ς]
[Κόϊντω υἱὸς Πρόκουλος ἀνθύπα]τος ἐκ τᾶς τῶ Ἀπόλλωνος ἱερέων ἐπιδόσιο[ς]
[ ( vac. 24) ἀ]ν̣έθηκεν ( vac. 24)

Diplomatic

[...............................].ΩΣΕΒΑΣΤΩΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΩΣΣΩΤΗΡΙΑΣΚΟΙΝΤΟΣΛΟΥΚΑΝΙΟ[.]
[.........................]ΤΟΣΕΚΤΑΣΤΩΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΟΣΙΕΡΕΩΝΕΠΙΔΟΣΙΟ[.]
[.........................].ΕΘΗΚΕΝ                                                

Italian translation

Translation source: Oliverio, DAI, 1932-1933

Per la salute dell'Imperatore Cesare (divi filius?) Augusto pontifice Quinto Lucanio, figlio di Quinto, proconsole da(col, -servendosi de)l contributo dei sacerdoti di Apollo ha offerto.

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

For the safety of [Emperor Caesar], son of [a god], Augustus, pontifex maximus, Quintus Lucanius [Proculus, son of Quintus], proconsul, dedicated (scil. the statue) from the contribution of the priesrts of Apollo.

Commentary

There are marks for the feet of a statue on the top and more for two, possibly three, statues on the bottom: the base was clearly used twice but there is no indication whether the Augustan use is primary or secondary.

Line 1: Σεβαστός/Augustus, so in or after 12 BCE, see also C.151, line 1; it is possible that the selection of this one title for use in both these texts indicates that it was recently conferred when they were cut. Ἀρχιερεύς for ἀρχιερεύς μέγιστος is not uncommon in Greek inscriptions, cf. IGRR I, 1055, 1056.

Line 2: Q(uintus) Lucanius Proculus, PIR2 L 0348; see also in C.273, line 2, but not otherwise known.

The only surviving instance of this formula at Cyrene - presumably indicating that the money was raised by contributors from the personal funds of the priests.

Bibliography: Letronne, 1828 pp. 264-5, Pacho, 1827, LXIII.10 with comments by Letronne, p. 393; from these and from a copy made in 1819 by Fr. Pacifico da Monte Cassiano and passed to Pietro Negri, the Sardinian consul in Tripoli, CIG, Vol.III, 5136, whence IGRR, I.1032, SGDI, 4844; Ghislanzoni, 1925, 409; Oliverio, DAI, 1932-1933, 55, p. 182, pl. XXXII, fig. 56]69; from these SEG 9.96; mentioned Robert, 1940a p.13 and note 7, whence Robert, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1941.179.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).

Images

   Fig. 1. Transcription (1827, Pacho, plate LXIII)

   Fig. 2. Transcription detail (1827, Pacho, plate LXIII.10)