IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

C.573. Funerary inscription for a veteran, Tomb N.173

Description: A marble stele (w: 0.54 x h: 0.70 x d: 0.13), which has been damaged at the left and lower edges since its discovery. Standing on a moulded marble base inscribed with IGCyr027800.
Text: Inscribed on one face.
Letters: Second-third century CE: ave. 0.05; lunate epsilon, lunate sigma, cursive omega; poorly aligned.

Date: Second to third centuries.

Findspot: Cyrene: North Necropolis, to the right of the entrance to tomb N.173; photographed in 1925.
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location: Findspot.

Interpretive

Γ(άϊος) Ἀμμώνιϲ βε-
τράνοϲ λ̣εγι- ( vac. 1)
όνοϲ δευτ-
έρηϲ Βοηθο-
5 ἐλθῶν ἰϲ τ- ( vac. 1)
ὴν ἰδία̣ν πα- ( vac. 1)
τρίδα διὰ ἐ̣τ̣ῶν
λ´ ἐφιλωπώνηϲε
ἑατῷ μνημῖον ἔ-
10τι ζοῦϲ ( vac. 3)

Diplomatic

ΓΑΜΜΩΝΙϹΒΕ
ΤΡΑΝΟϹ.ΕΓΙ-   
ΟΝΟϹΔΕΥΤ
ΕΡΗϹΒΟΗΘΟ
5ΥΕΛΘΩΝΙϹΤ-   
ΗΝΙΔΙ.ΝΠΑ-   
ΤΡΙΔΑΔΙΑ..ΩΝ
ΛΕΦΙΛΩΠΩΝΗϹΕ
ΕΑΤΩΜΝΗΜΙΟΝΕ
10ΤΙΖΟΥϹ      

Some letters seen by Oliverio and recorded on his photograph are not now readable.

Italian translation

Translation source: Oliverio, DAI, 1933-1936

Gaio Ammonio, veterano della legione seconda Adiutrice, ritornato nella propria patria, dopo un periodo di assenza di 30 anni, accuratamente costrui per sè (scil. questa) tomba, mentre era in vita.

English translation

Translation source: Thorn, 2009

Gaius Ammonius, veteran of the second 'Adiutrix' legion, returned to his own country, after a period of 30 years, accurately constructed this tomb in his lifetime.

English translation

Translation source: Santucci, 2010

Caius Ammonis, veteran of legion II Adiutrix, returned to his own country after 30 years, took trouble to make a memorial for himself in his lifetime.

Commentary

The tomb, originally Hellenistic, was renovated and decorated (C.574) by Ammonios, which suggests that he possessed a fairly substantial competence but not sufficient for an elegant inscription.

Legion II Adiutrix was first raised by Vespasian; it served in Batavia, and then in Britain (see RIB s.v.); from the late first century it served in the Balkans, stationed from 106 onwards at Aquincum; the future emperor Hadrian served as a military tribune with the legion (Livius). For another Cyrenaican veteran of the legion see T.365.

Line 8: The verb, implying care and effort, is very suitable for a tomb with such elaborate decoration (C.574)

Bibliography: Oliverio, DAI, 1933-1936, 123 (114), pl. XXXIV and fig. 78, whence SEG 9.235 PHI 324085; Reynolds, in Santucci, 2010, 292-3 and pl., whence SEG 60.1840; discussed Cinalli, 2016, 188. For the tomb see Cassels, 1955 N.173, Thorn, 2009, 69-70
Text constituted from: Transcription from stone and photograph (Reynolds).

Images

   Fig. 1. Face (Department of Antiquities, B 1188)

   Fig. 2. Face (Department of Antiquities, B 1188)