Description: Seven fragments from four limestone wall blocks, all incomplete, bearing a monumental inscription
(Α. w:
0.86 x h:
0.50 x d:
0.61;
Β. w:
0.60 x h:
0.29 x d:
0.61;
C. w:
0.89 x h:
0.60 x d:
0.35;
D. w:
0.48 x h:
0.50 x d:
0.35).
Text: Inscribed on the exposed faces.
Letters: Second century: Latin, line 1, 0.09; line 2, 0.065; Greek, line 1, 0.09; line 2, 0.065.
Date: CE December 117-December 118
Findspot:
Cyrene:
Caesareum: A. found before 1941,
re-used in the internal face of the South pier of the East porch;
B. found before 1941, in the course of the excavation;
C and D found in 1956, re-used in the late fourth or fifth century to block a doorway.
Original location:
Caesareum.
Last recorded location:
B now in the Cyrene Museum; A, C and ?D findspot.
Interpretive
[Imp(erator) Caesar d]iui Tr[aiani Parthici fil]ius ((leaf)) diụ[i Nerua] ṇepos T[raianus Hadrianus Aug(ustus) pont(ifex)
max(imus) trib(unicia) pot(estate) II co(n)s(ul) II ]
[ciuitati Cy]ṛenensium [Caesareu]ṃ ((leaf)) tumul[tu Iudaic]o dirutum [et exustum restitui iussit?] ( vac. 2)
[Αὐτοκράτωρ] Καῖσαρ θ[εοῦ Τραιανοῦ Π]αρθικ[οῦ υἱὸς] θεοῦ Νέρου[α υἱωνὸς Τραιανὸς Ἁδριανὸς Σεβαστὸς ἀρ]χιερεὺς ( vac. 2)
[μέγιστος] δημαρχικῆς [ἐξουσία]ς̣ τὸ β̣´ [ὕπατος τὸ β´ τ]ῇ̣ πόλει ((leaf)) τ̣ὸ ( vac. 1) Και̣[σάρειον? ἐν τῶι Ἰουδαικῶι
ταράχωι κατεστραμμένον κα]τασταθῆναι ἐκέλευσ[εν].
Diplomatic
[...........]IUITR[................]IUS ❦ DI.[......].EPOST[........................................]
[..........].ENENSIUM[........]. ❦ TUMUL[........]ODIRUTUM[.......................]
[..........]ΚΑΙΣΑΡΘ[............]ΑΡΘΙΚ[......]ΘΕΟΥΝΕΡΟΥ[.................................]ΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ
[........]ΔΗΜΑΡΧΙΚΗΣ[.......].ΤΟ.[..........].ΠΟΛΕΙ ❦ .Ο ΚΑ.[............................................]ΤΑΣΤΑΘΗΝΑΙΕΚΕΛΕΥΣ[..]
German translation
Translation source: Lüderitz-Reynolds, 1983
(Lines 1-2): Der Imperator Caesar, Sohn des zum Gott erhobenen Traianus Parthicus, Enkel des zum Gott erhobenen Nerva, Traianus Hadrianus
Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, im zweiten Jahr der tribunizischen Gewalt, zum zweiten Mal Konsul, befahl, dass für die Bürgerschaft
der Kyrener das im jüdischen Aufstand zerstörte und abgebrannte Caesareum widerhergestellt werde.
English translation
Translation by: Editors
(Lines 1-2): [Emperor Caesar] son of the deified Trajan, [victor in Parthia,] grandson of the deified [Nerva, Trajan Hadrian Augustus,
chief priest, holding tribunician power for the second time, consul for the second time], [gave orders for the Caesareu]m, destroyed [and burnt in the Jewish] revolt, [to be restored for the city] of the Cyrenaeans.
(Lines 3-4): [Emperor] Caesar son of the deified Trajan, victor in Parthia, grandson of the deified Nerva, Trajan Hadrian Augustus, [chief]
priest, holding tribunician [power] for the second time, [consul for the second time], gave orders for the Cae[sareum, destroyed in the Jewish revolt, to be] restored for the city.
Bibliography: Applebaum, 1950, E.1 (block b and part of block d only), whence AE 1951.123, whence EDH 021148, Robert, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1951.244; all four blocks Reynolds, 1958, IV.a, p. 161f, whence Robert, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1960.438, SEG 17.804, PHI 324417, Robert, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1960.438, and see also Reynolds, 1958-1959; republished Gasperini, 1971, C.5; Lüderitz-Reynolds, 1983, 17; translated, Williams, 1988, V.87. For the original location see Luni, 1992, 143-145, whence Dobias-Lalou, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1993.697, SEG 42.1665; discussed, Boatwright, 2000; mentioned Kenrick, 2013, 156 and following.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
Fig. 1. Block a
Fig. 2. Blocks a and b (Department of Antiquities, F 3942)
Fig. 3. Block b (light 1)
Fig. 4. Block b (light 2)
Fig. 5. Block c (Joyce Reynolds, III. 72)
Fig. 6. Block c (Joyce Reynolds, IV.72)
Fig. 7. Block c (2008, H.Walda)
Fig. 8. Block d (Joyce Reynolds, VIII.42)
Fig. 9.
C.11 b, resting on
C.7, block d, first part (Joyce Reynolds, II. 64).
Fig. 10.
C.11 b, resting on
C.7, block d, end (Joyce Reynolds, II.92)