IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

M.272. Boundary marker

Description: Upper part of a stele (no measurements).
Text: Probably inscribed on three faces, but only one recorded. The photograph seems to show the top of the stele surviving, so that the Latin text and the beginning of the Greek must have been on one of the buried faces.
Letters: Standard forms; no measurements

Date: 54-55 CE

Findspot: Gebel Akhdar: East of Cyrene: half buried, at El-Gubba; transcribed and photographed by Norton, 1 December 1910.
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location: Findspot (December 1910).

Interpretive

------
[καὶ] θεοῦ Σεβα[στ-]
[οῦ] ἔκγονος [Κ-]
[αῖ]σαρ Σεβαστ[ὸς]
[Γε]ρμανικὸς
5 [ἀ]ρχιερεὺς μέ-
[γι]στος δημ[αρ-]
[χικῆ]ς ἐξου[σία-]
ς [ὕπ]ατος Αὐ[τ-]
[ο]κράτωρ [...]
10------

Diplomatic

------
[...]ΘΕΟΥΣΕΒΑ[..-]
[..]ΕΚΓΟΝΟΣ[.-]
[..]ΣΑΡΣΕΒΑΣΤ[..]
[..]ΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΣ
5[.]ΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣΜΕ
[..]ΣΤΟΣΔΗΜ[..-]
[....]ΣΕΞΟΥ[...-]
Σ[..]ΑΤΟΣΑΥ[.-]
[.]ΚΡΑΤΩΡ[···]
10------

9: [ἔ]νατος Robinson, 1913; [τὸ ἔ]νατο[ν] Sijpesteijn, 1982

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

. . . Nero . . . great-grandson of ] deified Augustus, Caesar Augustus Germanicus, high priest (i.e. pontifex maximus), holding tribunician power, consul, acclaimed imperator [ . . /.

Commentary

Robinson (art.cit) suggested that the Emperor describe here was probably Claudius; Sijpesteijn, art. cit. showed that it was Nero.

Line 9: Robinson's reading would imply Nero's ninth tribunician power, in 62 CE: so Sijpesteijn, art. cit. But the reading here would suggest the first year of his reign, the date of most of the dated markers of Nero. It should be noted that Αὐτοκράτωρ normally precedes ῦπατος; but the listing of Nero's offices in this series is not entirely consistent: cf A.50, A.68, M.172, which only give the title imperator/Αὐτοκράτωρ.

One of the boundary markers put up under Nero: A.50, A.68, C.434, C.435, C.748, M.123, M.124, M.125, M.143, M.153, M.172, M.173, M.251.

Bibliography: Robinson, 1913, from De Cou, 61, with photograph, fig. 3, whence Sammelbuch, I.5904; discussed, Sijpesteijn, 1982, whence Robert, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1983.479, SEG 32.1605, PHI 324550; discussed, Dobias-Lalou, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1988.1012; reconsidered Marengo, 2002 with bibliography of previous discussion, whence Dobias-Lalou, Bulletin Épigraphique, 2004.454
Text constituted from: From previous publications (Reynolds)

Images

   Fig. 1. Face, in situ (1911, Norton 34)

   Fig. 2. Face (1911, Norton 34)