Description:
Part of a stele of white marble, probably Attic, with traces of moulding above
(w:
0.74 x h:
0.51). Originally inscribed with A.3,
it was subsequently cut down for reuse for this text, and
later reused again as an impost block in the sixth century church. Damaged to the right and below.
Text: Inscribed on three faces.
This inscription is on the reverse face from A.3.
Roughly incised palm branches at the ends of lines 2 and 4.
Letters: Fourth-fifth century CE: lines 1,3: 0.09; lines 2,4: 0.10; line 5: 0.04-0.05.
Date: Fourth to fifth centuries CE
Findspot:
Apollonia:
Baptistery in the East Church; found in 1920.
Original location: Unknown.
Last recorded location:
Apollonia Museum, 2008.
4: [---]τ̣ους αὑτῶν : ους αὐτῶν SECir, 1961-1962
5: [λαμ]προτάτου : ἰεροτάτου SECir, 1961-1962
English translation
Translation by: Joyce M. Reynolds
. . . ] lords [of the earth] under the sun [ . . . ] fortunate, Augusti [ . . . gave?] to the city to further its prosperity [ . . . ] of themselves [ . . . by action of? . . .] the distinguished [governor]
Commentary
The style recalls P.136 of the joint reign of Arcadius and Honorius (395-408) to whom perhaps this text also refers. The emperors had apparently made some gift to the city; and it may be that this should be connected with the embassy of Synesius to Constantinople to ask Arcadius for imperial aid for the province; cf. Περὶ βασιλείας 1100 c for a reference to restoration of buildings. See further Roques, Synésios de Cyrène et la Cyrénaïque du Bas-Empire (1987).
Line 1: For the formula cf. e.g. Aphrodisias in Late Antiquity (2004) , 25, 26, 27.
Line 5: The title of the imperial agent, probably the praeses, who carried out the work or dedicated it.
Bibliography: SECir, 1961-1962, 201b with illustration, fig. 148, whence Robert, Bulletin Épigraphique, 1964.582; Reynolds, 1976, 6.c and pl. LVIII, whence SEG 27.1136. Discussed by Roques, 1987 , whence SEG 38.1867; mentioned Kenrick, 2013, 285.
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).
Images
Fig. 1. Face (2008, H.Walda)
Fig. 2. Face (2008, H.Walda)
Fig. 3. Left side (2008, H.Walda)
Fig. 4. Right side (2008, H.Walda)
Fig. 5. Right side (2008, H.Walda)
Fig. 6. Face (2008, H.Walda)