IRCyr   Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica

C.213. Honours for Marcus Aurelius

Description: Two damaged limestone blocks, the second with a raised right border (together w: 1.57 x h: 0.42 x d: 0.50)
Text: Inscribed on one face: the right end of the text cut on the raised border. Some of the surface has been lost since discovery.
Letters: Second century: line 1, 0.07; line 2-4, 0.06;

Date: 164-166 CE

Findspot: Cyrene: Antonine Arch; found fallen, one in 1935 and the other in 1959.
Original location: The south face of the left portal of the Antonine Arch.
Last recorded location: Findspot, replaced in position.

Interpretive

Αὐτοκράτορα Καίσα | [ρα] Μ(ᾶρκον) Αὐρήλ[ιον]
Ἀντωνείνον Σεβα[σ] | τ̣ὸν Ἀρμε[νιακ(ὸν)]
ἁ πόλις ἁ Κυρανάων | [τ]ὸ̣ν μ[έγιστον?]
ἀφιερώσαντος Λ(ουκίου) Ο̣[c. 4]Μ [---]

Diplomatic

ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΑΚΑΙΣΑ | [..]ΜΑΥΡΗΛ[...]
ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟΝΣΕΒΑ[.] | .ΟΝΑΡΜΕ[....]
ΑΠΟΛΙΣΑΚΥΡΑΝΑΩΝ | [.].ΝΜ[.......]
ΑΦΙΕΡΩΣΑΝΤΟΣΛ.[····]Μ[---]

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

Emperor Caesar M(arcus) Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, victor in Armenia: the city of the Cyrenaeans (scil. honoured) [as the greatest?]; the dedication was carried out by L(ucius) O-

Commentary

Τhere was probably a second inscription in honour of Verus above the right portal.

Line 2: Aurelius is only honoured as Armeniacus; so the text can be dated from 164 until 166 when he also became Parthicus Maximus and Medicus.

Line 2: the restoration at the end of the line is awkward, but hard to avoid.

Bibliography: Mentioned, Kenrick, 2013, 195
Text constituted from: Transcription (Reynolds).

Images

   Fig. 1. View of the arch (Joyce Reynolds)

   Fig. 2. View of the arch

   Fig. 3. View of the arch (2008, H.Walda)

   Fig. 4. First block, loose (Department of Antiquities, E.2245)

   Fig. 5. First block, loose (Department of Antiquities, E.2246)

   Fig. 6. Second block, loose

   Fig. 7. First block, restored in place (2008, H.Walda)

   Fig. 8. First block, restored in place (2008, H.Walda)

   Fig. 9. First block, restored in place (2008, H.Walda)