Base for posthumous statue of Nicomachus Flavianus, praetorian prefect; commanded by the emperors. Rome, Forum of Trajan. 431.
PROVENANCE AND LOCATION
City:
Roma
Province:
Roma
Region:
Rome (including Ostia and Portus)
Details:
Forum of Trajan (front found in 1849, back in 1933)
Current Location:
Forum of Trajan, deposit of basilica Ulpia (FT 14451 - main fragment)
OBJECT
Object:
Base
Material:
Marble
Re-Use?
Yes
Form:
Rectangular
Height(cm):
154
Width(cm):
94
Depth(cm):
42
Language:
Latin
Text Type:
Prose
SUBJECT
Honorand:
Nicomachus Flavianus, praetorian prefect
Position:
Civilian Imperial Office-Holders
Gender:
Male
Awarder:
Emperors Theodosius II and Valentinian III, at request of the Senate, supervised by Appius Nicomachus Dexter, grandson of the honorand
Position:
Emperors
DATE
Earliest:
431
Latest :
431
MAIN REFERENCE
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum; , VI, no 1783 (+p. 4760-1)
Hedrick, C. , History and silence: purge and rehabilitation of memory in late antiquity, Austin 2000,
INSCRIPTION
Text:
Nicomacho Flaviano, cons(ulari) Sicil(iae), vicar(io) Afric(ae), quaest(ori) aulae / divi Theodosi, praef(ecto) praet(orio) Ital(iae) Illyr(ici) et Afric(ae) iterum, / virtutis auctoritatisq(ue) senatoriae et iudiciariae ergo / reddita in honorem filii Nicomachi Flaviani, cons(ularis) Camp(aniae), / (5) procons(ulis) Asiae, praef(ecti) urbi saepius, nunc praef(ecti) praet(orio) / Italiae Illyrici et Africae. / Imperatores Caess(ares) Fl(avius) Theodosius et Fl(avius) Placidus Valentinianus / semper Augg(usti) senatui suo salutem. / Clarorum adq(ue) inlustrium in ṛe ̣p̣(ublica) virorum adversum casus condicionis / (10) humanae interpolatum aliquatenus adserere honorem et memoriam / defuncti in lucem ạet[ern]a[m (?)] revocare emendatio quaedam eius sortis / videtur, quae praeiudịc̣[iu]m [sum]mumq(ue) [supple]mentum virtutum exsistimatur. / Bono nobiscum, p(atres) c(onscripti), [faustoq(ue)] omin{i}<e> ịṇṭẹḷḷigitis profecto quidquid in resti/tutionem p̣r[.]ṇ[..]inis inlustris et sanctissimae aput omnes recor/dationis Flaviani senio[ri]s adimus, divi avi nostri venerationem esse, / (16) si eum quem vivere nobis servariq(ue) vobis – quae verba aput vos fuisse / pleriq(ue) meministis – optavit, sic in monumenta virtutum suarum titulosq(ue) revo/cemus ut quidquid in istum caeca insimulatione commissum est, procul ab eius / principis voto fuisse iudicetis; cuius in eum effusa benivolentia et usq(ue) ad an/nalium quos consecrari sibi a quaestore et praefecto suo voluit, provecta / (21) excitavit livorem inproborum. Nunc si aput vos abunde causas pietatis / adstruximus, accipite aliud: quod de vestris in illum sensib(us) et provinciar(um) / omnium iudiciis muniamur, quib(us) per illum locupletioris adhuc rei p(ublicae) / (24) bona vel adservata vel etiam aucta tantum et aput nos reverentiae contule/runt ut quod hodie facimus in pectorib(us) et sensib(us) vestris absq(ue) interpella/tione ulla mediae oblivionis fuisse noverimus. Ex quo quidem ipso non min[us] / memoriae illius quam nobis, p(atres) c(onscripti), supra omnia praestitis, ut non inmerit[o] / patientiae vestrae gratias agamus, ne quid erga restitutionem honoris eius / admoniti potius quam sponte fecisse videamur. Cum alioqui ipse etiam de institu/tione illius probatus saepe nobis parentibusq(ue) nostris Flaviani filiụ[s] / (31) honor semiplenus etiam sub praefecturae praetorianae apice, quem providẹ[ntia] / et industria sua cottidie auget, delatus exsistimetur nisi integer tandem et abs[olutus] / [r]eligiosi muneris debito totius domus eius familiaeq(ue) sit. Gaudete ergo nob[iscum] / p(atres) c(onscripti), optimo imperii nostri opere, ut nobiscum recognoscitis et redditam vobis e[t] / (35) patriae senatoris eius memoriam et dignitatem probate, cuius consortị[o] / clariores fuistis et in posteris eius eadem aput nos reverentia vigetis. / Appius Nicomachus Dexter, v(ir) c(larissimus), ex praef(ecto) urb(i), avo optim[o] / statuendam curavi. [On the left side of the base:] Dedicata id[ibus] Sept(em)b(ribus)/ [Bas]so et Antiocho, vv(iris) cc(larissimis) conss(ulibus).
Trans:
Restored (reddita) to Nicomachus Flavianus, governor (consularis) of Sicily, deputy praetorian prefect (vicarius) of Africa, quaestor of the court of the late and deified (divi) Emperor Theodosius, twice praetorian prefect of Italy, Illyricum and Africa, on account of his virtue and authority as a senator and a judge; also in honour of his son Nicomachus Flavianus, governor (consularis) of Campania, proconsul of Asia, several times prefect of the city and now praetorian prefect of Italy, Illyricum and Africa.
(line 7) The Emperors and Caesars Flavius Theodosius and Flavius Placidus Valentinianus, forever Augusti, to their own Senate, greetings:
(9) To assert the honour of men Distinguished and Illustrious in public life (clarorum adque inlustrium in re publica) which has been tarnished in some degree (aliquatenus) by a misfortune of the human condition, and to recall into light eternal the memory of the dead, does seem to be some mitigation of their lot, and is considered to be the prime evaluation and highest fulfilment of their virtues.
(13) The omen being good and favourable, you surely share Our understanding, Conscript Fathers, that whatever We undertake for the restoration of the reputation of the elder Flavianus, a reputation illustrious and most respected by all, is done out of veneration for Our deified grandfather; that is, if We should recall by means of monuments and inscriptions to his virtues a man whom Our grandfather wished to live for Us and to be preserved for you - and many of you remember these words being spoken in your presence - in such a way that you should conclude that whatever wrong was done him by blind slander was far from being the Emperor’s own wish. (19) For it was the Emperor’s abounding goodwill towards him, which extended as far as the Annals which he willed should be dedicated to Himself by one who was quaestor and prefect, that provoked the envy of wicked men. Now that We have established with you these ample explanations of Our dutiful conduct, let Us further add that We are fortified by your feelings towards him and by the judgement of all the provinces, a judgement to which the good things preserved or even increased, of a commonwealth (rei publicae) which he made richer still, have contributed so much reverence in Us also that We know that what We do today in your hearts and feelings has been done without any intervening moment of oblivion.
(26) For this very reason indeed, Conscript Fathers, you cherish his overarching memory no less than We do, so that We rightly give thanks to your forbearance in not allowing Us to give any appearance of being prompted to restore his memory, which We do of Our own accord.
(29) Whereas also the son of Flavianus, whose paternal upbringing has often commended him to Us and Our fathers, might be thought to have been only half-honoured even by the crowning office of praetorian prefect which he increases daily by his foresight and industry, were he not to be made whole at last and freed of the binding duty he owes to his whole house and family.
(33) Rejoice then with Us, Conscript Fathers, in this excellent action of Our reign, that you may join with Us in recognizing that the memory of this senator has been restored to you and his country, and give your approval to an honour, by sharing which you have become more Distinguished (clariores) and flourish with the same reverence as We do towards his posterity.
(37) I, Appius Nicomachus Dexter, man of Most Distinguished rank, sometime prefect of the City, saw to the erection of this statue to my excellent grandfather.
[On the left side of the base] Dedicated on the Ides of September in the consulship of Bassus and Antiochus, both of clarissimus rank. [13 September 431]
