Base for marble statue of Flavius Nepotianus, military commander and governor (comes et praeses) of Tripolitania. Lepcis Magna (Tripolitania). 350-360.
PROVENANCE AND LOCATION
City:
Lepcis Magna
Province:
Tripolitania
Region:
North Africa, Eastern (Tripolitania and Cyrenaica)
Details:
Severan Basilica, southern end of western nave
Current Location:
Where found
OBJECT
Object:
Base
Material:
Marble
Re-Use?
Yes
Form:
Rectangular
Height(cm):
153
Width(cm):
62
Depth(cm):
70
Language:
Latin
Text Type:
Prose
SUBJECT
Honorand:
Flavius Nepotianus, military commander and governor (comes et praeses) of Tripolitania
Position:
Provincial Governors
Gender:
Male
Awarder:
Council (ordo) with the people (populus) of Lepcis Magna
Position:
Provincial Cities, their Institutions and Officials
DATE
Earliest:
350
Latest :
360
MAIN REFERENCE
Tantillo, I. and F. Bigi (eds.), Leptis Magna. Una città e le sue iscrizioni in epoca tardoromana, Cassino 2010, 392-4, no. 41, fig. 7.15, pl. XIV
Reynolds, J. M. & J. B. Ward-Perkins, The Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania. In collaboration with S. Aurigemma, R. Bartoccini, G. Caputo, R. Goodchild, P. Romanelli, Roma 1952, no. 565
INSCRIPTION
Text:
Nepotianii. / Fl(avio) Nepotiano v(iro) p(erfectissimo), com(iti) et praesidi provin(ciae) Trip(olitanae), /(3) iustitia et integritati (sic, for 'integritate') prae/cipuo, moderatione ac benigni/tate praestantissimo, abstinen/tiae et honestatis officiorumq(ue) /(7) omnium cultori, rei etiam mili/taris peritissimo, armis consi/li(i)sq(ue) inconparabili, quod idem /(10) ordines universosq(ue) provin/ciales iuridicendo fide beni/volentia multis beneficiis /cumulaverit, quod barbaro/rum insolentiam exercitio /(15) scientiae militaris adtriberit, / quod limitis defensionem tui/tionemq(ue) perpetuam futuris etia(m) / temporibus munitam securamq(ue) /(19) ab omni hostile incursione prae/stiterit, quod civitatum moenia ope/rum instauratione vel novitate de/coraverit, ordo civitatis Lepcimag(nensis) / cum populo statuam marmoream / ob haec merita decretis et sufragiis / concinnentibus (sic, for 'concinentibus') conlocavit.
Trans:
(Statue of) Nepotianus. To Flavius Nepotianus, of perfectissimus rank, military commander and governor (comes et praeses) of the province of Tripolitania. Exceptional in justice and integrity, outstanding in moderation and benignity, a cultivator of abstinence and honesty and of all duties, very experienced also in military affairs, incomparable in arms and in counsel. Because he increased the councils (ordines) and all the provincials with many benefits by administrating with benevolent loyalty; because he crushed the insolence of the barbarians with the use of military science; because he established defence and permanent protection for the borders, also for future times, fortified and secure from any hostile incursion; because he adorned the buildings of the cities both by restoration and by new building. The council (ordo) of the city of Lepcis Magna with the people (populus) set up a marble statue on account of these merits, with all decrees (= of the ordo) and votes (= of the people) in unison.
