Base for statue of Flavius Merobaudes, poet and military man ('aeque forti et docto'); statue commanded by the emperors. Rome, Forum of Trajan. 435
PROVENANCE AND LOCATION
City:
Roma
Province:
Roma
Region:
Rome (including Ostia and Portus)
Details:
Rome, found in forum of Trajan in 1813
Current Location:
Rome, Forum of Trajan, in deposit of Basilica Ulpia (FT 14456)
OBJECT
Object:
Base, for bronze statue
Material:
Marble
Re-Use?
Yes
Form:
Rectangular
Height(cm):
147
Width(cm):
94
Depth(cm):
68
Language:
Latin
Text Type:
Prose
SUBJECT
Honorand:
Flavius Merobaudes
Position:
Military Office-Holders
Gender:
Male
Awarder:
Theodosius II and Valentinian III
Position:
Emperors
DATE
Earliest:
435
Latest :
435
MAIN REFERENCE
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum; , VI, 1724 (+p. 4743-4)
INSCRIPTION
Text:
[Fl(avio) Merob]audi, v(iro) s(pectabili). com(iti) s(acri) c(onsistori). / Fl(avio) Merobaudi, aeque forti et docto viro, tam facere / laudanda quam aliorum facta laudare praecipuo. /(4) Castrensis experientia, claro faciunda vel otiosorum / studia supergresso. Cui a crepundiis par virtutis et elo/quentiae cura, ingenium ita fortitudini ut doctrinae / natum stilo et gladio pariter exercuit. Nec in umbra / vel latebris mentis vigorem scholari tantum otio / torpere passus inter arma litteris militabat /(10) et in alpibus acuebat eloquium. Ideo illi cessit in praemium / non verbena vilis nec otiosa hedera honor capitis / heliconius, sed imago aere formata, quo rari exempli / viros seu in castris probatos seu optimos vatum / antiquitas honorabat, quod huic quoque cum /(15) augustissimis Roma principibus / Theodosio et Placido Valentiniano, rerum dominis, / in foro Ulpio detulerunt, remunerantes in viro / antiquae nobilitatis novae gloriae vel industriam / militarem vel carmen cuius praeconio gloria /(20) triumfali crevit imperio. // Dedicata III Kal(endas) Aug(ustas) conss(ulibus) dd(ominis) nn(ostris)/ [T]heodosio XV et Valentiniano IIII.
Trans:
To Flavius Merobaudes, of spectabilis rank, member of the imperial council (comes sacri consistori). To Flavius Merobaudes, a man equal in power and learning, as excellent in doing praiseworthy things as he is in praising the deeds of others. (He is) experienced in administrative charges (castra), famous for his eloquence, exceeding in his studies those who have more leisure. From the cradle he had the same care for virtue and eloquence; born with a vocation to bravery and to learning alike, he exercised with both pen and sword. And, not allowing the strength of his mind to languish in the shadow and darkness of mere scholarly leisure, when under arms he fought using words, and sharpened a speech when [serving] in the Alps. Therefore he is grantedas a reward, not cheap foliage nor idle ivy as a Heliconian honour for [his] head, but a statue made of bronze, by which times of old used to honour men of rare example, who had been tested in military service, or were the best of poets. This [monument] Rome, together with the most august emperors, Theodosius and PlacidusValentinianus, lords of everything, set up in the forum of Trajan, rewarding in a man of ancient nobility and recent glory his military energy, as well as the poem by whose triumphant publication the glory of the empire grew. [on the side] Dedicated on the third day before the Kalends of August, when our lords Theodosius for the fifteenth time and Valentinian for the fourth time were consuls. (transl. Ulrich Gehn)
