Base for statue of Decimius Hesperius, former governor of Africa Proconsularis and judge appointed by the emperor. Lepcis Magna (Tripolitania). c. 378.
PROVENANCE AND LOCATION
City:
Lepcis Magna
Province:
Tripolitania
Region:
North Africa, Eastern (Tripolitania and Cyrenaica)
Details:
Severan Forum, eastern part of the square
Current Location:
Where found
OBJECT
Object:
Base
Material:
Marble
Re-Use?
Yes
Form:
Rectangular
Height(cm):
145
Width(cm):
69
Depth(cm):
69
Language:
Latin
Text Type:
Prose
SUBJECT
Honorand:
Hesperius Decimius, former governor of Africa Proconsularis and judge appointed by the emperor
Position:
Civilian Imperial Office-Holders
Gender:
Male
Awarder:
Council (ordo) and people (populus) of Lepcis Magna
Position:
Provincial Cities, their Institutions and Officials
DATE
Earliest:
377
Latest :
378
MAIN REFERENCE
Tantillo, I. and F. Bigi (eds.), Leptis Magna. Una città e le sue iscrizioni in epoca tardoromana, Cassino 2010, 350-353, no. 23, figs. 7.14, 10.27
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. 526
INSCRIPTION
Text:
(H)esperii v(iri) c(larissimi). / Decimio (H)esperio v(iro) c(larissimo), ex procon/sule provin(ciae) Africae, iudici / sacrarum cognitionum, /(5) prosapiae dignitatm (sic, for 'dignitatem') crescenti (sic, perhaps for 'accrescenti')) / per gradus et merita gloriar(um), / ob honorm (sic, for 'honorem') iustitiae quam / causae Tripolitanorum / deligatae (sic, for 'delegatae') sacro iudici(o) /(10) exhibuit, praestanti / patro(no), (vac. c.4) Lepcimagnen/sis cliens semper ordo / cum populo conlocavit.
Trans:
[Statue of] Hesperius, of clarissimus rank. To Decimius Hesperius, of clarissimus rank, former governor (proconsul) of the province of Africa, judge in the imperial court of appeal, who enhances the dignity of his family through high offices and merits of glory; for the honour of the justice which he showed to the case of the Tripolitanians, that that was assigned [to him] by sacred decision [of the emperor], to the outstanding patron, the council of Lepcis Magna, forever his client, together with the people, set this up.
