Base for statue of Flavius Archontius Nilus, military commander and governor (comes et praeses) of Tripolitania, patron of Lepcis. Lepcis Magna (Tripolitania). 355-361.
PROVENANCE AND LOCATION
City:
Lepcis Magna
Province:
Tripolitania
Region:
North Africa, Eastern (Tripolitania and Cyrenaica)
Details:
First recorded in 1931 on the Old Forum, built into the apse of the church
Current Location:
Standing in the apse of the church on the Old Forum
OBJECT
Object:
Base
Material:
Marble
Re-Use?
No
Form:
Rectangular
Height(cm):
157
Width(cm):
80
Depth(cm):
56
Language:
Latin
Text Type:
Prose
SUBJECT
Honorand:
Flavius Archontius Nilus, military commander and governor (comes et praeses) of Tripolitania
Position:
Provincial Governors
Gender:
Male
Awarder:
People of Lepcis (Lepcimagnenses)
Position:
Provincial Cities, their Institutions and Officials
DATE
Earliest:
355
Latest :
361
MAIN REFERENCE
Tantillo, I. and F. Bigi (eds.), Leptis Magna. Una città e le sue iscrizioni in epoca tardoromana, Cassino 2010, 387-9, no. 39, figs. 7.14, 10.46, pl. XIII
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. 563
INSCRIPTION
Text:
Nilii. / vigiliis adque consilio domi [fo]risque pr[a]e/stanti, integritate praecipuo, iustitia / et iud[ic]i[o]rum mo[d]eratione perpenso, /(5) instauratori moenium publicorum, / ordinis civi[umq]u[e omnium] salut[is pr]o/vide[ntissimo], custodi [veritatis, honesta]/tis et fi[dei a]micissimo, / Fl(avio) Archontio Nilo v(iro) p(erfectissimo), com[iti et p]raes[idi] /(10) provi[nciae Trip(olitanae), patrono optimo, ob infinita] / [eius beneficia, quibus vel separat]im vel / cum omn[i pr]ovincia su[ble]va[ti ac] recrae/ati (sic for recreati) Lepcimagnenses gratula[mur, un]o c[on]/sensu statuam decreverunt e[am]q[ue propter] /(15) praecipuum eius meritum coloniae [ornatui] / censuerunt esse iungendam.
Trans:
(Statue of) Nilus. To a man outstanding in vigilance and advice at home and abroad (= in peace and war), foremost by integrity, measured by justice and the moderation of his judgements, the restorer of public buildings, a most far-seeing guardian of the safety of the council (ordo) and of all citizens, safeguarder of truth and the greatest friend of honesty and loyalty, Flavius Archontius Nilus, of perfectissimus rank, military commander (comes) and governor (praeses) of the province of Tripolitania. To ther best patron, on account of his infinite good deeds by which both separately and with the entire province they have been raised and reborn, the people of Lepcis Magna (Lepcimagnenses) show their joy; unanimously they decreed a statue and because of his exceptional merit they decided that it should be added to the décor of the city.
