DiscussionBase for statue of Theodosius I, emperor. Rome, Forum. 389. INSCRIPTIONIn nine lines. Letter height 6-4 cm. Extinctori tyrannorum / ac publicae securitati / auctori, / d(omino) ṇ(ostro) Theodosio, /(5) perpetuo ac felici, / semper Augusto. / Ceionius Rufius Albinus, v(ir) c(larissimus), / p̣ṛạẹf̣(ectus) ụṛḅị, iterum / vice sacra iudicans, d(evotus) n(umini) m(aiestati)q(ue) eius. 'To the extinguisher of the tyrants and founder of public security, our lord Theodosius, perpetual and fortunate, forever Augustus. Ceionius Rufius Albinus, of clarissimus rank, prefect of the City, twice judge representing the Emperor, devoted to his divine spirit and majesty, [set this up].' DESCRIPTION (personal inspection) White marble base, 126 x 71.5 x 37 cm. The base is preserved on all sides, with fault lines on different parts. The front is finished but weathered, and the sides are smooth. The back is partly visible, it has a hole on the top for clamp holding the plinth of a statue, two holes near corners of the top and two more holes towards the bottom. PROVENANCE AND LOCATION Our base was found in the Roman Forum, on the Sacra Via near the Arch of Septimius Severus. It was dedicated with LSA-1356 and LSA-1357. The surviving piece is now in the Lapidario Forense, Inv. n. 6141. HONORAND, AWARDER AND DATE The base records a statue dedicated to the emperor Arcadius. It was dedicated by Ceionius Rufius Albinus, who was prefect of the CIty between 389 and 391 (PLRE I, 37-38 Albinus 15). However, the fact that it was dedicated together with a statue of Valentinian II (LSA-1356) and another of Arcadius (LSA-1357) allows us to date this base to the visit of Theodosius to Rome in 389, when he celebrated his triumph over Magnus Maximus. We know that Albinus was prefect of Rome in June 389 (Cod.Theod. 16.5.18), and Theodosius is attested as in the city from the beginning of June until the end of August (Seeck 1919, 277). Main ReferenceCorpus Inscriptionum Latinarum; , VI, 36959 (+p. 4355)Discussion ReferencesJones, A. H. M. et al., The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire. Vol. I 260-395, Cambridge et al. 1971 (1975), pp. 37-38 (Albinus 15) Seeck, O., Regesten der Kaiser und Päpste für die Jahre 311 bis 476 n. Chr., Stuttgart 1919, p. 277 |
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