DiscussionBase for statue (subject unstated), re-erected by Petronius Maximus, prefect of the City. Rome, Forum. 421-439. INSCRIPTIONIn three lines. Letter height 5-6 cm. [[Petronius Maximus,]] / [[vir) c(larissimus), iterum praef(ectus) urb(i),]] / [[curavit]]. 'Petronius Maximus, of clarissimus rank, twice prefect of the City, took care [of this].' The inscription was erased, possibly following Maximus' murder after his usurpation and subsequent downfall in 455. DESCRIPTION (personal inspection) White marble base, preserved on all sides. 176 x 96 x 64 cm. The base has mouldings on top and bottom. The epigraphic field is framed by moulding. There are no clear signs of re-use at the front, but there is urceus countersank on the left side, suggesting that our dedication was a secondary use (or afterthought). The top has a sunk rectangular section with four round dowel holes and three/four shallow holes towards the front, plus an extra hole at the back. PROVENANCE AND CURRENT LOCATION Our base was found in the Roman Forum, in the Basilica Aemilia. It is still there, Sopr.For.-Pal. Inv. n. 12449. HONORAND, AWARDER AND DATE The inscription records the dedication of a statue with unstated subject. It was set up by Petronius Maximus between 421-439, while he was prefect of the City for the second time (PLRE II, 749-751 Maximus 22). Main ReferenceCorpus Inscriptionum Latinarum; , VI, 37109 (+p. 4818)Discussion ReferencesMartindale, J. R., The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire. Vol. II A.D. 395-527, Cambridge 1980, pp. 749-751 (Maximus 22) |
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