DiscussionLost base for bronze statue of Memmius Vitrasius Orfitus, prefect of the City; erected to its patron by the guild of all contractors (corpus omnium mancipum). From Rome.357-360. INSCRIPTIONIn 19 lines. Honori. / Memmio Vitrasio Orfito, v(iro) c(larissimo), / nobilitate actibusque ad exem/plum praecipuo, praefecto urbi /(5) et iterum praefecto urbi, procon/suli Africae ac tertio sacrarum / cognitionum iudici, comiti in / consistorio ordinis primi, le/gato secundo difficillimis tem/poribus petitu senatus et p(opuli) R(omani), /(11) comiti ordinis secundi expedition(es) / bellicas gubernanti, consulari Sicil(iae), / pontifici Solis, pontifici Vestae, / XVviro s(acris) f(aciundis), consuli, praetori, q(uaestori) k(andidato), om/nibusq(ue) perfuncto honorib(us) intra /(16) aetatis primordia. Ob providentiam / et statum optimum urbi Romae ab eo / redditum, corpus omnium manci/pum statuam sub aere constituit. '(Statue) of Honorius. To Memmius Vitrasius Orfitus, of clarissimus rank, distinguished by birth and deeds and as an example, prefect of the City and again prefect of the City, governor (proconsular) of Africa and three times judge in the imperial court of appeal, count of the first order in the imperial consistory, a second legate in difficult times by petition of the Senate and Roman people, count of the second order directing military expeditions, governor (consularis) of the province of Sicily, priest of the Sun, priest of the goddess Vesta, member of the college of fifteen men for sacred affairs, suffect consul, praetor, quaestor (quaestor candidatus) and having fulfilled all honours at an early age. On account of his providence and the return to better status of the city of Rome through him, the corporation of all contractors set up a bronze statue.' DESCRIPTION There is no description available. The inscription mentions a bronze statue. PROVENANCE AND CURRENT LOCATION The base was found behind re-used in the church of S. Prisca, on the Aventine hill. However, as CIL observes, it was certainly moved there from the domus of Orfitus, in the area of the Lateran, where LSA-1441, LSA-1442, and LSA-1443 (dedicated by different corporations to the same man) were found (Guidobaldi 1995, 149). The base is now lost. HONORAND, AWARDER AND DATE The dedication was made when Memmius Vitrasius Orfitus was urban prefect for the second time, from 357 to 359 (PLRE I, 651-653 Orfitus 3), or immediately afterwards. The base was set up by the guild of the contractors of Ostia and Portus. Our base, as well as the others dedicated to this same prefect, suggest that he was the patron of different guilds in Rome. Main ReferenceCorpus Inscriptionum Latinarum; , VI, 1742 (+p. 4749)Discussion ReferencesGuidobaldi, F., "Domus: Memmius Vitrasius Orfitus s. Honorius", in E. M. Steinby (ed.), Lexicon Topographicum Urbis Romae, vol. 2, Rome 1995, p. 149 Jones, A. H. M. et al., The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire. Vol. I 260-395, Cambridge et al. 1971 (1975), pp. 651-653 (Orfitus 3) |
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