DiscussionBase for statue of Constantius I, emperor. Brixia (Venetia et Histria). 293-305. INSCRIPTIONIn ten lines: -----? / [F]lavio V[al(erio)] / Constaṇ[tio], / fortissim[o ac] /(5) nobiliss(imo) C[aes(ari)], / [I]ulius Asclepio[dot(us)], / v(ir) c(larissimus) et Aur(elius) Heṛ[mo]/genianus, v(ir) e(minentissimus)], / praeff(ecti) prae[t(orio)], /(10) ḍ(evoti) n(umini) m(aiestati)q(ue) eius. 'To ... Flavius Valerius Constantius, most powerful and most noble Caesar; Iulius Asclepiodotus, of clarissimus rank, and Aurelius Hermogenianus, of eminentissimus rank, praetorian prefects, devoted to his divine spirit and majesty [set this up].' Letter height 3.5 – 6 cm. DESCRIPTION (from Garzetti 1991, Epigraphic Database Roma, and the published images) Part of a rectangular marble block broken into three adjoining pieces; H 118, W 56, D 20 cm. PROVENANCE AND CURRENT LOCATION The inscription was found in Brescia, via A. Mario, reused as a stair in a later building probably of the 6th century AD, in 1983. It was most recently recorded in Milan, Soprintendenza dei Beni Archeologici della Lombardia (without published inv. no.) by EDR in 2007. HONORAND, AWARDER AND DATE Constantius I, the honorand (full name Flavius Valerius Constantius, as in our inscription) was Caesar 293-305, and later Augustus in 305-6. Constantius’ years in the office of Caesar provide the outer dates for our inscription. The inscription was set up by Iulius Asclepiodotus and Aurelius Hermogenianus, both praetorian prefects. Iulius Asclepiodotus (PLRE I, 115-16 Iulius Asclepiodotus 3) is recorded with senatorial (clarissimus) rank in our inscription. He was praetorian prefect in 290 until an unknown time; traditionally 296 is assumed to be his final year in this office (so PLRE), but there is no hard evidence to confirm this (he took part in the campaign against Allectus in 296, but our source (Jerome, Chronicle s.a. 300), explicitly styles him Asclepiodotum praefectum praetorio); he was consul in 292. An inscription in Oescus records him with equestrian (eminentissimus) rank (LSA-366); Asclepiodotus received his clarissimus rank with his consulship in 292 (see also below, ‘Further Discussion’). Aurelius Hermogenianus, the second awarder, was formerly unknown (no entry in PLRE) and is new in the fasti of the praetorian prefects (but see also below, ‘Further Discussion’). He is recorded with eminentissimus rank, as usual for praetorian prefects in this period. FURTHER DISCUSSION Aurelius Hermogenianus was probably the successor of Afranius Hannibalianus (PLRE I, 407-8 Hannibalianus 3). Hannibalianus set up the inscription in Oescus LSA-366 together with Iulius Asclepiodotus; he was also consul together with Asclepiodotus in 292. It is well possible that an inscription of 293/6 in Rome (LSA-820) which mentions two praetorian prefects, both with clarissimus rank, refers to Asclepiodotus and Hannibalianus. If so, this would raise the terminus post quem for our inscription to 293/6 (see above, ‘Honorand, Awarder and Date’). As AE 1987 point out, it is possible that the praetorian prefect Hermogenianus of our inscription is identical to the jurist and compiler of the Codex Hermogenianus. Main ReferenceL'Année épigraphique, , 1987, 456Garzetti, A., "Brixia - Benacenses - Valles Supra Benacum - Sabini - Trumplini - Cammuni", Supplementa Italica, N.S. 8, Rome 1991, n. 1 Discussion ReferencesJones, A. H. M. et al., The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire. Vol. I 260-395, Cambridge et al. 1971 (1975), Linkhttp://www.edr-edr.it/edr_programmi/res_complex_comune.php?do=book&id_nr=EDR080551&provinz=&land=&fo_antik=&Bibliografia=&Testo=&booltesto=AND&Testo2=&bool=AND&ordinamento=id_nr&javasi=javascriptsi&se_foto=tutte&lang=ita http://edh-www.adw.uni-heidelberg.de/edh/inschrift/HD008755 |
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