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Base for statue of Marcus Caesolius Saturninus, local notable and patron. From Ocriculum (Tuscia et Umbria). 341. Dedicated with LSA-1632.

INSCRIPTION
In 14 lines.

Bonae originis suboli et / sinceritate praecipua praedi/to, M(arco) Caesolio Saturnino, om/nibus honoribus functo, lauda/bili viro, restauratori therma/rum hiemalium cum Sex(to) Cluvio /(7) Martino, fratre suo, pro tantis / meritis erga se ordo et cives splen/didissimae civitatis Ocricolanae /(10) statuam marmoream patro/no dignissimo ad perenne tes/timonium publice / censuerunt /(14) feliciter. // Dedicata XVI Kal(endas) / Decembres / Marcelli/no et Probi/no conss(ulibus).

'To the offshoot of a good lineage and a man gifted with outstanding integrity, Marcus Caesolius Saturninus, who performed all public magistracies, of laudabilis rank, restorer of the winter baths with Marcus Caesonius Saturninus, his brother. On account of so many services towards them, the councillors and citizens of the most splendid city of Ocriculum publicly and auspiciously decreed [this] marble statue to its most worthy patron, as a perpetual memorial. (On the right side): Dedicated on the 16th Kalends of December, under the consulship of Marcellinus and Probinus.' (Transl. U. Gehn)

The inscription records the dedication of a statue to a civic benefactor, for works carried out in the public baths of the city. A nearly identical inscription records a statue to his brother (LSA-1632). The works were also celebrated in a building inscription (CIL XI, 4095), of the same date.

DESCRIPTION (CIL)
Front of large marble base.

PROVENANCE AND LOCATION
The provenance of our base was not recorded. It was certainly set up with LSA-1632 in the Winter Baths of Ocriculum, as the inscription tells us. The Winter Baths were part of a large bathing complex of early imperial date (Sisani 2006, 212). LSA-2682 records other works in the same complex, also in the fourth century. Our base is now in the Vatican Museums, Galleria Lapidaria.

HONORAND, AWARDER AND DATE
Marcus Caesolius Saturninus was a member of the local elite, and occupied all magistracies in the city. He was a man of laudabilis rank, and our statue was set up by the ordo and citizens of Ocriculum, as a sign of gratitude for the works that he and his brother carried out in the Winter Baths. The inscription is dated to 341.

Carlos Machado

Main Reference

Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae, , 5697

Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum; , XI, 4097 (+p 1363)

Discussion References

Sisani, S., Umbria, Marche (Guide Archeologiche Laterza), Bari 2006,


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