DiscussionBase for statue of Evanthius. Lepcis Magna (Tripolitania). Fourth century. INSCRIPTIONOne line preserved: Evanthii / - - - - - - '(Statue of) Evanthius. …'. Letter height 5 cm. The main text of this inscription was probably on a plaque fixed on the front face (see below, 'Description'). DESCRIPTION Monolithic base of coarse grained grey limestone, moulded at top and bottom; H 128, W 60, D 60 cm. There are light chips on the crowning and on the shaft. The mouldings are extremely simplified, a property which is certainly due to the poor quality of the stone, which was not suitable for elaborate decoration. On the top face, an oval shaped plinth is standing proud. On the plinth there are two circular dowel holes set within oval shaped cavities; these are the fittings for a bronze statue. The poor quality of the stone did not allow for a text being carved directly into the surface. On the front face there is a rectangular slot with two round holes at the top and bottom. This is the provision for a separately worked plaque – probably metal, considering the shallow depth of the cavity - on which the main text was written. The signum on the moulding is the only surviving part of this inscription. It is notable that this is not a re-used base; this is a rare case where a late antique inscription is carved on a base that was produced ex novo. PROVENANCE AND CURRENT LOCATION The base was found on the Severan forum, in front of the eastern colonnade. It is now standing close to its find spot, as photos from the time of the excavations reveal. HONORAND AND DATE The use of a signum ending in double -ii suggests a date in the 4th century, after the period of Diocletion (284-305); for our inscription (Tantillo & Bigi 2010 ch. 5.10). Main ReferenceTantillo, I. and F. Bigi (eds.), Leptis Magna. Una città e le sue iscrizioni in epoca tardoromana, Cassino 2010, 442-3, no. 67, figs. 7.18, 10.75, pl. XIXReynolds, J. M. & J. B. Ward-Perkins, The Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania. In collaboration with S. Aurigemma, R. Bartoccini, G. Caputo, R. Goodchild, P. Romanelli, Roma 1952, no. 696 |
Last Statues of Antiquity
LSA Database