DiscussionBase for statue of the 'Genius of the Colony'. Lepcis Magna (Tripolitania). Later third century. INSCRIPTIONGenio / col(oniae) Sept(imiae) Lepc(is) Mag(nae) / felicis / d(ecreto) s(plendidissimi) o(rdinis) 'To the Genius of the fortunate colony Septimia of Lepcis Magna, by decree of the most splendid council (ordo) [this was set up].' Letter height 4 - 8 cm. DESCRIPTION Two architrave blocks of Proconnesian marble, reworked and clamped together to serve as a statue base; H 65, W 113, D 79 cm. The decorated faces of the architrave blocks make up the upper face of the base and are only partly preserved. A simple lower moulding was carved when the blocks were used as a base. Possibly there was a third block that served as crowning of the structure. Our inscription is carved over an earlier one to Caracalla (IRT 423), still in large parts legible. PROVENANCE AND CURRENT LOCATION The base is standing where it was found on the Severan forum, in the south-western part of the piazza (Tantillo & Bigi 2010 map I). This corresponds to the position of two further dedications to the Genius of the city, Tantillo & Bigi 2010 no. 83 from the Gallienic period, and LSA-2216 from the 4th century, probably from the Constantinian period; it is probably in its late antique location. However, in its first use as a statue base to Caracalla, it was probably set up in the Hadrianic baths; there a similar base to Caracalla’s father Septimius Severus (IRT 393) was set up in the same year (Tantillo & Bigi 2010 figs. 8.1-2). HONORAND, AWARDER AND DATE The inscription was set up to the Genius of the city (line 1); it was awarded by the council (ordo, line 3) of Lepcis Magna. A secure terminus post quem is 217, the year of Caracalla’s death; however it is likely that our inscription was set up some decades later. The most probable date is in the 2nd half of the 3rd century; if so, it was either before the city acquired the title of colonia Salonina under Gallienus (Augustus 253-68; after Gallienus’ wife Salonina; cf. Tantillo & Bigi 2010 no. 83), or after Gallienus’ death in 268. Main ReferenceTantillo, I. and F. Bigi (eds.), Leptis Magna. Una città e le sue iscrizioni in epoca tardoromana, Cassino 2010, 473-4, no. 82, fig. 10.96, pl. XXIReynolds, 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. 283 |
Last Statues of Antiquity
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