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Base for statue of Constantine I, emperor. Cirta (Numidia). 314-317

INSCRIPTION
In nine lines:

Perpetuae securitatis / ac libertatis auctori, / domino nostro / Flavio Valerio / (5) Constantino, / pio, felici, invicto ac semper Aug(usto), / Iallius Antiochus, v(ir) p(erfectissimus), praeses / prov(inciae) Numid(iae), devotus / numini maiestatique eius.

'To the author of perpetual security and freedom, our lord, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, pious, fortunate, unconquered and forever Augustus; Iallius Antiochus, of perfectissimus rank, governor (praeses) of the province of Numidia, devoted to his divine spirit and majesty, [set this up].'

Letter heigth : 8 - 7 cm

DESCRIPTION
Of this base, Pflaum gives no description other than its measurements: H 90, W 67 cm; depth unrecorded.

PROVENANCE AND CURRENT LOCATION
Our base was found reused in the wall of the Kasbah. There is no recent published record of its location. It may still be where it was found.

HONORAND, AWARDER AND DATE
The honorand, Constantine I, was Augustus from 306 to 337.

The awarder, Iallius Antiochus, was governor of Numidia within the period 314-17 (PLRE I, 73, Antiochus 14).

Antiochus' governorship provides the closest dating for our inscription, and is supported by the use of the formula 'perpetuae securitatis ac libertatis auctori', which certainly refers to Constantine's victory over Maxentius in 312.

FURTHER DISCUSSION
Many statues were dedicated to Constantine in Cirta, which had been renamed 'Constantina' (LSA-2228, LSA-2229, LSA-2230, LSA-2232, LSA-2233). The city had been sacked by the troops of Maxentius in 310, and was rebuilt through the generosity of Constantine.

Gabriel de Bruyn

Main Reference

Pflaum H.-G., Inscriptions latines de l'Algérie. 2, Inscriptions de la confédération cirtéenne, de Cuicul et de la tribu des Suburbures. [1, Rusicade et région de Rusicade, Cirta, Castellum celtianum, Caldis, Castellum tidditanorum], Paris, 1957, no. 584

Lepelley, C., Les cités de l'Afrique romaine au Bas-Empire, t. 2, Notices d'histoire municipale, Paris 1981, p. 389, no. 3