DiscussionBase for statue of Maxentius. Caesarea (Mauretania Caesarensis). 311-312 INSCRIPTIONIn twelve lines: Filio divi Maximi/ani, genero divi / Maximiani, felicis/simoru(m) Impp(eratorum), Imp(eratori) to/tius orbis perpetuo, / (6) d(omino) n(ostro) M(arco) [A]ur(elio) Val(erio) Maxen/tio, Pio, Felici, Invicto / et gloriosissimo sem/per Aug(usto); Val(erius) Faustus, / (10) v(ir) p(erfectissimus), p(raeses) p(rovinciae) Maur(etaniae) Caes(ariensis), devo/tus numini maiesta/tique eius. 'To the son of divine Maximianus, son-in-law of divine Maximianus [Galerius], fortunate emperors, forever emperor of the whole world, our Lord Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius, pious, fortunate, unconquered and most glorious, forever Augustus; Valerius Faustus, man of perfectissimus rank, governor (praeses of the province of Mauretania Caesariensis [set this up], devoted to his divine spirit and majesty.' DESCRIPTION (from Gauckler) The inscription has not been erased but was recovered with mortar in Late Antiquity, probably soon after the defeat of Maxentius in 312. There are no published measurements of this base and no published image. PROVENANCE AND CURRENT LOCATION Found in 1881 in Aptel property, near the gate of Alger. It remains in Cherchel museum. HONORAND, AWARDER AND DATE Maxentius was Augustus from 306 to 312. As Galerius is divine in our dedication, the base must have been erected after his death in May 311. Therefore, our base has to be dated between May 311 and October 312 (defeat of Maxentius). Valerius Faustus (PLRE I, p. 330, Faustus 10), governor (praeses) of Mauretania Caesariensis, is only known by our inscription. Main ReferenceCorpus Inscriptionum Latinarum; , VIII, no. 20989Lepelley, C., Les cités de l'Afrique romaine au Bas-Empire, t. 2, Notices d'histoire municipale, Paris 1981, p. 514, n. 11 Discussion ReferencesGauckler, P., Musée de Cherchel, Musées et collections archéologiques de l'Algérie et de la Tunisie, Paris, 1895, p. 22 |
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