DiscussionPlaque from base for posthumous statue of Thermantia, mother of the emperor Theodosius I. Rome, Forum. 389-391. INSCRIPTION:In 13 lines. Letter height 7.5-6 cm. [Thermantia]e, / [sanctissimae] ac nobilissimae / [memoriae femi]nae, coniugi divi / [Theodosi, inlust]ris comitis utrius/[que militiae mag(istri), m]atri d(omini) n(ostri) Theodosi /(6) [perpetui Aug(usti), aviae dd(ominorum) nn(ostrorum) / [Arcadi fortis]simi principis / [et Honori nobilis]simi iuvenis. / [Praestantia ind]olis suae /(10) [augenti divinam] prosapiam. / [Ceionius Ruf]ius Albinus, v(ir) c(larissimus), / [praefectus urbi], iudex iterum / [sacrarum co]gnitionum, d(edi)c(avit). 'To Thermantia, a woman of the most blessed and noble memory, wife of the deified Theodosius, illustrious count and master of both armies, mother of our lord Theodosius perpetual Augustus, grandmother of our lords Arcadius, most powerful prince, and Honorius, most noble youth, who through the excellence of her nature increased the divine race. Ceionius Rufius Albinus, of clarissimus rank, prefect of the City, judge in the imperial court of appeal for the second time, dedicated [this].' Only half of the inscription survives: the whole left side is lost. However, the text can be integrated by comparison with other inscriptions. We have adopted here the reconstruction of Pflaum (1970), p. 163, which is different from CIL VI, 3690 but incorporated by CIL VI, p. 4356. The only difference is l.13, where he suggests 'd(ecurionum) c(onsensu)', which would be an unusual formula in late antique Rome. In this case, we have opted for 'd(edi)c(avit)', as suggested by Bang (CIL VI, 36960). DESCRIPTION: White marble plaque, from base for statue. 161 x 72 x 18 cm. The plaque was broken in half, and only the right side survives. The dimensions of this base would not fit a normal statue-base. Ruck (2007), p. 260, suggests a colossal statue. PROVENANCE AND CURRENT LOCATION Our inscription was found in the area of the Roman Forum, on the Sacra Via near the Clivu Palatinus. It is now in the Antiquario Palatino, on the Palatine hill. HONORAND, AWARDER AND DATE: Our monument was dedicated Ceionius Rufius Albinus, prefect of the City in 389-391 (PLRE I, 37-38 Albinus 15). It was dedicated to Thermantia, wife of Theodosius the elder and mother of the emperor Theodosius I. The statue was dedicated after her death (PLRE I, 909 Thermantia 1). Main ReferenceCorpus Inscriptionum Latinarum; , VI, 36960 (+p. 4356)Discussion ReferencesPflaum, H. G., "Titulature et rang social sous le haut-empire", Recherches sur les structures sociales dans l'Antiquité classique, Paris 1970, pp.163-164 Ruck, B., Die Grossen diser Welt. Kolossalporträts im antiken Rom, Heidelberg 2007, p. 260 |
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