DiscussionBase for statue of Flavius Sallustius, consul and praetorian prefect; erected by the provincials of Spain. Rome, Forum of Trajan. 364 INSCRIPTIONIn 12 lines, with two extra lines for dating inscription on the left side. Letters 5-3 cm. Fl(avio) Sallustio, v(iro) c(larissimo), / cons(uli) ordinario, / praef(ecto) praet(orio), comiti / consistorii, vicario / Urbi Romae, vicario / Hispaniarum, vicario / quinq(ue) provinciarum, / pleno aequitatis / ac fidei ob virtutis / meritorumq(ue) gloriam, / missis legat(is) ius(sione) sac(ra) / Hispaniae dicauerunt. // Dedicata V kal(endas) Iun(ias) / divo Ioviano Aug(usto) et Varronian[o] coss (ie, consulibus). 'To Flavius Sallustius, of clarissimus rank, ordinary consul, praetorian prefect, count of the consistory, vicar of the city of Rome, vicar of the Spains, vicar of the five provinces, abundant in equanimity and trustworthiness. For the glory of [his] virtues and merits, the Spains dedicated [this statue] through the legates sent by sacred decision.// Dedicated on the 28th of May in the consulship of the deified Jovian Augustus and Varronianus.' DESCRIPTION (based on personal inspection) White marble base, well preserved, with mouldings top and bottom on three sides. Right side is rough, suggests erasure of original decoration. Left side is finished, and it has consular date on it. Back cannot be inspected, because it is against the wall. Upper front moulding preserves part of its original decoration, now damaged. The epigraphic field is deep and rough, indicating erasure of a previous inscription. The top is very rough and has five dowel holes. It is not clear if all for fitting statues. PROVENANCE AND CURRENTLOCATION The base was discovered in 1849, during excavations of the western part of the Forum of Trajan (Lanciani 2000, 378), where it is still kept. HONORAND Flavius Sallustius occupied important positions in the court of Julian, reaching the consulship in 363. He was a pagan, and is probably to be identified as the author of 'On the gods and the cosmos'. His three vicariates suggest that he was a new man (PLRE I, 797-798 Sallustius 5). Sallustius was here honoured in Rome, although he had no known connections with the city. However, the Forum of Trajan was important enough for the offering of honours to such an influential associate of the emperor. AWARDER The statue was awarded by the provinces of Spain, where Sallustius had been vicar. The dedication of a statue to an aristocrat by provincials in the Forum of Trajan was an unusual initiative, but this might be explained by the exceptionally high standing of Sallustius in the court. DATE The date (364) is recorded by the consular date on the left side of the base. Sallustius himself was consul in 363, one year before this dedication. Main ReferenceCorpus Inscriptionum Latinarum; , VI, 1729 (+4745-6)Discussion ReferencesJones, A. H. M. et al., The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire. Vol. I 260-395, Cambridge et al. 1971 (1975), pp. 797-798 (Sallustius 5) Lanciani, R., Storia degli scavi di Roma e notizie intorno le collezioni romane di antichità, vol. 6 (1700-1878), Rome 2000, |
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