344. Fragmentary dedication to Titus (?)

Description:
Two blocks of grey limestone, probably from the same inscription. a) w: 0.89 x h: 0.50 x d: 0.52. b) w: 0.77 x h: 0.51 x d: 0.53. 
Text:
Inscribed on the surviving faces. 
Letters:
a) First century lapidary capitals:from top of block, l. 1, 0.16-0.35; to bottom, 0.14. b) First century capitals: from top of block. l. 1, 0.16-0.35; l. 2 (decapitated),0.37-0.50  
Date:
A.D. 72-79 (titulature) 
Findspot:
Lepcis Magna: Forum Vetus, reused for the steps of the Propylaea of the Curia. Block b) is cut to form a moulding.  
Original Location:
Unknown 
Last recorded location:
Findspot 
Bibliography:
R. Cagnat et A. Merlin, Inscriptions latines d'Afrique (Tripolitaine, Tunisie, Maroc), Paris, 1923, If.; P. Romanelli, Leptis Magna (Africae Italiana: Monografie a cura del Ministero delle Colonie, 1), Roma, 1925, 132, part of b) only. This edition taken from J. M. Reynolds and J. B. Ward-Perkins, The Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania, Rome: British School at Rome, 1952.  
Text constituted from:
Transcription (Reynolds, Ward-Perkins) 
a
[·· ? ··]o Aug(usti) f(ilio) po[nt(ifici) ·· ? ··]
b
[·· ? ·· trib(unicia) pot(estate) ·· ? ··]II imp(eratori) [·· ? ··]
[·· ? ··] Lep(citani) dẹ[derunt ·· ? ··]
a
[·· ? ··]OAVGFPO[··········· ? ··]
b
[·· ? ············· ? ··]IIIMP[·· ? ··]
[·· ? ··]LEPD·[········· ? ··]
<div type="textpart" n="a" >
<ab>
<lb n="1" />
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" />
o
<expan>
<abbr>
Aug
</abbr>
<ex>
usti
</ex>
</expan>
<expan>
<abbr>
f
</abbr>
<ex>
ilio
</ex>
</expan>
<expan>
<abbr>
po
<supplied reason="lost" >
nt
</supplied>
</abbr>
<supplied reason="lost" >
<ex>
ifici
</ex>
</supplied>
</expan>
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" />
</ab>
</div>
<div type="textpart" n="b" >
<ab>
<lb n="1" />
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" />
<supplied reason="lost" >
<expan>
<abbr>
trib
</abbr>
<ex>
unicia
</ex>
</expan>
</supplied>
<supplied reason="lost" >
<expan>
<abbr>
pot
</abbr>
<ex>
estate
</ex>
</expan>
</supplied>
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" />
<num value="2" >
II
</num>
<expan>
<abbr>
imp
</abbr>
<ex>
eratori
</ex>
</expan>
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" />
<lb n="2" />
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" />
<expan>
<abbr>
Lep
</abbr>
<ex>
citani
</ex>
</expan>
d
<unclear reason="" >
e
</unclear>
<supplied reason="lost" >
derunt
</supplied>
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" />
</ab>
</div>

Translation:

(a. ) To [·· ? ··] son of Augustus, [chief] priest [·· ? ··] (b. )[·· ? ··] holding tribunician power for the ? (at least second) time [·· ? ··] the Lepcitanians gave [·· ? ··]

Commentary:

a) l. 1; b) l. 1. Within the limits suggested by material and lettering, probably these titles refer to Titus, from 1 Jul. 72.

b) l. 2. Romanelli, loc. cit., suggests associating with 489; but the size of the lettering is different.

Photographs:

Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (BSR 46.XXI.33)
 Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (BSR 46.XXI.33)
Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (Sopr. DLM 245 Lastre)
 Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (Sopr. DLM 245 Lastre)

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