Building inscription of Basilica under Constantine IJ. M. ReynoldsJ. B. Ward-Perkins
Creative Commons licence Attribution UK 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/uk/).
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Republished from J. M. Reynolds and J. B. Ward-Perkins, The Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania, Rome: British
School at Rome, 1952.
Marked-up according to the EpiDoc Guidelines version 5 http://www.stoa.org/epidoc/gl/5/
ArabicEnglishFrenchGermanAncient GreekTransliterated GreekModern GreekHebrewItalianLatinPunicNative Libyan language in Latin scriptTripolitaniaLibyaLeptis Magna2008-09-09ZAconverted using CHET-C2009-05-19RVAdded Figures2009-08-24RVAdded Figures
Description of Monument
Moulded marblebase (1.191.191.46).
Description of Text
Inscribed on one face (die, 0.930.83).
Description of Letters
Fourth century A.D. capitals: 0.045-0.025.
Date
A.D. 317
(prosopography)
Locations
Lepcis Magna:
Forum Vetus, found re-used on the right of the nave in front of the altar of Church II.
Text
CumbasilicauetusexmaximaparteruinaessetdeformataconlabsuacspatiosuibreuiassetareamforensemdiuinoictaconflagraratincendioadqueislocussaeculofortunatissimomelioradeposcerettantaestragislabesublatatripertitaporticusmagnitudinesuiacTroadensiumcolumnarumadornataoperisprouincialiumacsumtupublicodisponenteLaenatioRomulouiroperfectissimorectoreprouinciaeintraannispatiumperfectaacdedicataestadqueadsempiternammemoriamstatuammarmoreamsuonumineradiantemDominonostroConstantinomaximouictorisemperAugustoidemuirperfectissimusdicatamenteconstituitcuranteClaudioAurelioGenerosouiroegregiocuratorereipublicaeetsplendidissimoordineColoniaeLepcimagnensium
Apparatus
Perhaps igne, or possibly iaculo.
Translation
Since the greatest part of the old basilica was damaged and fallen down and the space taken by its fallen debris had reduced the open area of the forum moreover struck by divine lightning it had blazed with a fire and since in a most fortunate period that place demanded better things, the fallen parts were removed and a tripartite portico built. It has been adorned by its own size and by columns of Troadensian marble, by the works of the provincials and at public expense with Laenatius Romulus, excellent man i.e. equestrian, governor of the province, managing it; it was completed and dedicated within the space of a year; and moreover to his eternal memory a marble statue radiant with his divine power to our Lord Constantine greatest victor, perpetual Augustus, was erected by the same excellent man; Claudius Aurelius Generosus, eminent man i.e. equestrian, curator of the city and the most splendid city council of the colony of Lepcimagnensians overseeing the work.
Commentary
l. 7. Laenatius Romulus: praeses c. 317, see Aurigemma, loc. cit.; also in 101, ll. 1-8; 468, l. 10, 574, ll. 1-12.
.10. Constantine: Augustus 307-337; Maximus from October 312.