Graham, Alexander: Roman Africa: an outline of the history of the Roman occupation of North Africa ; based chiefly upon inscriptions and monumental remains in that country (London [u.a.], 1902)

Africa under Antoninus Pius 121

' without making any war at all Antoninus ruled the world for
three-and-twenty years by his own authority, insomuch that all
kings, nations, and people did stand in awe of him, loving him
withal. They rather esteemed him to be their Father and
Patron than their Lord and Emperor, and with one consent they
all sought his decision in their controversies, looking on him as
if he had slid down from heaven.'

Unlike Hadrian, whose life reads like one long day of in-
cessant locomotion, Antonine scarcely travelled beyond the
outskirts of Rome, dividing his time between duties in the
Senate-house and homely pleasures at his country seat at
Lorium, some ten miles distant from the capital on the Appian
Way. It is true that such a career, undisturbed by wars abroad
or the troubles of factious intrigues at home, has afforded few
materials for biographers, but it has led historians to consider
how far so uneventful a reign of three-and-twenty years con-
tributed to the progress of the Empire in the provinces as well
as in Italy. In Africa there is little to indicate the direct
influence of Antonine's rule. Dedicatory inscriptions are not
wanting, and, strange to say, the most remote towns, whose
inhabitants were unacquainted with the Emperor's personality,
bear testimony to the present day of their goodwill towards so
benign a ruler. At CEa, for instance, the modern Tripoli, may
still be seen on a ruined arch of great magnificence a much-
worn inscription recording the commencement of this monu-
mental edifice in the reign of Antonine, and of its dedication
when completed to his joint successors M, Aurelius and L. Verus,
during the consulate of Scipio GEfritus.1 The grandeur of this
arch, which is entirely of white marble and embellished with an
unusual amount of sculpture, is specially noteworthy as indi-
cating the high esteem in which the Emperor was held by his
distant subjects. Such a work would occupy many years. It
was evidently not completed at the |time of Antonine's death,
and there was nothing unreasonable in dedicating the monu-
ment at a later date to the succeeding Emperors. In one of
the defiles of the Aures mountains, known as Khanga-Tigaminin,
may still be seen the old familiar lettering cut in the solid rock,

1 Sir R. Lambert Playfair, Travels in the Footsteps of Bruce, p. 280. A drawing
of this arch, as it appeared in 1766, gives a fair idea of its magnificence.