DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0212
148
Roman Africa
(Guelma) and Tibilis (Announa), which may be regarded as
representative towns inhabited by large middle-class popula-
tions, the words beatissimis temporibus are of frequent recurrence
in the reigns of Valentinian and Valens, Theodosius the Great,
and Theodosius the younger. The rule of these emperors
extended from A.D. 363 to A.D. 450. Among the inscriptions at
Kalama there are two relating to the erection and adornment
of the theatre, the remains of which are still an attractive object
on the outskirts of the pretty little town of Guelma.1 The one
relating to the embellishment of the building runs thus :2
ANNIAE AELI
AE • L • FIL • RESTIT
AE • FLAM • AVGG
P • OB • EGREGIAM IN
VOS CIVES LIBERA
I TATEM THEATRO
PECVNIA SVA EXOR
NANDA .... RIAE
SPONTE P . . . ESSO
AD REFERENDAM GR
TIAM ORDO VNIVER
SVSSTATV...QVINQ
DE PVBL FACIEND
DECREVIT
It will be observed that the munificent donor was the
daughter of a flaminica, but there is no date on the inscribed
slab to enable us to state definitely under whose reign this public
work, including the erection of the five statues, was carried out.
It was probably much later than the time of Antonine. There
are two other inscriptions at Kalama which have some little
historic interest. One of them informs us that in the very happy
times of Valentinian and Valens, A.D. 363-37$, during the pro-
consulate of the most illustrious P. Ampelius, and by the fore-
sight of the most illustrious Fabius Fabianus, the water-supply
to the town, which had been very indifferent, was now abundant,
rushing into the public reservoirs with great noise ; and that
Q. Basilius Flaccianus, perpetual flamen, augur, and controller,
kept the reservoir in good condition. The other, equally profuse
1 Restorations of the theatre and baths of Kalama are shown in an interesting
work by M. Amable Ravoisie, Explor. Scientif. de fAlgerie, Paris, 1846.
2 l.R.A. No. 2765. De la Mare, Explor. d'Algerie, Archhlog. pi. clxxxiii.
Annice AlUce L. fil. Restitutes
flaminiccE Augustorinn perpetucc,
ob egregiam in suos cives libera-
litatem, theatro pecunia sua ex-
ornando patries sponte permisso
ad referendum gratiam, ordo
universus statuas nuviero quin-
que de publico faciendas decrevit.
Roman Africa
(Guelma) and Tibilis (Announa), which may be regarded as
representative towns inhabited by large middle-class popula-
tions, the words beatissimis temporibus are of frequent recurrence
in the reigns of Valentinian and Valens, Theodosius the Great,
and Theodosius the younger. The rule of these emperors
extended from A.D. 363 to A.D. 450. Among the inscriptions at
Kalama there are two relating to the erection and adornment
of the theatre, the remains of which are still an attractive object
on the outskirts of the pretty little town of Guelma.1 The one
relating to the embellishment of the building runs thus :2
ANNIAE AELI
AE • L • FIL • RESTIT
AE • FLAM • AVGG
P • OB • EGREGIAM IN
VOS CIVES LIBERA
I TATEM THEATRO
PECVNIA SVA EXOR
NANDA .... RIAE
SPONTE P . . . ESSO
AD REFERENDAM GR
TIAM ORDO VNIVER
SVSSTATV...QVINQ
DE PVBL FACIEND
DECREVIT
It will be observed that the munificent donor was the
daughter of a flaminica, but there is no date on the inscribed
slab to enable us to state definitely under whose reign this public
work, including the erection of the five statues, was carried out.
It was probably much later than the time of Antonine. There
are two other inscriptions at Kalama which have some little
historic interest. One of them informs us that in the very happy
times of Valentinian and Valens, A.D. 363-37$, during the pro-
consulate of the most illustrious P. Ampelius, and by the fore-
sight of the most illustrious Fabius Fabianus, the water-supply
to the town, which had been very indifferent, was now abundant,
rushing into the public reservoirs with great noise ; and that
Q. Basilius Flaccianus, perpetual flamen, augur, and controller,
kept the reservoir in good condition. The other, equally profuse
1 Restorations of the theatre and baths of Kalama are shown in an interesting
work by M. Amable Ravoisie, Explor. Scientif. de fAlgerie, Paris, 1846.
2 l.R.A. No. 2765. De la Mare, Explor. d'Algerie, Archhlog. pi. clxxxiii.
Annice AlUce L. fil. Restitutes
flaminiccE Augustorinn perpetucc,
ob egregiam in suos cives libera-
litatem, theatro pecunia sua ex-
ornando patries sponte permisso
ad referendum gratiam, ordo
universus statuas nuviero quin-
que de publico faciendas decrevit.