DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0224
i6o
Roman Africa
and fitted with baths and hypocausts. Whether they formed
parts of a large thermal establishment where bodily treatment
was practised is not quite apparent. But it is reasonable to
suppose that, with the decline of Paganism at a later period,
such places were resorted to by wealthy colonists, who held the
worship of yEsculapius as a matter of secondary importance.
It is worthy of mention that, at a place now called El Gara in
North Africa, within the old province of Mauritania Sitifensis,
an inscription still exists bearing the dedication of a shrine to
Fortune, Health, and ^Esculapius.1 Here, it will be observed,
the old Pagan deity comes last, Fortune holding the first place
in public estimation.
In some inscriptions we find the name of Verus appearing
as sole Emperor. At a town called Uzappa, in the province of
Byzacene, there is a dedication to Verus by the inhabitants,
in gratitude for alleged services in suppressing the revolt in
Armenia, the date being A.D. 163-165. The name of Avidius
Cassius, whose generalship contributed so largely to the success
of the Roman arms, has no place in this inscription, which is
one long string of self-laudatory expressions in honour of a man
utterly incapable of any generous act.2
IMP • CAES • L • AVRELI
O • VERO • AVG • ARME
NIACO • DIVI • ANTO
NINI • FIL • DIVI ■ HA
DRIANI • NEP • DIVI
TRAIANI • PARTHI
CI ' PRONEP ' DIVI
NERVAE ■ ABNEP
P • M • TRIB • POT
IMP • II • COS II
P • P • D • D • P • P
The lettering in the last line may be read as a bit of irony.
It accords the highest distinction of Pater patrice to an Emperor
in every way unworthy of the honour. Of Uzappa we know
nothing, except that it was raised to the position of a muni-
cipium towards the end of the third century. It need scarcely
1 C.I.L. No. 87S2.
2 C.I.L. No. 11927. Cagnat. Vide Esperandieu, CompUs-rendus de PAcad.
<?Hipp. a. 18S3.
Roman Africa
and fitted with baths and hypocausts. Whether they formed
parts of a large thermal establishment where bodily treatment
was practised is not quite apparent. But it is reasonable to
suppose that, with the decline of Paganism at a later period,
such places were resorted to by wealthy colonists, who held the
worship of yEsculapius as a matter of secondary importance.
It is worthy of mention that, at a place now called El Gara in
North Africa, within the old province of Mauritania Sitifensis,
an inscription still exists bearing the dedication of a shrine to
Fortune, Health, and ^Esculapius.1 Here, it will be observed,
the old Pagan deity comes last, Fortune holding the first place
in public estimation.
In some inscriptions we find the name of Verus appearing
as sole Emperor. At a town called Uzappa, in the province of
Byzacene, there is a dedication to Verus by the inhabitants,
in gratitude for alleged services in suppressing the revolt in
Armenia, the date being A.D. 163-165. The name of Avidius
Cassius, whose generalship contributed so largely to the success
of the Roman arms, has no place in this inscription, which is
one long string of self-laudatory expressions in honour of a man
utterly incapable of any generous act.2
IMP • CAES • L • AVRELI
O • VERO • AVG • ARME
NIACO • DIVI • ANTO
NINI • FIL • DIVI ■ HA
DRIANI • NEP • DIVI
TRAIANI • PARTHI
CI ' PRONEP ' DIVI
NERVAE ■ ABNEP
P • M • TRIB • POT
IMP • II • COS II
P • P • D • D • P • P
The lettering in the last line may be read as a bit of irony.
It accords the highest distinction of Pater patrice to an Emperor
in every way unworthy of the honour. Of Uzappa we know
nothing, except that it was raised to the position of a muni-
cipium towards the end of the third century. It need scarcely
1 C.I.L. No. 87S2.
2 C.I.L. No. 11927. Cagnat. Vide Esperandieu, CompUs-rendus de PAcad.
<?Hipp. a. 18S3.