DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0260
192
a
The public influence of women in imperial circles, so con-
spicuous in the reign of Antonine, asserted itself in an equal
degree under the rule of Marcus Aurelius. The Empress,
commonly known as Annia Faustina the younger, to distinguish
her from Annia Galeria Faustina the elder, figures prominently
in African inscriptions. It has been remarked on a previous
page that the name of the latter does not appear in a single
inscription on stone or marble yet brought to light in the
country, although medals and coins bearing her effigy abound
in a variety of types. The daughter's career, as a leader of
imperial society and a prime mover in the court intrigues of
the period, differs little from that of her mother, except that
love of movement and interest in the conduct of military cam-
paigns prompted her to accompany the Emperor Marcus
Aurelius in his various expeditions. Latin historians make
little mention of the virtues or vices of this remarkable woman,
who was honoured during life by the proud title of' Mother of
the Army,' and whose memory was long preserved by statues
and dedicatory inscriptions in many towns of the Empire.
There is nothing remarkable in the wording of any of these
memorials, of which the following, found on the site of Colonia
Bisica Lucana, is an example :1
FAVSTINAE
AVG
IMP • CAES • M • AVRELI
ANTON I • AVG
PONT • MAX • TRIB
POT • XV • COS • III
D • D • P • P
If we are to credit the statements of Dion Cassius, Marcus
Aurelius declined to make strict inquiry into the conduct of his
wife, nor did he act harshly towards those who were said to
1 Bisica Lucana has been identified with the modern town of Testour, situated on
the right bank of the Medjerda, and on the old highway between Carthage and Sicca
Veneria. Two milliary columns of the time of Marcus Aurelius were discovered
here many years ago ; and an inscription relating to Colonia Bisica Lucana com-
memorates the successful campaigns of the Emperor Licinius in the earlier portion of
his divided rule. ( Vide Shaw, vol. i. p. 215 ; also Guerin, vol. ii. p. 165.) The town
of Bisica is supposed to have been the Visica referred to at a later period as the seat
of a bishopric, mentioned by Morcelli, Africa Christiana, vol. i. p. 357, in reference
to an episcopus Visicensis. Of the Roman town of Bisica Lucana there is no record.
a
The public influence of women in imperial circles, so con-
spicuous in the reign of Antonine, asserted itself in an equal
degree under the rule of Marcus Aurelius. The Empress,
commonly known as Annia Faustina the younger, to distinguish
her from Annia Galeria Faustina the elder, figures prominently
in African inscriptions. It has been remarked on a previous
page that the name of the latter does not appear in a single
inscription on stone or marble yet brought to light in the
country, although medals and coins bearing her effigy abound
in a variety of types. The daughter's career, as a leader of
imperial society and a prime mover in the court intrigues of
the period, differs little from that of her mother, except that
love of movement and interest in the conduct of military cam-
paigns prompted her to accompany the Emperor Marcus
Aurelius in his various expeditions. Latin historians make
little mention of the virtues or vices of this remarkable woman,
who was honoured during life by the proud title of' Mother of
the Army,' and whose memory was long preserved by statues
and dedicatory inscriptions in many towns of the Empire.
There is nothing remarkable in the wording of any of these
memorials, of which the following, found on the site of Colonia
Bisica Lucana, is an example :1
FAVSTINAE
AVG
IMP • CAES • M • AVRELI
ANTON I • AVG
PONT • MAX • TRIB
POT • XV • COS • III
D • D • P • P
If we are to credit the statements of Dion Cassius, Marcus
Aurelius declined to make strict inquiry into the conduct of his
wife, nor did he act harshly towards those who were said to
1 Bisica Lucana has been identified with the modern town of Testour, situated on
the right bank of the Medjerda, and on the old highway between Carthage and Sicca
Veneria. Two milliary columns of the time of Marcus Aurelius were discovered
here many years ago ; and an inscription relating to Colonia Bisica Lucana com-
memorates the successful campaigns of the Emperor Licinius in the earlier portion of
his divided rule. ( Vide Shaw, vol. i. p. 215 ; also Guerin, vol. ii. p. 165.) The town
of Bisica is supposed to have been the Visica referred to at a later period as the seat
of a bishopric, mentioned by Morcelli, Africa Christiana, vol. i. p. 357, in reference
to an episcopus Visicensis. Of the Roman town of Bisica Lucana there is no record.