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 Septimius Severus 205

supreme authority, Geta was declared a public enemy, or, as
Spartianus says, Geta hostis est adjudicatus ; and, with a view
to allaying the anxiety of the Empress mother for his safety,
it was arranged to divide the Empire between the two Augusti.
Geta was to take up his residence either at Alexandria or
Antioch, both of them being great cities scarcely yielding to
Rome in magnificence, and was to govern all Africa and Asia
east of Libya, while Caracalla was to reside in Rome and take
over the remainder, including all the African provinces.

The name of Caracalla (as this Emperor was commonly
called) figures largely in African inscriptions during the six
years of an unusually active reign, and the long array of titles
and distinctions which he assumed were not exceeded by those
of any other Emperor. The cruelty inherent in his native race,
combined with an utter disregard for human sufferings, seems to
have reached its limits in the person of this depraved ruler.
No contemporary writer, nor any of the few reliable authorities of
a later age, place to his credit a single redeeming quality. And
yet the inscriptions (if we are governed by mere words) bear
testimony to a magnificence of rule and the apparent respect of
Roman citizens of wealth and renown who had settled perma-
nently in the African provinces. Take, for instance, a dedica-
tion to the Emperor by a family named Granius, preserved on a
slab of white marble which may still be studied in the museum
at Philippeville.1 No less than nineteen lines set forth the
praises of Caracalla, as though he were an Augustus or a Trajan.
To the invictissimo Augusto the inhabitants of Rusicada are
called upon to bow the knee. And at Constantine may be
read another equally long inscription in which the Emperor is
described as maximus, invictissimus, sanctissimus, fortisstmus,
felicissijnus, et super omnes principes indulgentissimus. The date
of this rhapsodic memorial is, according to Wilmanns, A.D. 216.2
There is also a mtlliarium, which formerly stood on one of the
highways out of Cirta, giving Caracalla the distinguishing titles
of nobilissimus omnium and felicissimus principum. Perhaps
the earliest inscription bearing his name was discovered a few
years ago in the forum at Thamugas, the date being A.D. 197,
according to Wilmanns.3 Its value lies in the exceptional

1 C.I.L. No. 7973. Vide Cherbonneau, Ann. de Constantine, 1S60-61, p. 334.

2 C.I.L. No. 10305. Ann. de Const. 1858-59, p. 121. :i C.I.L. No. 17870,