DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0282
214
Roman Africa
life of this Emperor, the modesty and unassuming character of
Alexander Severus were never more apparent than on the
occasion when the Senate offered to confer upon him the title
of Antonine in memory of his g eat predecessor. In declining
the proposed honour the Emperor, according to the account
given in the pages of Lampridius, is stated to have said : ' If I
accept the title of Antonine, why not those of Trajan, of Titus,
and of Vespasian?' And the conscript fathers answered : ' In
our eyes the name of Antonine is equal to that of Augustus.'
On another occasion the Senate expressed a desire that
Alexander should accept the title of Magnus, but once again
the Emperor declined. The ordinary wording of a large
number of simple inscriptions may be illustrated by the accom-
panying dedication on a milliary column, the name of the
Emperor having the usual wording, Marcus Aurelius Severus
Alexander Pius Felix Augustus.
A far more interesting inscription is one discovered at Lam-
bessa many years ago on the Via Septimiana 1 not far from the
amphitheatre. It is a dedication of an altar to Jupiter, as the
preserver of the Emperor, and his mother Julia Mammaea and
their family, by a chief magistrate named Lucius Marius Cres-
centianus. This tablet, which is in good condition, may still
be seen in the praetorium at Lambessa, which has become a
local museum of considerable interest.2 Renier's interpretation,
which varies slightly from the text, is also given.
born either in a temple sacred to Alexander the Great, or perhaps on the birthday of
the great Macedonian.
1 The Via Septimiana at Lambsesis was the principal road between the camp and
the town. According to an inscription {C.I.L. No. 2705) it was made by the soldiers
of the third legion Augusta in the time of Septimius Severus. Some of the paving
slabs are still in existence; vide Renier, Arch, des Missions Scioit. 1851, p. 173'
a C.I.L. No. 26^0. I.R.A. No. 1406.
IMP • CAE
SAR • M • AV
RELIVS ■ SEVE
RVS •ALEXAN
DER-PIVS • FEL
DIVI • SEVERI • NEP
PONT • MAXIM
TRIB•POT•COS
P • RESTITVIT
XVI
Roman Africa
life of this Emperor, the modesty and unassuming character of
Alexander Severus were never more apparent than on the
occasion when the Senate offered to confer upon him the title
of Antonine in memory of his g eat predecessor. In declining
the proposed honour the Emperor, according to the account
given in the pages of Lampridius, is stated to have said : ' If I
accept the title of Antonine, why not those of Trajan, of Titus,
and of Vespasian?' And the conscript fathers answered : ' In
our eyes the name of Antonine is equal to that of Augustus.'
On another occasion the Senate expressed a desire that
Alexander should accept the title of Magnus, but once again
the Emperor declined. The ordinary wording of a large
number of simple inscriptions may be illustrated by the accom-
panying dedication on a milliary column, the name of the
Emperor having the usual wording, Marcus Aurelius Severus
Alexander Pius Felix Augustus.
A far more interesting inscription is one discovered at Lam-
bessa many years ago on the Via Septimiana 1 not far from the
amphitheatre. It is a dedication of an altar to Jupiter, as the
preserver of the Emperor, and his mother Julia Mammaea and
their family, by a chief magistrate named Lucius Marius Cres-
centianus. This tablet, which is in good condition, may still
be seen in the praetorium at Lambessa, which has become a
local museum of considerable interest.2 Renier's interpretation,
which varies slightly from the text, is also given.
born either in a temple sacred to Alexander the Great, or perhaps on the birthday of
the great Macedonian.
1 The Via Septimiana at Lambsesis was the principal road between the camp and
the town. According to an inscription {C.I.L. No. 2705) it was made by the soldiers
of the third legion Augusta in the time of Septimius Severus. Some of the paving
slabs are still in existence; vide Renier, Arch, des Missions Scioit. 1851, p. 173'
a C.I.L. No. 26^0. I.R.A. No. 1406.
IMP • CAE
SAR • M • AV
RELIVS ■ SEVE
RVS •ALEXAN
DER-PIVS • FEL
DIVI • SEVERI • NEP
PONT • MAXIM
TRIB•POT•COS
P • RESTITVIT
XVI