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 Alexander Severus

215

I • O • M

CONSERVATORI
IMP • CAES • M • AVRELI ■ SE
VERI • ALEXANDRI ■ INVIC
TI • PII • FELICIS • AVG ■ ET • IVLIAE
MAMEAE • MATRIS ■ D • N
AVG • TOTIVSQ ■ DOMVS ■ DIVINAE
L • MARIVS • CRESCENTI
ANVS • Q • AEDIL ■ II ■ VIRA
DEVOT • NVMINI ■ EORVM ■ A
RAM • QVAM • DEVOVIT ■ SVA
PECVNIA • POSVIT.

Tovi Optimo maximo, conservatori imperatoris Casaris Marci Aureli
Severi Alexandri Invicti, Pii, Felicis Augusti,et Julia: Mammcece Augustce,
tnatris Augusti, totiusque domus divines.

Lucius Marius Crescentianus, qucEstorius, adilicius, duumviralicius,
devotus numini eorum, aram, quant devovit, sua pecunid posuit.

At Ain Tunga, formerly known as TJiignica} an important
town in Africa Provincia and marked at the present day by
extensive ruins, there is a dedication to the Emperor and his
mother in which the latter is styled as Augusta and mater
Augusti et castrorum et senatus el patrice. The inscription is
on six stones in a fragmentary condition, recording the re-
construction of the market A.D. 22Cj.2 This date may be
assigned as the climax of his estimable reign, when he had
attained his 21st year.

Imperatori Ccesari divi magni Antoniniy pit, felici, divi Severi pii nepoti,
Marco Aurelio Severo Alexandro, pio, felici Augusio, pontifici maximo,
tribunicia potestate VIII, consult III, pater patrice, et Julia: Mammcece
augustce matri Augusti et castrorum et senatus et patrice, macellum
vctustate collapsum municipium Septimium Aurelium Antoninianum
Alexandrianum Herculeum Jrugiferum Thignica devotum numini
majestatique eorum pecunia publica a solo refecit, ilemque dedicavit.

Although this Fmperor was acclaimed Caesar in the four-
teenth year of his age and terminated his career before he had
reached his twenty-eighth birthday, yet he was married, we are
told, three times. There are no inscriptions relating to one of
his wives named Sulpicia Memmia, daughter of Sulpicius, a
man of consular rank. Unlike her mother-in-law, Julia Mam-

1 The four towns, Thignica, Thugga, Agbia, and Thubursicum, were in the same
district, and in the third and fourth centuries were in a flourishing condition.

2 C.I.L. No. 1406. Vide Guerin, vol. ii. p. 152.