DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0286
IMP • CAESAR • M ■
AVRELIVS ■ SEVERVS
ALEXANDER ■ INVICTVS
PIVS • FELIX ■ AVG ■ MVROS
KASTELLI • DIANESIS ■ EX
TRVXIT • PER • COLONOS ■ EIVSDE
M ■ KASTELLI
P•CLXXXXV
And in the extreme west two other slabs record the presence of
a body of troops designated as Numerus Alexandrianus Severia-
nus Syrorutn} the last word indicating a tribe of that name
referred to in the Geography of Ptolemy.
M. Edouard Cat, in his notice of these two inscriptions in
his erudite treatise on the Roman province of Mauritania CcBsa-
riensis? suggests that the original title was abbreviated into
Castra Severiana at some later date, partly on the ground that
there was a bishop residing there in the fifth century (according
to Victor de Vite), who bore the title of Castraseberianensis.
The just government of Alexander throughout the African
provinces, and a sense of security against disturbances, had
attracted citizens from various parts of the Empire. We hear
of no political agitation since the fall of Macrinus the Moor ;
and inscriptions, which form the best testimony to the general
condition of the people, evince a spirit of contentment, respect
for imperial authority, and undisguised reverence for an amiable
Emperor. It would have been well for the Roman world if
Alexander had been permitted to reign for the full term of his
natural life and to continue his popular and beneficent rule.
Excessive goodwill towards his subjects may be ascribed as one
of the causes of his untimely end, together with a spirit of
forbearance rarely to be met with in potentates of Syrian origin.
We are told by Lampridius, his biographer, that on one occasion
both his mother Julia Mammaea and his third wife Memmia
upbraided him for his actions in the following words : Molliorem
tibi potestatem et contemptibiliorem imperii fecisti. A slight
study of the career of Alexander Severus confirms the opinion
1 C.I.L. No. 10469. Rev. Afr. I, p. 103. Macarthy descrip.
2 This military post occupied an important position west of Pomaria (Tlerncen),
and is now represented by extensive ruins, upon which the Arab town of Lalla
Maghnia has been built. (Edouard Cat, Essai sur la Province Romaine de
Mauretanie Cesarienne, Paris, 1S91.)
AVRELIVS ■ SEVERVS
ALEXANDER ■ INVICTVS
PIVS • FELIX ■ AVG ■ MVROS
KASTELLI • DIANESIS ■ EX
TRVXIT • PER • COLONOS ■ EIVSDE
M ■ KASTELLI
P•CLXXXXV
And in the extreme west two other slabs record the presence of
a body of troops designated as Numerus Alexandrianus Severia-
nus Syrorutn} the last word indicating a tribe of that name
referred to in the Geography of Ptolemy.
M. Edouard Cat, in his notice of these two inscriptions in
his erudite treatise on the Roman province of Mauritania CcBsa-
riensis? suggests that the original title was abbreviated into
Castra Severiana at some later date, partly on the ground that
there was a bishop residing there in the fifth century (according
to Victor de Vite), who bore the title of Castraseberianensis.
The just government of Alexander throughout the African
provinces, and a sense of security against disturbances, had
attracted citizens from various parts of the Empire. We hear
of no political agitation since the fall of Macrinus the Moor ;
and inscriptions, which form the best testimony to the general
condition of the people, evince a spirit of contentment, respect
for imperial authority, and undisguised reverence for an amiable
Emperor. It would have been well for the Roman world if
Alexander had been permitted to reign for the full term of his
natural life and to continue his popular and beneficent rule.
Excessive goodwill towards his subjects may be ascribed as one
of the causes of his untimely end, together with a spirit of
forbearance rarely to be met with in potentates of Syrian origin.
We are told by Lampridius, his biographer, that on one occasion
both his mother Julia Mammaea and his third wife Memmia
upbraided him for his actions in the following words : Molliorem
tibi potestatem et contemptibiliorem imperii fecisti. A slight
study of the career of Alexander Severus confirms the opinion
1 C.I.L. No. 10469. Rev. Afr. I, p. 103. Macarthy descrip.
2 This military post occupied an important position west of Pomaria (Tlerncen),
and is now represented by extensive ruins, upon which the Arab town of Lalla
Maghnia has been built. (Edouard Cat, Essai sur la Province Romaine de
Mauretanie Cesarienne, Paris, 1S91.)