DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0312
238
Roman Africa
insight into the character of Decius from the following expression,
referring to the Emperors generally and to the few who could
' be called good princes : Quam pauci sint principes boni. And
then, in his mention of Decius, he says Decium excerpere debeam,
cujus et vita et mors veteribus compara?ida est. The following
inscription on a milliarium found between the modern villages
of Gastonville and Robertville gives the full titles of this
Emperor,1 the date being A.D. 250 :
IMP CAES C MESSIVS
QVINTVS TRAIANVS
DECIVS INICTVS PIVS F
ELLX AVG PONTIFEX MA
XIMVS TRIBVNICIAE PO
TESTATIS CONSVL II PA
TER PATRIAE PROCONSVL
VIAM IMBRIBVS ET VETVS
TATE CONLABSAM CVM
PONTIBVS RESTITVIT
Another interesting inscription on a milliarium discovered
in North Africa, bearing the same date, includes the name of his
son Herennius, as well as of Hostilianus, both of whom were
associated with him in imperial dignity.2 Neither of these
Caesars acceded to the throne. In this latter inscription the
name of Decius is misspelt, a common failing in Roman lettering.
There are about seven inscriptions in North Africa bearing the
name of Decius. Decius filius is mentioned in two of them,
and Hostilianus in one only, as above recorded.
IMP • CAES • C • MESSIVS
Q ■ TRAIANVS ■ DECCIVS
INVICTVS • PIVS • FELIX • AVG
P • M ■ TRIB ■ P • COS • II • P • P • PROCOS
ET ■ Q • HERENNIVS ■ ETRVSCVS
MESSIVS • DECCIVS ■ CAESAR
ET ■ C • VALENS ■ HOSTILIANVS
MESSIVS QVINTVS......
There is little need to make more than passing mention of
the Emperors between the death of Decius, A.D. 251, and the
accession of Diocletian, A.D. 283. Although their names in-
scribed in marble or stone have been found in so many parts
1 C.I.L. No. 1031S. Arch, des Miss. Scient. 1875, p. 412.
3 C.I.L. No. 10051. A milliarium formerly to be seen in the ducal palace at
Florence, but now lost. Vide Orelli, No. 992.
Roman Africa
insight into the character of Decius from the following expression,
referring to the Emperors generally and to the few who could
' be called good princes : Quam pauci sint principes boni. And
then, in his mention of Decius, he says Decium excerpere debeam,
cujus et vita et mors veteribus compara?ida est. The following
inscription on a milliarium found between the modern villages
of Gastonville and Robertville gives the full titles of this
Emperor,1 the date being A.D. 250 :
IMP CAES C MESSIVS
QVINTVS TRAIANVS
DECIVS INICTVS PIVS F
ELLX AVG PONTIFEX MA
XIMVS TRIBVNICIAE PO
TESTATIS CONSVL II PA
TER PATRIAE PROCONSVL
VIAM IMBRIBVS ET VETVS
TATE CONLABSAM CVM
PONTIBVS RESTITVIT
Another interesting inscription on a milliarium discovered
in North Africa, bearing the same date, includes the name of his
son Herennius, as well as of Hostilianus, both of whom were
associated with him in imperial dignity.2 Neither of these
Caesars acceded to the throne. In this latter inscription the
name of Decius is misspelt, a common failing in Roman lettering.
There are about seven inscriptions in North Africa bearing the
name of Decius. Decius filius is mentioned in two of them,
and Hostilianus in one only, as above recorded.
IMP • CAES • C • MESSIVS
Q ■ TRAIANVS ■ DECCIVS
INVICTVS • PIVS • FELIX • AVG
P • M ■ TRIB ■ P • COS • II • P • P • PROCOS
ET ■ Q • HERENNIVS ■ ETRVSCVS
MESSIVS • DECCIVS ■ CAESAR
ET ■ C • VALENS ■ HOSTILIANVS
MESSIVS QVINTVS......
There is little need to make more than passing mention of
the Emperors between the death of Decius, A.D. 251, and the
accession of Diocletian, A.D. 283. Although their names in-
scribed in marble or stone have been found in so many parts
1 C.I.L. No. 1031S. Arch, des Miss. Scient. 1875, p. 412.
3 C.I.L. No. 10051. A milliarium formerly to be seen in the ducal palace at
Florence, but now lost. Vide Orelli, No. 992.