Citius quam credere fas est . Eine metrische Votivinschrift eines römischen Kommandeurs aus Mogontiacum

Citius quam credere fas est ... A Metrical Votive Inscription of a Roman Officer Found at Mogontiacum In November 2019, excavations carried out along the Roman wall of Mogontiacum - Mainz unearthed a monumental block with a metrical votive inscription, presented here for the first time. The text, written in hexameters, relates a combat in which the donor, whose name is not mentioned, found himself trapped. He made a vow to Phoebus Apollo to erect templa if he would help him. No sooner had he confirmed his vow than the enraged adversaries retreated to their woods and he fulfilled his vow faster than credible. In addition to its text, the inscription is also remarkable for its form, decoration and ordination. It dates from the end of the 2nd or the first half of the 3rd century AD, perhaps the time of the expedition planned by Severus Alexander and led by Maximinus Thrax. However, the inscription may also bear witness to a skirmish with no emperor on the Rhine front. The design of the inscription is appropriate for someone who grew up under the Severans, but at the same time is too unspecific to identify a specific person or event

Art · Ancient Near East History · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies