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Download Pdf of Dissertation - Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M ...

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Inscriptions on Column Shafts Transcribed by Paolo Orsi<br />

Paolo Orsi transcribed and published five more inscriptions th<strong>at</strong> are currently<br />

unavailable, as the blocks and column shafts on which they were carved are presumed<br />

lost.<br />

1) On the lower base <strong>of</strong> a column shaft (diameter 0.64 m): 136<br />

……. LBSECOM SEVEROEVI<br />

CTORINOCOSOFFCOMODIANA<br />

CAESIVLIGAYRI SVB CVRA<br />

The inscription reads: (Loco) L B(racchio) Se(cundo) Com(mmissura?) Severo et Vi /<br />

ctorino Co(n)s(ulibus) Off(icina) Comodiana / Caes(ura) Iuli Gayri Sub Cura. It can be<br />

transl<strong>at</strong>ed as: “The fiftieth column shaft quarried from the second branch <strong>of</strong> the (first?)<br />

intersection (?) in the year <strong>of</strong> the consuls Severus and Victorinus (A.D. 200) cut by<br />

Comodus’ workshop under the supervision <strong>of</strong> Iulius Gayrus.” 137<br />

Another on the shaft <strong>of</strong> the same column:<br />

….. GRES …..<br />

… AVGGER …<br />

……. TORIVLII<br />

GAYRI ………<br />

…….. OPH …<br />

… EEPICTET …<br />

It is difficult to understand the text, as fragmentary as it is. According to Pensabene, it<br />

may represent a secondary inscription engraved not <strong>at</strong> the quarries, but <strong>at</strong> their<br />

136 Orsi 1921, 495.<br />

137 After sub cura could also come (procur<strong>at</strong>oris). See a similar inscription found in a block <strong>of</strong> cipollino in<br />

Rome, in Ward-Perkins 1992a, 27: EX M(etallis) N(ovis) Caesaris N(ostri) R(<strong>at</strong>ioni) D(omus) A(ugusti or<br />

ugustanae) SUB CUR(a) C(laudi?) CERIALIS PR(ocur<strong>at</strong>oris) SUBSEQ(uente) SERGIO LONGO 7<br />

(centurionis) LEG(ionis) XXII PRIMIG(eniae) PROB(<strong>at</strong>ore) CRESCENTE LIB(erto) N(umero) VIIII.<br />

102

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