A01.031.0.pdf

*278. [- - -] ΜΕΣΣΑΛΕΙΝ[ΟΣ]
IvO 351 facsimile [2nd/3rd c. A.D.].
ROMAN PERSONAL NAMES IN ELEIA
278-279
Olympia; block of a base for a statue erected for him by the polis of Elis and the Olympic boule
as a benefactor:
[Ηλείων] ή πόλις κα[ί ή Όλυμπική βουλή ] Ι Μεσσαλεϊν[ον, τον εαυτών εύεργέ]1την,
αρετής [ένεκεν].
Remarks: For the person, who could be a Roman magistrate, see Zoumbaki, Elis und Olympia,
M 26.
279. [ΛΟΥΚΙΟΣ ΜΙΝΙΚΙΟΣ] ΝΑΤΑΛΙΣ
ΙνΟ 236 facsimile [A.D. 129-144/45(7)].
Olympia; a large limestone pedestal, perhaps for an equestrian statue, commemorating the
Olympic victory of the praetorius (στρατηγικός), ύπατος (consul) and proconsul Africae:
[Λούκιος Μινίκιος] Νατάλις στρατηγικός, Όλυμπιάδι σκζ', αρματι τελείω νεικήσα[ς,
άν]Ιέθηκεν τό άρμα, ύπατος, ανθύπατος Λιβύης.
From Barano (Barcelona)
praetorius, consul, proconsul Libyae
Remarks: According to Dittenberger and Purgold, this person is to be identified with L.
Minicius Natalis Quadronius Verus, son of the consul of the year A.D. 106 L.
Minicius Natalis. His Olympic victory is to be dated in the year A.D. 129 (Moretti,
Olympionikai, 846). Dittenberger and Purgold believe that his monument in
Olympia was not erected right after his victory, but later, after his consulate (133 or
134 A.D.) and proconsulate in Africa, which is dated by Dittenberger and Purgold to
A.D. 139, while by E. Groag, RE XV 2 [1932] 1808-1809, s.v. Minicius [1] to A.D.
149/150. His consulate is dated by G. Alföldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter
den Antoninen. Prosopographische Untersuchungen zur senatorischen
Führungsschicht (Bonn 1977) 138 in A.D. 139 and his proconsulate of Africa in A.D.
154/5, see Alföldy, op. cit., 273. Also see PIR 2 M 620; Thomasson, 381, no. 86; id.,
Fasti Africani. Senatorische und ritterliche Amtsträger in den römischen Provinzen
Nordafricas von Augustus bis Diokletian (Stockholm 1996) 54, no. 65; 106, no. 21;
140, no. 17; A. Avram, Inscriptions grecques et latines de Scythie Mineure, vol. III.
Callatis et son territoire (Bucarest 1999) 444-447, no. 114 (with more bibliography).
According to A. Oliver, "Honors to Romans: Bronze portraits", in: C.C. Mattush
(ed.), The lire of Hephaistos. Large classical bronzes from North-American
collections (Cambridge, Mass. 1996) 142 L. Minicius Natalis should be identified
with the Roman senator who is said by Paus. V. 20, 8 to have won an Olympic
victory in the chariot race and to have found ancient objects while digging in order
to erect a monument in commemoration of his victory.
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