LE SYMPOSIUM INTERNATIONAL LE LIVRE. LA ROUMANIE. L ...

Roman veterans and the city institutions of Philippopolis... 553
originated from highly romanized areas such as the metropolis Beroia, 73
thassalonike, paionia and Stobi; from Sintike we have an inscription in
rome. 74 More unclear is the case of Asia Minor where among the Gemelli
one can find romans as well locals. 75 the long presence of the romans
here may explain that situation. We even find a parallel of our case in the
province of Bithynia with γραμματεύοντος Γεμέλ[λου] Γεμέλλου. 76 It is to
conclude, however, that Gemelli come from highly romanized areas.
things are very different in thrace and even Moesia Inferior. the case
from philippopolis is the only one known up to now. Bearing in mind the low
level of romanization in thrace, the specifics of the onomastics and spread
of Γέμελλος, especially in the Balkan peninsula, where it derives from a
region close to Thrace, i am inclined to accept that under [— — — — Γέ-]
μελλος Γεμέλλου, bouleutes of philippopolis, is to be understood as a son of
roman veteran of peregrine origin. the use of the Greek onomastic system
shows that it was only the father who was romanized, but not the son.
An identical case is another buleuthes from Philippopolis – Αὐρ(ήλιος)
Ἀσκληπιόδοτος Αἰλ(ίου) Ἰουλιανοῦ, which i will discuss next.
Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἀσκληπιόδοτος is already known in the Bulgarian
historiography from his inscriptions found in philippopolis and its territory.
Thus, we are aware of the funeral inscription of his wife Αὐρ(ηλία) Τατία
Λογγεῖνα Λογγείνου, set up by Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἀσκληπιόδοτος. 77 We are
also aware of a votive marble plaque devoted to Asclepius, hygia and
telesphoros set in the sanctuary of Asclepius where also the name of
Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἀσκληπιόδοτος is mentioned. 78 What is underlined in both
inscriptions is the filiation on which we will pay special attention below.
But this filiation allows us to suggest that Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἀσκληπιόδοτος,
who was βουλευτὴς καὶ γερουσιαστὴς, is actually the son of a roman
veteran, Αἰλ(ίος) Ἰουλιανος. The imperial romanization here, not only
shows the time of hadrian or Antoninus pius, but also the peregrine origin
and unquestionable veteran who can be compared to the other Aelii from
philippopolis.
It is not the purpose to discuss the name itself here, since it is quite
popular among the soldiers and romanized people. I would like to mention
73 For the metropolis, its history and romanization – see pApAzoGlou 1988, 141
sqq; see in the same book for the other areas.
74 CIl VI, 2645.
75 See the cases cited in pArISSAKI 2007.
76 tAM IV, 1 17.
77 IGBulg. V, 5463.
78 ShArAnKoV 1999, 84-85 and the bibl. cited; SeG 49:908.