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

Roman veterans and the city institutions of Philippopolis... 571
As mentioned several times above, the office of the thracarches was
the highest after that of the provincial governor. he had the right to appeal
directly to the emperor, as it is known that Antoninus pius replied to the
koinon about a question of appeals against the rulings of imperial rescripts
to individuals. 157 he was also as the leader of the koinon that was responsible
for honoring the emperor, maintaining the imperial cult, organizing games
for the emperors, setting statues, etc. At least until AD 214, these people
were the most loyal to the romans and they were the base of roman rule
here. As the base of roman rule and the emperor in the provinces, it is
natural that the veterans were promoted to this office.
therefore, the veterans and their descendents were allowed and able
to join magistrates’ offices of philippopolis. table 7 shows that in each of
them we have at least one example, in some more, including the Sacred
Gerusia where usually gathered persons not able to join magistrate’s office,
but wealthy. the members of the Gerusia constructed buildings, refreshed
architectural decorations, built fountains; even the arch of hadrian may be
due to their financial support. And among these rich people we have son
of veteran.
these examples, combined with that one of the city-council – boule,
where according to tacitus concerning the boule at Seleucas “trecenti
opibus aut sapientia delecti ut senatus” 158 make me believe that it was
unwillingness the main reason of the veterans not be involved in governing
institutions in philippopolis.
table 7 shows the preference of the veterans and/or their sons of offices
connected mainly with the province rather than the city. they were more
prestigious and can give the clue of that unwillingness.
In most of the inscriptions, as one may expect in a Greek-speaking
province, after the name of the individual is cited the name of his father. one
such example is that of Αὐρ(ήλιος) Ἀσκληπιόδοτος Αἰλ(ίου) Ἰουλιανοῦ,
βουλευτὴς καὶ γερουσιαστὴς. This Aurelius Asklepiodotus set up a votive
plaque in the sanctuary of Asclepius near Batkun as well as the funeral stela
of his wife Αὐρ(ηλία) Τατία Λογγεῖνα Λογγείνου νέαν. in both inscriptions,
despite the fact they are not official, the filiation is represented insisting in
the filiation with the veteran Αἰλ(ίος) Ἰουλιανος. These were inscriptions
where such filiation is not required.
similar is the case with Αὐρ(ηλίος) Ἀπολλωνίδος, the curator of the
cendrisian tribe and son of Αἰλ(ίος) Οὐάλεντος, also a veteran as seen by
name. the case with the Virdii is identical.
157 See Dig. xlIx, I, I, I; MIllAr 1977, 393.
158 tac. Ann., VI, 42.