439. Dedication to Geta

Description:
Rectangular base (w: 0.47 x h: 0.88 x d: 0.44) of fine brown limestone. 
Text:
Inscribed on one face within a moulded panel (die, w: 0.23 x h: 0.64). 
Letters:
Rustic capitals: 0.025-0.03. 
Date:
A.D. 198-209 (titulature) 
Findspot:
Lepcis Magna: Forum Vetus, North Temple (see 433). 
Original Location:
Unknown 
Last recorded location:
Findspot 
Bibliography:
Not previously published. This edition taken from J. M. Reynolds and J. B. Ward-Perkins, The Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania, Rome: British School at Rome, 1952.  
Text constituted from:
Transcription (Reynolds, Ward-Perkins) 
〚P(ublio) Septi[m]io [Getae]〛
〚C[a]ẹṣ(ari)〛
Imp(eratoris) Caes(aris) L(uci) Septimi
Seueri Pii Pertina-
5cis Aug(usti) Arabici A-
diabenici Parthi-
ci maximi fortissi-
mi felicissimi
p(atris) p(atriae) filio et Imp(eratoris)
10Caes(aris) M(arci) Aurelli An-
tonino Aug(usti) trib(unicia) pot(estate)
proco(n)s(ulis) fratri
Messius Atticus c(enturio)
coh(ortis) X urb(anae)
15uotum soluit
〚PSEPTI[··]IO[······]〛
〚C[··]··〛
IMPCAESLSEPTIMI
SEVERIPIIPERTINA
5CISAVGARABICIA
DIABENICIPARTHI
CIMAXIMIFORTISSI
MIFELICISSIMI
PPFILIOETIMP
10CAESMAVRELLIAN
TONINOAVGTRIBPOT
PROCOSFRATRI
MESSIVSATTICVSC
COHXVRB
15VOTVMSOLVIT
<ab>
<lb n="1" />
<del>
<expan>
<abbr>
P
</abbr>
<ex>
ublio
</ex>
</expan>
Septi
<supplied reason="lost" >
m
</supplied>
io
<supplied reason="lost" >
Getae
</supplied>
</del>
<lb n="2" />
<del>
<expan>
<abbr>
C
<supplied reason="lost" >
a
</supplied>
<unclear reason="damage" >
es
</unclear>
</abbr>
<ex>
ari
</ex>
</expan>
</del>
<lb n="3" />
<expan>
<abbr>
Imp
</abbr>
<ex>
eratoris
</ex>
</expan>
<expan>
<abbr>
Caes
</abbr>
<ex>
aris
</ex>
</expan>
<expan>
<abbr>
L
</abbr>
<ex>
uci
</ex>
</expan>
Septimi
<lb n="4" />
Seueri
Pii
Pertina
<lb n="5" type="worddiv" />
cis
<expan>
<abbr>
Aug
</abbr>
<ex>
usti
</ex>
</expan>
Arabici
A
<lb n="6" type="worddiv" />
diabenici
Parthi
<lb n="7" type="worddiv" />
ci
maximi
fortissi
<lb n="8" type="worddiv" />
mi
felicissimi
<lb n="9" />
<expan>
<abbr>
p
</abbr>
<ex>
atris
</ex>
</expan>
<expan>
<abbr>
p
</abbr>
<ex>
atriae
</ex>
</expan>
filio
et
<expan>
<abbr>
Imp
</abbr>
<ex>
eratoris
</ex>
</expan>
<lb n="10" />
<expan>
<abbr>
Caes
</abbr>
<ex>
aris
</ex>
</expan>
<expan>
<abbr>
M
</abbr>
<ex>
arci
</ex>
</expan>
Aurelli
An
<lb n="11" type="worddiv" />
tonino
<expan>
<abbr>
Aug
</abbr>
<ex>
usti
</ex>
</expan>
<expan>
<abbr>
trib
</abbr>
<ex>
unicia
</ex>
</expan>
<expan>
<abbr>
pot
</abbr>
<ex>
estate
</ex>
</expan>
<lb n="12" />
<expan>
<abbr>
proco
</abbr>
<ex>
n
</ex>
<abbr>
s
</abbr>
<ex>
ulis
</ex>
</expan>
fratri
<lb n="13" />
Messius
Atticus
<expan>
<abbr>
c
</abbr>
<ex>
enturio
</ex>
</expan>
<lb n="14" />
<expan>
<abbr>
coh
</abbr>
<ex>
ortis
</ex>
</expan>
<num value="10" >
X
</num>
<expan>
<abbr>
urb
</abbr>
<ex>
anae
</ex>
</expan>
<lb n="15" />
uotum
soluit
</ab>

1-2, P. Septimius Geta was Caesar from 198; these lines erased after damnatio in 212.

10-11, Antonino: sic

12, There is a blank space at the beginning of the line, clearly intended for the number of the tribunician year.

Translation:

To Publius Septimius Geta Caesar (all erased) son of emperor Caesar Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus, victor in Arabia, victor in Adiabene, greatest victor in Parthia, most corageous, most fortunate, father of the country, and brother of emperor Caesar Marcus Aurellius Antonius Augustus, holding tribunician power, proconsul, Messius Atticus, centurion of Cohort Ten of the urban guards, paid his vow.

Commentary:

ll. 7-8. L. Septimius Severus was Parthicus maximus from 198.

l. 13. Messius Atticus. Also in 408, l. 4; 438, l. 11.

Photographs:

Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (Sopr. CLM 835)
 Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (Sopr. CLM 835)

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