489. Fragment from imperial titulature

Description:
Two blocks of grey limestone (w: 0.95 x h: 0.50, depth not measurable), with traces of moulding above. 
Text:
Inscribed on the face. 
Letters:
Lapidary capitals: from top of block, 0.33-0.49; to bottom, 0.50. 
Date:
First to second centuries A.D. (lettering, titulature) 
Findspot:
Lepcis Magna: Byzantine sea-wall; built into the wall, near the Temple of Augustus, and recently re-exposed. 
Original Location:
Unknown 
Last recorded location:
Findspot 
Bibliography:
R. Cagnat et A. Merlin, Inscriptions latines d'Afrique (Tripolitaine, Tunisie, Maroc), Paris, 1923 I(d); P. Romanelli, Leptis Magna (Africae Italiana: Monografie a cura del Ministero delle Colonie, 1), Roma, 1925, 132. This edition taken from J. M. Reynolds and J. B. Ward-Perkins, The Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania, Rome: British School at Rome, 1952; including revisions from J. M. Reynolds, 'Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania: A Supplement', Proceedings of the British School at Rome 23 (1955), 124-147 
Text constituted from:
Transcription (Reynolds, Ward-Perkins) 
[·· ? ··] [tri]b(unicia) pot(estate) II imp(erator) [·· ? ··]
[·· ? ··][····]BPOTIIIMP[·· ? ··]
<ab>
<lb n="1" />
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" />
<expan>
<abbr>
<supplied reason="lost" >
tri
</supplied>
b
</abbr>
<ex>
unicia
</ex>
</expan>
<expan>
<abbr>
pot
</abbr>
<ex>
estate
</ex>
</expan>
<num value="2" >
II
</num>
<expan>
<abbr>
imp
</abbr>
<ex>
erator
</ex>
</expan>
<gap reason="lost" extent="unknown" unit="character" />
</ab>

1, There is a long space after IMP. Since the spacing of the other words is uneven, an interval here, with a figure cut upon the next stone, is not impossible; or space may have been left for a figure to be added when the cutter had ascertained the correct number of imperial salutations (see 914). If no figure was intended because the emperor concerned had only received the initial salutations, the subject might be Gaius (March 38-March 39), Trajan (Dec. 97-Dec. 98), Hadrian (Dec. 117-Dec. 118) or Antoninus Pius (Feb. 139-Feb. 140)-lettering and material make a later date improbable: the balance is in favour of a first century emperor, since, in the second century, lists of imperial titles do not normally include imperial salutations until the second has been received.

Translation:

[·· ? ··] holding tribunician power for the second time, acclaimed victor (case unknown) [·· ? ··]

Commentary:

No comment.

Photographs:

Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (BSR 48.XXIV.28)
 Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (BSR 48.XXIV.28)

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