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Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ Military Diploma (Tabula I and Tabula II incomplete and fragmentary). Dated 28 July 95 CE. Incomplete and fragmentary engraved pair of diploma tablets, originally complete, with the external texts of the plates engraved vebatim on the interior of each respective plate and then sealed. The bronze lengths which formed the base of the original attached seal box are missing, but it can be seen where they joined to the second tablet, which contains the signatories. See W. Eck, “A Second Constitution for the Auxiliary Troops in Judaea in 86 AD,” Scripta Classica Israelica XXIX (2010), pp. 21-31. Earthen green patina, some green deposits, fragmentary, but mostly complete. As made. Includes four fragments, possibly of Tabula I.
Tabula II of this diploma (only four fragments of Tabula I remain and are also included) is dated 28 July 95 CE, based on the consuls listed who served from May to August of that year. It lists the honorable discharge for a veteran of the Cohort I Augusta (Praetoria) Lusitanorum. This unit, which was stationed widely during its service and is also listed on the previous diploma, suggests that the veteran listed certainly served in Judaea during the Roman administration, but it is unceratain whether he was there or in Egypt at the time of discharge. The recipient, named Herennius L.f. Rufus, is listed as a former infantryman (ex pedite). He is also listed as being of Egyptian origin, a fact not unusual, since Roman auxiliary policy prevented natives from serving in local units. His nomen, Herennius (the praenomen is missing) supports this Egyptian usage. A cache of ostraka found in Edfu in Upper Egypt and published by Roger S. Bagnall included one letter (O. Florida 8) written around 150 CE by a Herennius. A birth declaration from the Arsinoite nome and dated to AD 128 (P. Mich. 3 166), names Herennia Gemella, the daughter of C. Herennius Geminianus and Diogenis Thermoutharion.
The unit commander, a Ti. Claudius, who may or may not have been one of the two signatories of that name – unclear, due to the state of preservation – does include the the word Alexan[der] or possibly [dria] – again suggesting an Egyptian origin. If the word is intended to show him hailing from the great Hellenistic metropolis, thereby it reflects the growing synthesis of Greco-Roman culture in the imperial army. More attractive, though completely speculative at this point –if Alexan[der] is a cognomen, it recalls the famous Egyptian Jew, Tiberius Julius Alexander, whose storied career included serving as procurator of Judaea under Claudius and Prefect of Egypt (66-69 CE). At the siege of Jerusalem, he served as second-in-command under Titus. Perhaps, then our auxiliary commander was a well-placed individual of Greco-Egyptian origin.
Transcription and Translation:
EXTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (reconstructed from extant fragments):
[...] || SEL[...]
[...] || [...]
TI(berii) · CLAVDI || PRO[...]
TI(berii) CLAVDI || PRIA[...]
A(uli) · NAEVI PI[...]
C(aii) · VETTI |•| PON[...]
P(ublii) · POL[...] ADAVO
TRANSLATION OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE TABLET:
(Seal of) [...] Sel[...]
(Seal of) […]
(Seal of) Ti. Claudius | | Pro [...]
(Seal of) Ti. Claudius | | Pria [...]
(Seal of) A. Naevius | | Pi[...]
(Seal of) C. Vettius |•| Pon[...]
(Seal of) P. Pol |•| Adavo[...]
INTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (reconstructed from extant fragments):
|•| TEM DEDIT ET CONVBIVM CVM VXORIB[VS]/
QVAS TVNC HABVISSENT CVM EST CIVITAS [IIS]/
DATA AVT SIQVI CAELIBES ESSENT CVM I[IS QVAS/
POSTEA DVXISSENT |•| DVMTAXAT SINGV[LI SIN]/
GVLAS A.D. V K AVGV[STI]/
P DVCENIO VERRE A BVCIO [LAPP]IO M[AXIMO COS]/
COHORT I AVGVSTA LV[SI]TANOR[VM]/
CVI PRAEST/
TI CLAVDIVS TI F QV[...] ALEXAN[...]/
EX PEDITE/
[...] HERENNI[O] L F RVFO AEG[(...)/
DESCRIPTVM] ET RECOGNITVM EX TA[BVLA AENA/
QV]AE FIXA |•| EST ROM[AE IN MV]RO/ POST TE]MPLVM DIVI AVG[VST]I AD/
MINERVAM
TRANSLATION OF INTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET:
[citizen]ship has been granted, and the rights of conubium with the wives they now possess when citizenship was granted to them, or those (now) single when they do marry – naturally one man to one wife. (Dated) the fifth day before the Kalends of August while P. Ducenius Verres and A. Bucius Lappius Maximus were consuls (28 July 95 CE). Cohors I Augusta Lusitanorum – under the command of Ti. Claudius Ti.f. Qu[...] Alexan[...]. For former infantry soldier [...] Herennius L.f. Aeg[...]. A transcribed copy from the bronze tablet which has been affixed at Rome on the wall behind the Temple of Augustus in the vicinity of Minerva.
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