FLEET DIPLOMA GIVEN BY EMPEROR ANTONINUS PIUS TO THE VETERAN SAILOR L. PETRONIO EPTAEZENI F. EPTAETRALI

MS 1921
MS Short Title FLEET DIPLOMA GIVEN BY EMPEROR ANTONINUS PIUS TO THE VETERAN SAILOR L. PETRONIO EPTAEZENI F. EPTAETRALI
Text FLEET DIPLOMA GIVEN BY EMPEROR ANTONINUS PIUS TO THE VETERAN SAILOR L. PETRONIO EPTAEZENI F. EPTAETRALI, OF NICOPOLIS AD BESSIA AFTER 26 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE PRAETORIAN FLEET OF MISENUM UNDER THE COMMAND OF VALERIUS PAETUS, UNDER THE CONSULS AUG. M. CORNELIO FRONTO, AND L. LABERIO PRISCO. COPIED AND CHECKED FROM THE BRONZE TABLET SET UP IN ROMA ON THE WALL BEHIND THE TEMPLE OF AUGUSTUS NEAR THE STATUE OF MINERVA. WITNESSES: TIBERIUS CLAUDIUS MENANDER, PUBLIUS ATTIUS SEVERUS, LUCIUS PULLIUS DAPHNUS, PUBLIUS ATTIUS FESTUS, M. SENTILIUS JASUS, TIBERIUS JULIUS FELIX, GAIUS JULIUS SILVANUS
Description MS in Latin on bronze, Roma, 1 Aug. 143, 2 tabellas (complete), 16x13 cm, 2 columns, 17+30 lines in Latin capitals, with triple framing lines on the outer face of both tablets, 2 holes through each tablet for a wire that originally bound the two tablets together, secured with the seals of the 7 witnesses.
Binding Barking, Essex, 1994, red cloth gilt folding case, by Aquarius
Context There are 3 praetorian diplomas (MSS 1801, 1870, 2051/7) in The Schøyen Collection, further 11 auxiliary diplomas (MSS 1836, 1899, 2051/1-6, 2051/8, 2052, 2086), and 3 fleet diplomas (MSS 698, 1921, 2032). 6 of the 7 witnesses on the present diploma also signed 698.
Provenance 1. L. Petronio Eptaezeni f. Eptaetrali, Nicopolis ad Bessia (143 until his death); 2. Found in Bulgaria; 3. Axel Weber, Köln (1992); 4. Bernard Quaritch Ltd., London.
Commentary The present diploma gives L. Petronio Eptaezeni f. Eptaetrali an honourable discharge from the navy of Emperor Antoninus Pius, Roman citizenship for himself and his descendants, and the right of legal marriage. The present MS contains the unusual information, of both year, place and the exemplar copied. The exemplar, the bronze tablet set in the wall on Forum Romanum, in fact, still survives in fragments.
Published R. Frei-Stolba and M.A. Speidel, eds.: Römische Inschriften - Neufunde, Neulesungen und Neuinterpretationen. Festschrieft für Hans Lieb, 2.: Werner Eck & Margaret M. Roxan: Two new Military Diplomas, pp. 79-99. Margaret M. Roxan & Paul Holder: Roman Military Diplomas, IV. Institute of Classical studies. London, 2003. no 264, pp. 505-506.
See also See also MS 2052, Auxiliary diploma of Marcus Aurelius, Roma, 178
See also MS 1870, Praetorian diploma of Philip the Arab, Roma, 246
Place of origin Roma
Dates 1 Aug 143 AD