Diploma Awarded to Domitius son of Domitius
(0295) Text: Imp(erator) Caesar, divi Vespasiani f(ilius), Domitianus Augustus Germanicus, pontifex maximus, tribunic(ia) potestat(e) VII imp(erator) XIIII, censor perpetuus, co(n)s(ul) XIIII, p(ater) p(atriae). equitibus et peditibus, qui militant in alis quinque, quae appellantur I Augusta et I Hamiorum et III Asturum et Gemelliana et Tauriana; et cohortibus duabus II milliaria Sagittariorum et V Delmatarum, item dismissis honesta missione ex iisdem alis et cohortibus quinque I Lemavorum et I Bracar(augustan)or(um) et II milliaria sagittaria et IIII Gallorum et V Delmatarum, quae sunt in Mauretania Tingitana sub L(ucio) Vallio Tranquillo, qui quina et vicena plurave stipendia meruerunt, quorum nomina subscripta sunt, ipsis liberis posterisque eorum civatatem dedit et conubium eum uxoribus, quas tunc habuissent, cum est civitas iis data aut, siqui caelibes essent, cum iis, quas postea duxissent dumtaxat singuli singulas. a(nte) d(iem) V idus Ian(uaris) Imp(eratore) Caesare Domitiano Aug(usto) Germ(anico) XIIII, L(ucio) Minicio Rufo co(n)s(uli) cohort(is) II milliariae sagittar(iae), cui praest Ti(berius) Claudius Pedo, equiti Domitio Domiti f(ilio), Philad(elphia) Descriptum et recognitum ex tabula aenea, quae fixa est Romae in Capitolio in tabulario publico in tabulario publico parte sinisteriore.
Translation: The emperor Domitianus Augustus Germanicus, son of the deified Vespasian, holding the office of tribune of the people for the 7th time, imperator for the 14th time, holder of the office of censor as a permanent appointment, consul for the 14th time, father of his country, has bestowed citizenship on the following cavalry and foot soldiers: those serving in 5 alae: I Augusta, I Hamiorum, III Asturum, Gemelliana, and Tauriana and the two cohorts: II milliaria Sagittariorum and V Delmatarum. Likewse to those who have received an honorable discharge from the same alae and from the following 5 cohorts, I Lemavorum, I Bracaraugustanorum, II milliaria Sagittaria, IIII Gallorum, and V Delmatarum, which are in Mauretania Tingitana under Lucius Vallius Tranquillus, who have served 25 years or more and whose names are written below; included in this grant are children and descendants and a formal recognition of marriage with the wives that they had when citizenship was granted to them, or if they were unmarried, with the wives which they took at a later date, provided that the grant was limited to one wife for each recipient. Dated January 9 in the year when Domitian was consul for the 14th time with Lucius Minicius Rufus, and dedicated in honor of Domitius son of Domitius of Philadelphia, equitus of cohors II milliaria Sagittariorum, serving under Tiberius Claudius Pedo the commanding officer of said cohort. Copied and reproduced from the bronze tablet which has been set up at Rome on the Capitol on the left side with the space reserved for public records. (Trans. Fred Baxter)
Provenience: Sidi Ali Boujenoun, Morocco (Banasa, Mauretania Tingitana) 9 Jan 88 CE
Commentary: Domitius probably hailed from the Philadelphia of the Decapolis.
Bibliography: CIL 16.159; AE 1953.74; Benjamin Isaac, “The Decapolis in Syria: A Neglected Inscription,” ZPE 44 (1981): 72-73.