§16 Lucius Obulnius

Lucius Obulnius

(0016) Text: Λούκιος Ὀβούλνιος ἑκατοντάρχη(ς) | σπείρης Αὐγούστης ἀνήθηκ(εν).

Translation: Lucius Obulnius, centurion of cohors Augusta, erected this. (Trans. Christopher B. Zeichmann)

Commentary: Obulnius is an Etruscan name (see Gracey). We can ascertain from his other inscriptions that Lucius served in both one of the Augustan cohorts (likely cohors I Canathanorum Augusta) and the army of the Batanaean king Agrippa II. I have written an article that deals extensively with some of the Lucius Obulnius inscriptions (see Zeichmann), though additional inscriptions have since been published that warrant further discussion. Lucius Obulnius erected several other inscriptions see §12, §13, §14, §15, §17, §18.

Provenience: Batanaea (Seeia, Syria) 59-96 CE

Bibliography: AE 2003.1816; IGLS 16.175; Hieke Laxander, “Die Ara des Lucius Obulnius aus Kanatha/Qanawat im Hauran,” in Romanisation und Resistenz in Plastik, Architektur und Inschriften der Provinzen des Imperium Romanum: Neue Funde und Forschungen, ed. Peter Noelke, Friederike Naumann-Steckner and Beate Schneider (Mainz: Zabern, 2003), 577-585; Christopher B. Zeichmann, “Herodian Kings and Their Soldiers in the Acts of the Apostles: A Response to Craig Keener,” JGRChJ 11 (2015): 178-190.