§64 Marcus Antonius Valens

Marcus Antonius Valens

(0064) Text: Μᾶρκος Ἀντώνιος Οὐάλης | οὐετρανὸς λεγιῶνος δεκά(της) | Φρετηνσίας ἀνέθηκε κοντὸν | ἀργυροῦν θεῷ Ὀλυβρε

Translation: Marcus Antonius Valens. Veteran of legio X Fretensis dedicated this silver spear to the god Olybris.

Commentary: Zeus Olybris was worshiped as a Cilician deity in Rome (see Isaac). Two Cilician soldiers are attested in diplomas from Syria Palaestina (§212, §221), but both were auxiliaries.

Provenience: Findspot unknown, presumably Palestine 70-217 CE

Bibliography: SEG 47.2061; Benjamin Isaac, “Dedications to Zeus Olybris,” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 117 (1997): 126-127*.