Marcus Valerius Lollianus
(0188) Text: M(arcus) Valerius M(arco) f(ilius) Quir(ina) Lollianus, prae- | fectus cohort(is) I Apamenorum sa[gittariorum] | equit(atae), trib(unus) milit(um) leg(ionis) VII Gem(inae) Fel(icis), praef(ectus) eq(uitum) alae Fl(aviae) prae(toriae), | praepositus in Mesopotamia vexillationibus equitum electorum alarum | praetoriae, Augustinae Syriacae, Agrippianae, Herculianae, | singularium, item cohortium I Lucensium, II Ulpiae equit[um] | [c(ivium)] R(omanorum), I Fl(aviae) c(ivium) R(omanorum), II Thracum, III Ulpiae Paflagonum, II equitum, I | Ascalonitanorum, I Fl(aviae) Chalcidenorum, V Petr(a)eorum, IIII | Lucensium, I Ulpiae Petr(a)eorum, II Ulpiae Paflagonum, I Ulpiae | sagittariorum, III Dacorum, I Sygambrum, | viam pub[licam] quae a col(onia) Byllid(ensium) per Astacias ducit angustam fragosam [pe]riculosamq(ue) | ita munit, ut vehiculis commeetur, item [pon]tes in Argyra flumine et rivis d(e) s(uo) [f(ecit)] | et inscr[ip]sit, d(ecreto) d(ecurionum).
Translation: Marcus Valerius Lollianus son of Marcus of the tribe Quirina, prefect of cohors I Apamenorum sagittariorum equitata, military tribune of legio VII Geminia Felix, prefect of ala Flavia praetoria, chief in Mesopotamia of the detachment of special cavalry wing, comprising Syrian Augustans, Agrippans, and Herculinians, singularus likewise of cohortes I Lucensium, II Ulpia equitata civium Romanorum, I Flavia civium Romanorum, II Thracum, III Ulpia Paflagonum, II equitata, I Ascalonitanorum, I Flavia Chalcidenorum, V Petraeorum, IIII Lucensium, I Ulpia Petraeorum, II Ulpia Paflagonum, I Uplia sagittariorum, III Dacorum, I Sygambrum, oversaw repair of the road that leads from the colony at Byllis to Astacia which had fallen badly, likewise bridges over the river Argyra and other rivers. This was made at the decree of the decurions. (Trans. Christopher B. Zeichmann)
Commentary: Marcus is noteworthy for two reasons: First, his post in cohors I Ascalonitanorum – at one time comprising soldiers from the Palestinian city of Ascalon. By the time Marcus served, this was no longer the case, as it garrisoned in Syria in the early second century. Second, though less likely, is the possibility that he served in Judaea (cohors II Thracum): some of the units he mentions served in Judaea, but as Kennedy has observed, these are often demonstrably in Syria before the Bar Kokhba War. As such, he contends that it is more likely Marcus served in Syria than Judaea.
Provenience: Byllis, Macedonia (Vlorë, Albania) 123 CE
Bibliography: CIL 3.600; CIL 3.14203.35; ILS 1.2724; AE 1997.1352; David L. Kennedy, “The Special Command of M. Valerius Lollianus,” Special Command 1 (1997): 69-81.