AIO 3041 Honours for Matidia the Younger

Honours for Matidia the Younger

AIO 3041 Date: 117-161 AD

[ὁ δῆμος?] [Μινδίαν Ματιδίαν] [Σεβαστήν?, Σε]- βαστ[ῆς Μ]αρκ[ι]- (5)ανῆς [ἔκγ]ονον καὶ Σε[βασ]τῆς Μα- τιδίας [θ]υγατέ- ρα καὶ Σεβαστῆ[ς] Σαβείνης ἀδε[λ]- (10)φὴ[ν ^vv ε]ὐν[οίας] [ἕνεκεν - - -]

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Translated text

References:

AIO 3041 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG II² 3388 (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Statue base (People?)

Findspot: Athens (EM 4522)
Findspot: Athens (EM 4541)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Textual note: AIO follows the text of IG II² except in l. 2 where AIO restores Matidia’s nomen as Μινδίαν, rather Οὐιβίαν (“Vibia”), cf. D. Kienast, W. Eck, and M. Heil, Römische Kaisertabelle⁶ (2017), 121. The restoration of Σεβαστήν (“Augusta”) in l. 3 is questionable; she is not otherwise attested with this title.

This is a statue base for Matidia the Younger (c. 85-162 AD), who was a grand-niece of the Emperor Trajan (r. 97-117 AD) and sister-in-law to the Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 AD). A number of construction projects are attributed to her, primarily in Italy. Her maternal grandmother, Ulpia Marciana, was Trajan's sister. Her sister, Empress Sabina, and mother, Matidia the Elder, were also honoured with statue bases at Athens (IG II² 3387 and 3389), which were probably erected during the reign of Hadrian. It is possible that this one was erected during that reign, but it is more likely that it was set up in the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD), when Matidia became an important symbol of dynastic continuity as the senior surviving relative of Trajan, since Antoninus was related to him only through his marriage to Matidia’s niece, Faustina (cf. C. Bruun in A. Kolb, Augustae: Machtbewusste Frauen am römischen Kaiserhof?, 2010, 211–33).

Added: 17 Aug 2024
Updated: 17 Aug 2024
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ID: AIO_3041