OliverConstitutions 207 Letter from Commodus

Letter from Commodus

Oliver, Constitutions 207 Date: ca. 186 AD

. . . [Aurelius Papirius] Dionysios . . . . . . Julius Candidus . . . The travel expenses (ephodion) shall be given to the envoys from there (5)unless they promised to carry out the embassy for free.^[1]

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References:

Oliver, Constitutions 207 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG II² 1114 (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Images: Krateros - (1)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Letter (emperor)

Findspot: Acropolis (EM 3456)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This is the end of an Imperial letter, listing members of the Imperial council (consilium) that helped the emperor reach his decision. This shows that the letter dates to the reign of Commodus (r. 177-192 AD). Aurelius Papirius Dionysius was the a libellis et cognitionibus, the official in charge of petitions to the emperor and legal cases at his court, ca. 180-185 AD. Julius Candidus appears to have been the a rationibus, the official in charge of the Imperial finances, under Commodus. On the consilium and Commodus, see SEG 26.128 with notes. On inscribed Imperial letters, see I Eleusis 513. [2] The final clause was a standard formula at the end of an imperial letter, in which the emperor confirms that the envoys who had visited him had performed their duties properly and thus were entitled to have their travelling costs (Latin viaticum; Greek ephodion) reimbursed. Many envoys promised to cover these costs themselves, which was considered a significant benefaction (cf. Digest 50.4.18.12, F. Millar, The Emperor in the Roman World, 1977, 383).

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_3656