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Le statut d'Avignon d'après un prétendu faux épigraphique de la cité d'Apt (Vaucluse)

1990; Presses Universitaires de la Méditerranée; Volume: 23; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3406/ran.1990.1371

2117-5683

Jacques Gascou,

Historical and Archaeological Studies

In a recent article published in ZPE, 71, 1988, p. 229-249, Mr. Zarnht tried to demonstrate that the Apt epitaph CIL, XII, 1 120, mentioning a duovir of the colonia Iulia Hadriana Auenniensis was not authentic led to reconsider this document. None of the arguments emphasized by Mr. Zarnht is conclusive; besides, the use of the abbreviated form of the gens Volus. and Vol. for Volusius is attested. The use of the conjunction et to link the different duties performed by the men in office is not exceptional. The duty of sacerdos urbis Romae aeternae is found in several towns. The epithet Hadriana alone (without Aelia) to indicate a colonial promotion due to emperor Hadrian, appears on coins from Parion in Asia and Parlais in Galatia. Therefore, the Apt epitaph must be credited with its whole value. A first century inscription recently discovered in Aries, and mentioning the colonia Iulia Augusta Auennio, shows that before being promoted by Hadrian, Avignon was an Augustian colony. Since quattuovirs are attested in Avignon at that time, it can be infered that this city was made a Latin colony by Augustus and was later transformed into a Roman colony ruled by duovirs by Hadrian. In the case of the Apt epitaph, the epithet Iulia is the abbreviated form of Iulia Augusta: the same abbreviation is attested in the Aquae Sextiae titulus.