Ancient Greek Inscriptions

Letters in ligature:
5 νμε, νμε;
6 πρ, ημη;
8 με, νησ, τηνυ;
9 ησ, ωνε;
10 νωσ, ων, πε;
11 πε, ημ, ων, ωσ.
Apparatus:
The text of the inscription follows the edition of Mihailov and is rendered with changes after a comparison through personal observation by N. Sharankov.
2-4 The name and titles of the emperor had been subject to damnatio memoriae, but are still legible.
5 ΜΕΓΙΣΤΟΝΜΕΓΙΣ
7 ΦΙΛΠΠοΠΟΛΙΣ (the first omicron is inscribed inside of the second pi)
8 ΔΕΠοΣΤΗΝΥΥΠΑΤ
10 ΟΥΕΤΤΙΟΥΙΟΥΒΕΝΩΣ
10-11 ΥΠΕΙ | ΠΕΩΝ

The inscription honours Emperor Balbinus, whose reign continued for only 99 days. The authorities in Philippopolis were probably in a hurry to erect the statue and therefore the inscription contains numerous errors.

The correct name of the provincial governor was Lucius Vettenius Iuvenis, as attested in an unpublished inscription in honour of Emperor Gordian III from Discoduraterae. He is also mentioned in a partially preserved inscription honouring the same emperor from Augusta Traiana (IGBulg 1564). Vettenius Iuvenis was also governor of the province of Lower Moesia under an unknown emperor (IGBulg 646).

We should mention the use of the verb ὑπερπαίω, attested only in some inscriptions from the territories of Philippopolis and Augusta Traiana dated to the second quarter of the III c. AD, always in the same formula (IGBulg 1515; IGBulg 1564; IGBulg 1565; IGBulg 1566; AE 2006, 1247; AE 2006, 1248). The city authorities, which erected these inscriptions, were probably trying to avoid accusations of dissipation in a period of economic crisis.

Fragments of a gilded bronze statue were found near the statue base.

Mihailov, Georgius. Inscriptiones Graecae in Bulgaria repertae. Vol. III.1, 1961.

Mihailov, Georgius. Inscriptiones Graecae in Bulgaria repertae. Vol. V, 1997.

Kalinka, Ernst. Antike Denkmäler in Bulgarien. In: Schriften der Balkankommission. Antiquarische Abteilung Vol. IV, 1906.