Una nuova dedica severiana da Thugga

A statue base so far known only through a photo circulating on the internet bears a dedication in which the peregrine community of Thugga (civitas Aurelia Thugga) paid homage to an individual connected to the family of Septimius Severus. The lacunae affecting the first line of the inscription make it difficult to identify the person who was honoured. This could either be Severus’ younger son, P. Septimius Geta or, perhaps less probably, the great-grandfather of the emperor, L. Septimius Severus. In any case, this monument represents a new piece of evidence attesting to the obstinacy with which the civitas of Thugga courted the favour of the emperors, thereby obtaining the promotion of the whole community (which also included Roman citizens forming a pagus) to the status of municipium in 205.