07-16-2015, 11:26 AM
The reference is "hic ducenae dignitate inter lectos meruerat viros". "ducenae dignitas" is thought to mean the office of a ducenarius, since there's, for example, a similar phrasing in Codex Theodosianus VIII.4.3 and X.7.1. If the term was common military slang, is still debatable, though. Maybe that's why another reading of the same inscription (seen in an article by Chr. Witschel, Der epgraphic habit in der Spätantike (2006), p. 388) suggests to solve it more clearly as: "hic ducena[ria] dignitate inter lectos meruerat viros", which translates to "he had served in 'ducenarian' position among select men".
Unfortunately, there's no picture of the inscription available online. So if anyone's visiting SS Felice e Fortunato in Aquileia, don't forget to take a photo!
Unfortunately, there's no picture of the inscription available online. So if anyone's visiting SS Felice e Fortunato in Aquileia, don't forget to take a photo!
Tilman