SCRIPTA JUDAICA CRACOVIENSIA Vol. 10 (2012) pp. 37–69 doi:10.4467/20843925SJ.12.002.0670 Nikos Kokkinos THE TITULUS TIBURTINUS, SYME’S PISO, SENTIUS SATURNINUS AND THE PROVINCE OF SYRIA * Keywords: the Titulus Tiburtinus, Roman provincial administration, Roman governors, Syria Abstract: A previous paper on the titulus Tiburtinus re-opened the debate concerning the noto- rious ignotus, then generally thought to be P. Sulpicius Quirinius (cos. 12 BC), suggesting in- stead that he might be identified with C. Sentius Saturninus (cos. 19 BC). This suggestion was subsequently challenged in favour of L. Calpurnius Piso (cos. 15 BC), who had originally been argued by Sir Ronald Syme. Since the identification of the consular concerned is significant for Augustan prosopography and for the history of Asia, among other provinces such as Syria and Germany, a detailed and wide-ranging restatement of the case for Saturninus is made here. Piso (unlike Quirinius) is really a non-starter, and it is surprising that he would have been supported by formidable Syme. The rex of the titulus could not have been Rhescuporis I or Rhoemetalces I. The iterum would not have referred to the second legateship of Piso (presumably that of Syria) given Piso’s early career. The binas, referring to two public thanksgivings, does not inspire con- fidence in Piso receiving a second supplicatio. Piso the Pontifex is not attested as proconsul of Asia, nor is he attested as governor of Syria, and the reconstruction of the fasti of this province is much more reasonable than previously thought. By contrast, all points in Saturninus career can be successfully compared with the information in the titulus. Origins of the Sentii from an area near Tibur is a bonus, if dispensable. Saturninus could not have been proconsul of Africa at the time in- ferred from Tertullian (29 BC), and hence Asia is open for him in c. 14/13 BC. His office in Syria (c. 12–8 BC) is well-attested, as it is that in Germany (c. AD 3–6). He was awarded ornamenta triumphalia in the company of Tiberius, after ‘two’ victories and no doubt supplicationes binas. Finally, a flexible understanding of the word iterum can accommodate also the meanings ‘for another time’ and ‘twice’, either of which can work with the career of Saturninus. As for deprived Quirinius, among various problems, no two thanksgivings can be conceived for a war such as that of the Homonadenses, and, most condemningly, a reference to his important office under Gaius will never have been omitted in the titulus. [---] | [r]egem, qua redacta in pot[estatem imp. Caesaris] | Augusti populique Romani senatu[s dis immortalibus] | supplicationes binas ob res prosp[ere gestas, et] | ipsi orna- * This paper was written in 1996 as a rejoinder to C. Eiler’s reply (1996) to my interpretation of the Titulus Tiburtinus (1995), but its inevitable length, together with further elucidations required by the edi- tor, prevented its publication in ZPE at that time. While an update of this study could not be undertaken in the intervening years (and unlikely for the near future), given the importance of the issues discussed for the Augustan Near East, and given the kind invitation of the editor of SJC, it was thought better to publish in its original form, rather than not publish at all. But of all the new material in the last decade, it is the fundamental study of E. Dąbrowa, The Governors of Roman Syria from Augustus to Septimius Severus (Bonn 1998) which I most regret not having considered here!