Professional paper

Patrons of Salona

Bernard Dukić

Abstract

Patrons of the colony Salona can be traced throughout the period of Principate, that is, 1 century AD to 3rd. Five people are attested patrons of the city, although one of them is assumed because of his reputation and the fact that he was an important magistrate in Rome. Two patrons, Caius Pontilius Fregelanus and Lucius Praecilius Clemens Iulianus, can
be placed temporaly in the period of rule of emperors of Julio-Claudian dynasty. Clemens Iulianus should be especially noted, as he was a man with great military and civic career; also, his position of priest of the imperial cult, alongside magisterial offices he performed in the city Salona, determine him as a true representative of imperial power and ideology in the colony. Third patron Oclatinus was also an important magistrate whose magnitude of offices place him before 3rd century AD, before officers known as curatores began to penetrate civic organisation of power. Two remaining patrons are connected to this office (curators) since it is evident that they were both one of those. Iunior, curator of water supply and distribution of grain in Rome, is placed in the end of the 2nd and the beginning of the 3rd century AD. Herennius Iaso might have been a curator whose equestrian rank makes it probable; he could be dated in the beginning of the 3rd century AD. Other possibility involved is that his son received his gentilicium in the period of rule of Flavian dynasty; that would place his father, above mentioned patron, in the 1st century AD, that is at the time of Julio-Claudian dynasty. Pattern of choosing patrons in the practice of patronage as a system in the Roman Empire repeats itself here in Salona. Three patrons who rerformed various offices up until the breakthrough of curators were important magistrates; first one probably had influental connections in Rome and imperial court although he himself may not have been a magistrate in Salona because his consulship makes it unlikely. That was the reason they were chosen to be patrons of the colony. Iunior and Herrenius Iaso were also important figures who could help Salona; they were also persons who exercised power, whether in Rome (Iunior) or in Salona (Herrenius). Oclatinus and Herrenius were probably members of romanized autochtonous aristocracy, whereas Clemens Iulianus was of Italic origin, same as Pontilius Fregelanus. Iunior provides only cognomen insufficient for any conclusions.

Keywords

patrons; Salona; the Principate; romanized aristocracy

Hrčak ID:

148896

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/148896

Publication date:

8.9.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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