| Number | H005 |
| Title | Honors for Gaius Caesar |
| Source | ILS 140 |
| Trans | David Potter |
| Introduction | For the significance of this decree see the introduction to H004 (the Cenotaph for his brother Lucius). Unlike the decree honoring his brother, this decree appears to have been passed before a preliminary decree of the senate had reached the city. The vastly more elaborate celebration of Gaius probably reflects the final decree of the senate in Lucius' case, and a number of honors that were only granted at Rome. Assuming that the senate will suggest similar measures in honor of Gaius, the Pisans are adopting those provisions for their own city, and to do for Gaius at their city what the senate would do at Rome. For Gaius' operations in the east, where he died see the notes on the Res Gestae of Augustus ( H002 ).
Although there are a number of minor problems with the text, most restorations are obvious and only restorations of entire words have been noted. |
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[...in the Augusteum in the forum at Pisa]: Quintus Sertorius the son of Quintus Atilius Tacitus, Publius Rasinius the son of Lucius Bassus, Lucius Lappius [the son of Lucius] Gallus, Quintus Sertorius the son of Quintus Alpius Pica, Gaius Vettius the son of Lucius Virgula, Marcus Herius, [the son of] Marcus [P]riscus, Aulus Albius the son of Aulus Gutta, Tiberius Petronius, the son of Tiberius Pollio, Lucius Fabius, the son of Lucius Bassus, Sextus Aponius the son of Sextus Creticus, Gaius Canius the son of Gaius Saturninus, Lucius Otacilius the son of Lucius Panthera.
Because [a motion was made], when, because of the disputes of the candidates, there were no magistrates in office, these things were enacted that are written below:
When, four [days] before the Nones of April the message was brought that Gaius Caesar son of Augustus the father of the country, pontifex maximus, guardian of the Roman imperium, governor of the entire world, grandson of the God, after his consulship, when he was waging war beyond the farthest boundaries of the Roman people, having administered the Republic well, and received into fides the greatest and most warlike nations, received a wound for the Republic, and by that accident, he was torn by the cruelest fate from the Roman people, having already been designated the most just princeps and princeps most similar to the virtues of his parent and singular protector of our colony; that event, while the mourning, which our colony undertook as a result of the death of [Lucius] Caesar, his brother, the consul designate, augur, patron of our colony and princeps of the youth, was not yet ceased, renewed and multiplied the grief of all, individually and collectively.
Because of this all the decurions and members of the colonia, since, at that time, there were neither duumvirs nor prefects nor those who administer justice, agreed amongst themselves, that it was fitting, because of the magnitude of that unforeseen calamity, from that day upon which the news of his death was brought to us to that day upon which his remains were brought back and buried and the rites in his honor were performed, for everyone to change their cloths, will all of the temples of the immortal gods, all the public baths and tabernae closed, to abstain from banquets, for the married women in our colony to put on mourning, and that day upon which the Gaius Caesar died, the day that is nine days before the Calends of March, like the day of Allia, should be a day of mourning, and marked down (on the calendar) in font of everyone, and by the order and wish of everyone, care is to be taken that no public sacrifice, or thanksgivings or weddings or public banquets will afterwards take place, be conceived or announced on that day, which day will be nine days before the Calends of March, nor will theatrical or circus events be held or watched on that day.
That every year public sacrifices will be offered on that day to his Manes by those magistrates who administer justice at Pisa, in the same place and in the same fashion as the sacrifice to the gods of the underworld was instituted to Lucius Caesar.
That an arch be erected in the best spot in our colony, decorated with the spoils of nations that were conquered or received into fidem by him, and on top of the arch a statue of him will be placed, on foot, dressed in triumphal garb, and on either side of it, gilded, mounted, statues of Gaius and Lucius Caesar will be placed.
That as soon as we are able to elect and have duumvirs according to law, the first duumvirs to be elected will bring this measure that has been found acceptable by the decurions and all the members of the colonia, before the decurions, and, having obtained their legitimate public authority, it shall be incumbent upon the authors to record this measure [in] the public records office.
In the meantime, Titus Statulenus Iuncus, the priest of Augustus, and minor public pontifex of the rites of the Roman people will be asked [that], being excused from the present difficulty of the colony, he go with ambassadors and place this public act and representation of the will of everyone, written down, before the imperator Caesar Augustus father of the country, pontifex maximus, in the twenty-sixth year of his tribunician power.
That [Titus] Statulenus Iuncus, the leader of our colony, the priest of Augustus, minor pontifex of the rites of the Roman people, presented a document as prescribed above to the imperator Caesar Augustus father of the country, pontifex maximus, in the twenty-sixth year of his tribunician power.
Therefore it is pleasing that everything that was enacted four days before the Nones of April in the consulship of [Sextus] Aelius Catus and Gaius Sentius Saturninus, and done and enacted through the consensus of all the orders, all of those things shall be done, enacted, accepted and observed by Lucius Titius the son of Aulus and Titus Allius, the son of Titus Rufus the duumvirs and whoever afterwards shall be duumvirs or prefects or will be other magistrates will do, enact, accept and observe all of these things in perpetuity just as Lucius Titius the son of Aulus and Titus Allius, the son of Titus Rufus the duumvirs shall see to it that all of those things that were written above in accordance with our decree are entered in the presence of the proquestors at the earliest opportunity by the scribe in the public records office.