The Inscription of Marcus Valerius Lollianus from Byllis

On Saturday I visited the ancient city of Byllis. I have lost count of the number of times I have been there since my first visit over 15 years ago, but each visit is very special. The site’s location, on a limestone spur towering over the Vjosa valley, is spectacular, whatever the weather. At this time of year an added bonus is the carpet of wild flowers.  


An Illyrian settlement, and the seat of the Bylliones tribe, Byllis is one of my favourite sites in Albania. It is also huge, and to describe it all would take a book rather than a blog post: therefore this post is devoted to a single inscription from the site.  

 

But what an inscription. I have to confess that this is the first time I had seen it ‘in person’ as it is carved into the rock face on the south side of the site and accessible only by a track beyond a closed gate. The Illyrian city was enclosed by a two-kilometre circuit wall, apart from a section of the southern edge of the site which has such a steep drop that a wall was not necessary. It is into this cliff face that the inscription was carved.  


Thank you to Fiona for taking this photograph

The inscription, in Latin, is cut into a flat surface of the rock cut in the shape of a tabula ansata (a tablet with wedge-shaped handles), which is a common format for votives in Imperial Rome. It is huge: at 203 by 305 centimetres it is the largest Latin inscription in Albania, so it is not surprising that it came to the attention of early travellers, including the French consul François Pouqueville. Pouqueville was not only a diplomat but a noted antiquarian; having seen and read the inscription, he identified the remains of the city as those of Byllis. 

 

The inscription refers to one Marcus Valerius Lollianus, a Roman ‘Knight’ or member of the equestrian order, and probably a native of Byllis. Lollianus’ military career is outlined in the inscription and is a valuable source of information about a life in the Roman army. His military career started in a regular way for an equestrian officer, moving up through three different roles until he was given a special command in Mesopotamia. It is this command which has fascinated military historians, as it details the make-up of a hybrid unit of horsemen as a temporary task force (vexillation). The inscription tells us that the vexillation took groups of horsemen belonging to several units in the province of Syria, probably so as to not overly weaken any one particular unit.  


Most commentators date the special command to around AD163, based on the information about the creation of a new unit in Mesopotamia, thinking that it must refer to Lucius Verus' expedition against the Parthians. However, Kennedy* (see further reading) has put forward the suggestion, with quite convincing arguments, that the command should in fact be dated to circa AD123. This year saw the Emperor Hadrian having to react to a threat from the Parthians that caused, for example, his commander Tiberius Claudius Quartinus to be despatched from Spain to strengthen the front, though eventually the situation was settled without recourse to arms. He points out that Lollianus’s command is specifically referred to as 'in Mesopotamia' and does not, as might be expected, reference the Parthian war or campaign. He also notes that there is no mention of decorations for Lollianus as commander, which would be expected if he had commanded in the war.  

 

The last part of the inscription refers to Lollianus’ activity in the construction of a road and bridge. We can assume that following his military career, Lollianus retired to Byllis and was influential in the city, which was a Roman colonia. The inscription is the sole piece of epigraphic evidence about local benefactors being involved in the construction of public roads, with the blessing of the council. The inscription tells us Lollianus built the public road which leads from the colony of Byllides to a location called Astacias, and that the road had been narrow and dangerous road but he strengthened it so that it could take vehicles. He also had a bridge built across the river Argyra.  Unfortunately, we do not know exactly where the road and bridge were located.  

So, who was the inscription aimed at, given its awkward location on a cliff face below the city and high above the valley floor? A small track runs along the side of the hill, past the inscription, which leads to the neighbouring site of Nikaia (Klos), another Illyrian settlement. However, the city gate that is nearest to Nikaia (Gate 8) is beyond the inscription. The inscription is actually nearer Gate 5 (below), and to take the track to Nikaia have to double back on yourself. Its position seems a little odd, and one wonders how many people would see it on a regular basis. Roadbuilding was expensive, and an act of benefaction of which Lollianus could be proud, surely it would make sense for it to be in a well-frequented position? However, unlike inscriptions on blocks, this one could not be moved or reused. Its size and shape (with the tabula ansata handles, like a votive) are monumental and impressive. Although to us now it seems in an inconvenient spot, it has at least stood the test of time and remains as testament to the military career and good works of Marcus Valerius Lollianus.  


 

The Inscription (from http://lupa.at/20677) 

 

M(arcus) Valerius M(arci) f(ilius) Quir(ina) Lollianus prae/fectus cohort(is) I Apamenorum sag[ittariorum] / equit(atae) trib(unus) milit(um) leg(ionis) VII Gem(inae) Fel(icis) praef(ectus) eq(uitum) alae Fl(aviae) Agrip(pianae) / praepositus in Mesopotamia vexillationibus equitum electorum alarum / praetoriae Augustae Syriacae Agrippianae Herculianae / singularium item cohortium I Lucensium II Ulpiae equi[t(atae)] / c(ivium) R(omanorum) I Fl(aviae) c(ivium) R(omanorum) I Thracum III Ulpiae Paflagonum II equitum I / Ascolitarum Fel(icis) V Chalcidenorum V Petr(a)eorum IIII / Lucensium I Ulpiae Petr(a)eorum II Ulpiae Paflagonum I Ulpiae / sagittariorum III Dacorum I Syngambrum / viam pub(licam) quae a col(onia) Byllid(ensium) / per Astacias ducit angustam fragosam [pe]riculosamq(ue) / ita munit ut vehiculis comme{e}tur item [pon]tes / in Argya flumine et rivis d(e) s(uo) p(osuit) / et inscr[ip]sit d(ecreto) d(ecurionum) 

 

 

Further Reading

 

Ceka, N., &  Muçaj, S.,  Byllis: Its History and Monuments, 2005 

 

Gilkes, O., Albania: An Archaeological Guide, I.B. Tauris, 2013  

 

Kennedy, D., The special command of M. Valerius Lollianus, in: E. Dabrowa, Donum amicitiae. Studies in Ancient History published on occasion of the 75th anniversary of Foundation of the Department of Ancient History of the Jagiellonian University (Kraków 1997) pp69-81  


*Unfortunately, Kennedy states that the inscription is now lost, and refers to various copies of the text. However, this does not affect his argument about the dating. 



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