Emperor and Senators in the Reign of Constantius II

Abstract

CONSTANTINE AND THE SENATE OF ROMEhinc ordo ueste clara / cum purpuris honorum / fausto precantur ore / feruntque dona laeti. / iam Roma, culmen orbis, / dat munera et coronas, / auro ferens coruscas / Victorias triumphis, / uotaque iam theatris / redduntur et choreisThe order [of senators], distinguished in their robes [decorated] with the purple [stripes] of their honours, invoke these [vows] with their auspicious lips, and they happily present gifts. Already Rome, the capital of the world, is bestowing gifts and crowns, representing statues of Victory that glitter with gold for the triumphal processions. Already the vows are echoed in theatres and choruses. (Trans. Van Dam) 1 1 Optatian. Carm . 20a.12-21, Van Dam ( 2011 ) 167. Unless otherwise indicated, translations are my own. 2 On Optatianus and his poems, see Squire and Wienand ( 2017 ) with further refs. 3 Eus.

Between Jerusalem and Babylon

“…During the usurpation of Magnentius and the violent death of his emperor and patron the statue of Eugenius (initially been set up by Constans I c.342-349) was destroyed. At some point after the victory of Constantius over the usurper (c. 355/361) a new statue of Eugenius was re-erected in its original position in basilica Ulpia 238. Perhaps the restoration process occurred around the adventus of 357 in a symbolic gesture which matched to the new profile of Constantius II as 'Restorer'.…”