Q. Mucius Scaevola and Oenoanda: a new Inscription

Abstract

The following inscription was found at Oenoanda, an antique city in north Lycia, by the late Alan S. Hall in 1974. The text (inv. no. YÇ 1014) is inscribed on the short face of a large grey limestone statue base, found lying on its left side at the northern margin of the Upper Agora (the “Esplanade”), directly before the outer edge of the portico of the north stoa (cf. Figs. 1 and 2). Its position suggests that it has fallen forward, with other bases beside it to the west, from its original situation on the pavement of the Upper Agora, immediately fronting the podium of the stoa. There was no evidence that it had been re-used, as originally thought by Hall. Its dimensions are h. 0·73 m.; w. 0·74 m. (slightly broken to the left); th. 1·50+ m. (buried behind). Since it is unmoulded and there are no foot-holes in the top, it is probable that top and bottom sections have become detached. The large base beside it to the west, measuring h. 1·25 m.; w. 2·10 m.; th. 0·60+ m., has two sets of foot-holes and a moulded top; a connection between this and our base is perhaps not unlikely—possibly they formed part of a family monument. On architectural grounds it has been argued that the north stoa was built in either the first century B.C. or the first century A.D. Since it is reasonable to suppose that the base, which we date to the 90s B.C. for reasons that will become clear shortly, was erected after its construction, the stoa should probably be dated no later than second century B.C.

A Hellenistic statue base in the Upper Agora at Oinoanda

“…The letter-forms are late Hellenistic: in particular the pi has a short right vertical hasta, and the omega floats above the base-line of the other letters. Examination reveals a close similarity of letter-forms, lay-out, and style of execution to that on a base for the son of Mucius Scaevola, which lies about 30m away to the north in front of the North Stoa (fig 3, YC no 1014= Eilers, Milner 1995; see text in note 2 above). In fact the letters are identically formed in all respects except that the new inscription is carved on a smaller scale -so much so that a case can be made for the two inscriptions being the same man's work.…”

Reading Catullus 113 as the Vilification of Pompey's Ex-Wife Mucia

“…3650] = PH 24897; McCabe Ephesus 1249) is usually read as honouring Caelia M.f., wife of Qu[intus Mucius] Scaevola. The stone, for some time lost before rediscovery in 1969, no longer allows verification of the original reading of the woman's name and it has been suggested, on slender grounds, that she was a Caecilia M.f., daughter of Metellus Delmaticus (cos. 115), a match more worthy of Mucius Scaevola; Eilers and Milner (1995) 83–4, esp. nn.…”