The Statilii and Umbilii

In the years 150-170 AD the Serapeum was further enriched by many gifts from various members of the Titii Statilii. For example, an architrave found in the Serapeum records the erection by Titus Statilius Optatio of a statue with small columns and a pediment. The family seems to have come from Syria. Several of their inscriptions are in Greek.

Architrave found in the Serapeum. Photo: RICIS.

In the Hadrianic period bricks with stamps from various brickyards were used in the Serapeum and the adjoining buildings. One of these brickyards was owned by Titus Statilius Maximus Severus Hadrianus, who had been consul in 115 AD. It has been suggested that there was more than a commercial relation between him and the dedicators. A relation has also been suggested between the Ostian family and Titus Statilius Taurus, a member of the senatorial order and patron of an unidentified Ostian guild: one of the Ostian dedicators was called Titus Statilius Taurianus, and experts of Roman names see a link between the names Taurus and Taurianus. There are grave doubts about yet another possible link, between one of the dedicators who was a physician and a group of physicians at the Imperial court.

The name Taurianus is encountered in a different form in the House of the Priestesses (III,IX,6), one the medianum-apartments in the Garden Houses. Here a graffito records a vow made by Lucceia Primitiva. It was made on July 21 of an unknown year, for the well-being of herself and her family, to Fortuna Taurianensis. Is it far-fetched to think that members of the Statilii lived in this apartment?

The words FORTVNAII TAVRIANIINSI (the E is normally written as II).
Photo: Robert Harp.

Among the other dedicators in the Serapeum there is one that has especially drawn the attention of the archaeologists. On March 1, 200 AD an honorary statue was placed in the Serapeum for Marcus Umbilius Maximinus, "most noble boy, patron of the colony, priest of the Genius of the colony". He was the son of a senator with the same name, patron of one of the guilds of Ostia. The Umbilii were also active in the Mithraeum of the Footprint (III,XVII,2), a bit to the south of the Serapeum. Here a round marble basin was found, dedicated to the Deus Invictus Mithras, with on the rim the names of Marcus Umbilius Criton and Pylades, superintendent (vilicus). This in turn leads us to the Mithraeum in the Baths of Mithras (I,XVII,2), on the other side of the Road of the River Mouth. In this underground shrine a statue was found of Mithras killing the bull with the Greek signature KRITΩΝ AΘHNAIOΣ EΠOIEI, "Kriton the Athenian made this". The date of the statue however is much debated, with proposals ranging from the second century BC to 170-180 AD.

Top. The round basin. Photo: tertullian.org. Right. The signature of Kriton. Photo: Michael Fuller.

Before crossing the Road of the River Mouth to investigate the buildings near the Tiber, we will have a look at one little room that causes a serious headache.

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