Topographical dictionary - Places of origin

Back to menu

Thuburbo Maius

During the earliest years of Trajan's harbour, around 112 AD, the main Imperial official responsible for the importation was Marcus Vettius Latro. We know that he was procurator annonae Ostiae et in Portu through three inscriptions found in Thuburbo Maius. They are on bases of grey limestone, with holes in the top for fastening statues.

M(arco) VETTIO C(ai) f(ilio) QVIR(ina) LATRONI
FLAM(ini) DIVI AVG(usti) SAC(erdoti) CER(ereris) ANNI(s)
CXXXVII EQVO PVB(lico) ET IN QVINQ(ue)
DEC(urias) ADL(ecto) PRAEF(ecto) COH(ortis) I ALPINOR(um) EQVIT(atae) DONIS DON(ato) AB IMP(eratore) CAES(are)
NER(va) TRAI(ano) AVG(usto) GER(manico) DAC(ico) BELLO DAC(ico) HAS
TA PVRA CORONA MVRALI VEXIL
LO ARG(entario) TRIB(uno) MIL(itum) LEG(ionis) II ADIVTRIC(is)
PIAE FID(elis) PRAEF(ecto) ALAE SILIANAE
CIVIVM R(omanorum) TORQVATAE ARMIL
LATAE PROC(uratori) ANNONAE OSTIAE ET
IN PORTV PROC(uratori) PROV(inciae) SICILIAE
PROC(uratori) ALPIVM COTTIARVM
PROC(uratori) MAVRETANIAE CAESARIENSIS
M(arcus) VETTIVS EVTHYCHI
DES LIB(ertus) PATRONO
OPT(imo) D(ecreto) D(ecurionum)

Statue base for Marcus Vettius Latro, set up by Marcus Vettius Euthychides for his patron (reused in a building).
BCTH 1946/49, 679; AE 1951, 52; EDCS-33400637. Photo: EDH.

Statue base for Marcus Vettius Latro, set up by Marcus Vettius
Myrinus for his patron (reused in the amphitheatre).

AE 1939, 81a; EDCS-08600957.
Photos: Wikimedia, Ghabara and EDCS.

The third one is AE 1939, 81b, EDCS-08600958. Of this one only the upper part has been preserved.
It presents some slight differences with the other two: after CXXXVII is SACRORVM, after ADLECTO is PRAEF(ecto) FABR(um),
while BELLO DAC and ARG are missing.

Thuburbo Maius, modern Henchir Kasbat, is located 60 kilometers to the south-west of Tunis. The ruins are extensive. An excellent introduction was created by Roberto Piperno, on two pages: page 1, page 2.

Latro must have been born around 66 AD. A religious function mentioned in the inscriptions is placed "in the year 137 of the era of Ceres", which is 93 AD. Latro must have worked in Ostia and Portus when he was about 45 years old. His last responsibility was the governorship of Mauretania Caesariensis (modern Algeria). An inscription from Igilgili (CIL VIII.2, 8369) refers to him as procurator of Mauretania in 128 AD. His name also occurs in military diplomas (AE 2002, 1753; 2005, 1724 and 1725; 2007, 1773).

Latro was inscribed in the tribus Quirina. Because the inhabitants of Thuburbo Maius were registered in Arnensis, his family did not originate from the city. However, he lived there already at a young age, because he started his career there with religious functions. At the end of the reign of Hadrian he returned to Thuburbo, where he was honoured by some of his freedmen.

Literature:
- L. Poinssot, "M. Vettius Latro, procurateur de Maurétanie césarienne", CRAI 83,2 (1939), 138-150.
- G.L. Feuille, "Thuburbo Majus", Bulletin économique et social de la Tunisie 38 (1950), 77-100.
- E.M. Ruprechtsberger, "Thuburbo Maius, eine Römerstadt in Tunesien", Antike Welt 13,4 (1982), 2-21.

	Statue base for Marcus Vettius Latro, set up by Marcus Vettius Myrinus for his patron (reused in the amphitheatre). AE 1939, 81a; EDCS-08600957. Photos: Wikimedia, Ghabara and EDCS.
The third one is AE 1939, 81b, EDCS-08600958. Of this one only the upper part has been preserved. It presents some slight differences with the other two: after CXXXVII is SACRORVM, after ADLECTO is PRAEF(ecto) FABR(um), while BELLO DAC and ARG are missing.