Lucius Varius Ambibulus (full name: Quintus Planius Sardus Lucius Varius Ambibulus), was a Romansenator of the 2nd century AD who occupied a number of offices in the imperial service, as well as serving as suffect consul in either 132 or 133.
His cognomen "Ambibulus" was described by Ronald Syme as "peculiar and uncommon"; he could only count five examples of its use in inscriptions found at Rome, and one more in North Africa.[1] Based on the evidence that his father's name was also L. Varius Ambibulus, his sister's name is Varia, and his freedmen were Varii, Olli Salomies argues his original name was Lucius Varius Ambibulus, and the terms of a testamentary adoption one Quintus Planius Sardus directed Ambibulus to add his name to Ambibulus' in return for a share of the latter's estate.[2] However, Werner Eck and Margaret Roxan present another possibility, based on a military diploma owned by Martin Schøyen, that mentions an equestrian "Q. Planius Sardus", the commander of ala I Ulpia contrariorum milliaria. Noting the nomen gentile "is otherwise rare in the senatorial and equestrian classes", they argue that Ambibulus is related to this equestrian, adding the "Quintus Planius Sardus" element in his name from his mother's side.[3]
Careeredit
The career of Ambibulus up to his consulate can be reconstructed from a damaged inscription erected in Cuicul in Numidia; it was erected by order of the civic government to honor him as their patron.[4] In this inscription, all of his posts are listed in chronological order, except oddly for the first in the list, a hitch as military tribune in a legion whose name is mostly missing. In the order Ambibulus held these offices, he began his career in his teenage years as one of the decemviri stlitibus iudicandis, which was one of the four boards comprising the vigintiviri. The traditional Republican magistracies followed: quaestor, plebeian tribune, and praetor.
After stepping down as praetor, Ambibulus served as praefectus frumentus dandi ex senatus, then was selected by the sortition to be proconsular governor of Macedonia in 124/125.[5] This was followed by two commissions as legatus legionis or commander of legions: Legio I Italica in Moesia, and Legio III Augusta in Numidia; we know from other sources he commanded a Legio III in 132.[6] Subsequently, Ambibulus was suffect consul; his career after his consulship is unknown.
^Salomies, Adoptive and polyonymous nomenclature in the Roman Empire, (Helsinki: Societas Scientiarum Fennica, 1992), pp. 35f
^Eck and Roxan, "Two New Military Diplomas", in Römische Inschriften – Neufunde, Neulesungen und Neuinterpretationen, Festschrift für Hans Lieb, hg. R. Frei-Stolba (Basel: M.A. Speidel, 1995)
lucius, varius, ambibulus, full, name, quintus, planius, sardus, roman, senator, century, occupied, number, offices, imperial, service, well, serving, suffect, consul, either, cognomen, ambibulus, described, ronald, syme, peculiar, uncommon, could, only, count. Lucius Varius Ambibulus full name Quintus Planius Sardus Lucius Varius Ambibulus was a Roman senator of the 2nd century AD who occupied a number of offices in the imperial service as well as serving as suffect consul in either 132 or 133 His cognomen Ambibulus was described by Ronald Syme as peculiar and uncommon he could only count five examples of its use in inscriptions found at Rome and one more in North Africa 1 Based on the evidence that his father s name was also L Varius Ambibulus his sister s name is Varia and his freedmen were Varii Olli Salomies argues his original name was Lucius Varius Ambibulus and the terms of a testamentary adoption one Quintus Planius Sardus directed Ambibulus to add his name to Ambibulus in return for a share of the latter s estate 2 However Werner Eck and Margaret Roxan present another possibility based on a military diploma owned by Martin Schoyen that mentions an equestrian Q Planius Sardus the commander of ala I Ulpia contrariorum milliaria Noting the nomen gentile is otherwise rare in the senatorial and equestrian classes they argue that Ambibulus is related to this equestrian adding the Quintus Planius Sardus element in his name from his mother s side 3 Career editThe career of Ambibulus up to his consulate can be reconstructed from a damaged inscription erected in Cuicul in Numidia it was erected by order of the civic government to honor him as their patron 4 In this inscription all of his posts are listed in chronological order except oddly for the first in the list a hitch as military tribune in a legion whose name is mostly missing In the order Ambibulus held these offices he began his career in his teenage years as one of the decemviri stlitibus iudicandis which was one of the four boards comprising the vigintiviri The traditional Republican magistracies followed quaestor plebeian tribune and praetor After stepping down as praetor Ambibulus served as praefectus frumentus dandi ex senatus then was selected by the sortition to be proconsular governor of Macedonia in 124 125 5 This was followed by two commissions as legatus legionis or commander of legions Legio I Italica in Moesia and Legio III Augusta in Numidia we know from other sources he commanded a Legio III in 132 6 Subsequently Ambibulus was suffect consul his career after his consulship is unknown References edit Syme Three Ambivii Classical Quarterly 36 1986 p 275 Salomies Adoptive and polyonymous nomenclature in the Roman Empire Helsinki Societas Scientiarum Fennica 1992 pp 35f Eck and Roxan Two New Military Diplomas in Romische Inschriften Neufunde Neulesungen und Neuinterpretationen Festschrift fur Hans Lieb hg R Frei Stolba Basel M A Speidel 1995 AE 1911 111 ILS 9486 Eck Jahres und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69 70 bis 138 139 Chiron 13 1983 pp 160f Paul Leunissen Direct Promotions from Proconsul to Consul under the Principate Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 89 1991 p 220 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lucius Varius Ambibulus amp oldid 1206512443, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
