Biography
of Titus Tettius Plotus
- Titus Tettius Plotus is attested as a Pater, holding the office of Pater.
- Is attested in service with the Legio IV Flavia Felix.
- Attested in the 1st half of 2nd century.
- Attested in Ulpia Oescus, Moesia inferior, Moesia in 1st half of 2nd century (TNMM 634).
TNMP 210
Titus Tettius Plotus dedicated an altar to the Invincible God at Ulpia Oescus. In the inscription he identifies himself as a veteran of the Legio IV Flavia Felix and bears the otherwise unique Mithraic title pater sacrorum (TNMM 634).
If the dedication belongs to the period shortly after the deployment of the legion to the Oescus region under Trajan, as traditionally assumed, it would date to the early decades of the 2nd century CE. Richard Gordon has questioned this chronology, however, noting that the title pater sacrorum is otherwise only attested from the 3rd century CE. He therefore suggested that Titus Tettius Plotus may have returned to Oescus later in life, perhaps from Singidunum, where the Legio IV Flavia Felix was stationed during the 2nd century. The dating of the inscription therefore remains uncertain.
References
- Aleš Chalupa (2016) The Origins of the Roman Cult of Mithras in the Light of New Evidence and Interpretations: the Current State of Affairs.
- Epigraphic Database Heidelberg. Altar of Tettius Plotus from Oescus in EDH.
- Alfred Shenington Geden. Altar of Tettius Plotus from Oescus in EDCS.
- Philippe Roy & Laurent Bricault (2021) Les cultes de Mithra dans l’Empire romain.
Attestations
Altar of Tettius Plotus from Oescus
TNMM 634
In the altar that Titus Tettius Plotus dedicated to the invincible God, he called himself pater sacrorum.
