Claudius Zenobius
Procurator of Tarraconensis, he dedicated a monument to the Invincible God, Isis and Serapis in Asturica Augusta.
Biography
of Claudius Zenobius
- Claudius Zenobius is attested as a member of a Mithraic community (syndexios).
- Attested in the 212 – 222.
- Attested in Asturica Augusta, Tarraconensis, Hispania in 212 – 222 (TNMM 734).
TNMP 253
He was procurator Augusti in the province of Hispania citerior at the end of the Severan period, probably between the early years of Caracalla’s reign and the end of Heliogabalus’ rule (c. 212–222). As imperial procurator, he oversaw the financial administration of the province. His jurisdiction covered the whole territory except the juridical convents of Bracara Augusta (Braga, Portugal) and Lucus Augusti (Lugo), which had been incorporated into Hispania superior. Particular attention was devoted to the convent of Asturica Augusta (Astorga), where the Roman state’s main mining interests were concentrated, including the gold mines of Las Médulas.
The seat of the procurator of Hispania citerior may have been located at Asturica Augusta rather than Tarraco. This could explain why Claudius Zenobius dedicated an altar to Isis and Serapis in Astorga. The dedication of altars to various deities at Asturica was a practice commonly followed by the imperial procurators serving in Hispania.
References
- Epigraphic Database Heidelberg. Plaque of Astorga in EDH.
- Alfred Shenington Geden. Plaque of Astorga in EDCS.
- Hispania Epigraphica. Plaque of Astorga in HE.
- Juan Manuel Abascal (2023) Claudius Zenobius | Real Academia de la Historia.
- Mitra en Hispania. Plaque of Astorga in MEH.
Attestations
Plaque of Astorga
TNMM 734
This slab dedicated to the invincible god, Serapis and Isis by Claudius Zenobius was found in 1967 in the walls of the city of Astorga, Spain.
