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Syndexios

Aelius Sabinus

Centurion who engraved a plaque to Sol for the health of the Emperor Antoninus Pius and his sons.

  • Interior of the San Clemente Mithraeum.

    Interior of the San Clemente Mithraeum.
    The New Mithraeum / Jona Lendering (CC BY-NC-SA) 

Biography
of Aelius Sabinus

TNMP 254

Aelius Sabinus, probably a Roman citizen who took the name Aelius, is known from an Antonine marble inscription (138 - 161 AD) discovered near the Mithraeum under the Church of San Clemente in Rome. Although details of his life are still scarce, surviving fragments of text identify him as a centurion.

The dedication to the welfare of the Emperor Titus Aelius Antoninus Augustus and his adopted sons, Marcus Aelius Aurelius Caesar and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, indicates that Sabinus served under their reign.

References

Attestations

Inscription of Sabinus from San Clemente

TNMM 739

This marble slab, found in the Mithraeum of San Clemente, bears an inscription by a certain Aelius Sabinus for the health of the Emperor Antoninus Pius and his sons.

[Pro salute / T. Aeli Antoni/ni] Aug[usti] e[t M[arci] Aeli / Au]reli Caes[aris] et / [L. Aur[eli] C]ommodi fil[iorum] / [Ael[ius?]] Sabinus c[ enturio ]leg[ionis] ... / [Sol?]i v[otum] s[olvit] l[ibens] m[erito].
For the health of Titus Aelius Antoninus Augustus and Marcus Aelius Aurelius Caesar and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, his sons, Aelius Sabinus, centurion of the legion, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow to Sol.

Mitreo di San Clemente

TNMM 13

The Mithraeum under the Basilica of San Clemente made part of a notable Roman house.

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