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Syndexios

Rufius Caeionius Sabinus

Senator and Pater Sacrorum of Mithras, who consecrated several monuments in Rome in the late 4th century.

Biography
of Rufius Caeionius Sabinus

TNMP 262

Sabinus may have been the grandson of Antonius Caecina Sabinus and the son of Rufio Caeionio Cecina Sabinus. He may have been the Sabinus introduced by Eutropius to Quintus Aurelius Symmachus and the father-in-law of Carterius. He underwent a taurobolium and left a testimony of it on 12 March 377 on an altar dedicated to Magna Mater and Attis. It states that he was a most illustrious man (clarissimus), a great pontiff, hierophant of the goddess Hecate, public augur of the Quirites and Pater Sacrorum of Mithras.

References

Mentions

Altar of Rufius Caeionius Sabinus

TNMM 756

In this 4th-century Roman altar, the senator Rufius Caeionius Sabinus defines himself as Pater of the sacred rites of the unconquered Mithras, having undergone the taurobolium.

M[atri] d[eorum] m[agnae] I[daeae] et Attidi Menoturanno s[acrum].
Nobilis in causis forma celsusq[ue] Sabinus
Hie pater Invieti mystica victor habet,
Sermo duos...... reservans
Consimiles aufert..... .
Et veneranda movet Cibeles triodeia signa:
Augentur meritis simbola tauroboli.
R[ufius] Cae[i]oni[us] Cae [ioni ?] Sabini f[ilius] v[ir] c[larissimus] p[ontifex] m[aior] hierof[anta] d[eae] Hecat[ae] aug[ur] / pub[licus] p[opuli] R[omani] Q[uiritium] pater sacror[um] invict[i] Methrae[sic] tauroboliatus / M[atris] d[eum] m[agnae] Id[aeae] et Attidis Minotiranni et aram IIII id[us] mart[ias] / Gratiano Vet Merobaude consulibus dedicabit.
Antiqua generose domo, cui regia Vestae
Pontifici felix sacrato militat igne,
Idem augur, triplicis cultor venerande Dianae,
Persidiciq[ue] Mithrae antistes Babilonie templi,
Tauroboliq[ue] simul magni dux mistice sacri.
Sacred to the Great Mother of the Gods of Ida and to Attis Menoturannus. Nobilis, outstanding in legal cases, and lofty in stature, Sabinus— here, pater of the Invincible One, holds the mystic victory. Preserving two rites in discourse, he removes like with like, and sets in motion the venerable triple signs of Cybele: the symbols of the taurobolium are increased by his merits. Rufius Caionius, son of Caionius Sabinus, most illustrious man, chief pontiff, hierophant of the goddess Hecate, public augur of the Roman People of the Quirites, pater sacrorum of the Invincible Mithras [sic], tauroboliated for the Great Mother of the Gods of Ida and Attis Menoturannus, dedicated this and the altar on the fourth day before the Ides of March, when Gratianus and Merobaudes were consuls. Of ancient and noble house, for whom the royal fire of Vesta happily serves the consecrated pontiff, the same man also augur, venerable devotee of triple Diana, and high priest of Persian Mithras of the Babylonian temple, and likewise mystical leader of the great taurobolic rite.
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