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.
Mentions
Altar of Rufius Caeionius Sabinus
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.
TNMM 756
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.
References
- André Chastagnol (1961) La famille de Caecinia Lolliana grande dame païenne du IV e siècle après J.-C