The Forum of Augustus, inaugurated in 2 B.C., contained a large number of statues of eminent Romans from all periods in the city's history. Each was accompanied by an inscription giving a brief summary of the person's achievements. Some fragments of these inscriptions, which are called elogia by modern scholars, have survived, and they can be supplemented with similar inscriptions found elsewhere in Italy. A detailed study of the Elogia of the Augustan Forum, written by Brad Johnson, can be found online.
The inscriptions are shown here in the same order as in the edition by A.Degrassi, in volume 13.3 of 'Inscriptiones Italiae'. The numbers in red refer to the Latin text in the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum. All the inscriptions come from Rome, unless otherwise stated.
Aeneas the [first king] of the Latins; reigned for [3 years].
[Aeneas] Silvius, son of [Silvius] and grandson of [Aeneas]; the [fourth king of Alba; reigned] for 31 years.
Alba Silvius
Alba [Silvius], son of [Latinus] Silvius; the sixth [king] of Alba; reigned for [39] years.
a king of Alba
. . . son of Silvius . . . king of Alba; reigned for . . . years.
Proca Silvius
Proca [Silvius, son of Aventinus; king of Alba; reigned for 23 years.]
C. Julius Caesar Strabo
C. Julius Caesar Strabo, son of Lucius; curule aedile; quaestor; twice tribune of the soldiers; decemvir for giving, assigning and judging ownership of land; pontifex.
C. Julius [Caesar, son of Gaius]; father of the deified [Julius]; praetor; quaestor; tribune [of the soldiers]; ... [led] soldiers to (?) Cerceina.
M. Claudius Marcellus
[M. Claudius] Marcellus, [son of Gaius]; [curule aedile]; pontifex.
Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus
Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, son of Tiberius; consul; praetor urbanus; quaestor; augur; proclaimed imperator in Germany.
A. Postumius Albus
. . . the army of the Latins . . . the sons and son-in-law of Superbus . . . he dedicated a temple [to Castor] . . . from the spoils of the enemy.
L. Albinius
[L. Albinius, son of . . .]; led the Vestal [Virgins] to Caere, [when the Gauls] besieged the Capitol. [There] he took care that the sacred objects and rites were not disregarded. When [the city was recovered], he brought the sacred objects and the Virgins back [to Rome].
Appius Claudius Caecus
. . . [he captured many] towns from the Samnites. [He routed the army of the Sabines] and the Etruscans. [He prevented the agreement of] a truce with [king Pyrrhus]. As censor, [he constructed the Appian Way] and [brought] an aqueduct [into] the city. He built [a temple of Bellona].
C. Duilius
. . . eighty ships and captured [the town of Macella]. He was the first [to celebrate] a naval [triumph] over the [Carthaginians]. He was granted to right to return home [from] feasts [with a flute-player] and a torch. A statue and [column] were erected [in his honour] near the courtyard of Vulcanus. [He dedicated a temple to Janus in the Forum] Holitorium [from the spoils].
Q. Fabius Maximus
[Q. Fabius] Maximus, [son of Quintus; twice dictator]; five times [consul; censor]; twice [interrex]; curule aedile; . . .
L. Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus
[L. Cornelius Scipio] Asiaticus, son of Publius; [consul; praetor; curule aedile]; quaestor; tribune [of the soldiers].
Q. Caecilius Metellus Numidicus
Q. Caecilius [Metellus Numidicus, son of Lucius, brought many cities] under Roman control; [he triumphed over king Jugurtha]; as censor, he did not allow L. Equitius, [who falsely claimed to be the son of Tiberius Gracchus, to be recorded in the census].
C.Marius. Text restored from a better preserved copy, found at Arretium.
C. Marius, son of Gaius; seven times consul; praetor; tribune of the plebs; quaestor; augur; tribune of the soldiers. As consul, without taking lots he was sent to wage war against Jugurtha, king of Numidia. He captured Jugurtha, and as consul for the second time ordered him to be led before his chariot in his triumph. He was elected consul for the third time in his absence. As consul for the fourth time, he destroyed the army of the Teutones. As consul for the fifth time, he routed the Cimbri and celebrated a second triumph, over the Cimbri and the Teutones. As consul for the sixth time, he rescued the state, which had been thrown into disorder by the turbulent actions of the tribune of the plebs {Saturninus} and the praetor, who had taken up arms and seized the Capitol. When he was over 70 years old, he was forced out of his homeland by civil warfare, and after being restored by armed force, he was elected consul for a seventh time. He dedicated a temple to Honour and Virtue from the spoils of the Cimbri and Teutones. Clad in a triumphal robe and patrician shoes . . .
L. Cornelius Sulla
[L. Cornelius Sulla] Felix, [son of Lucius]; dictator for establishing [the state].
C. Claudius Nero
C. Claudius [Nero, son of Tiberius]; consul; censor; [praetor; quaestor]; tribune of the soldiers.
an unidentified general
. . . he captured towns . . . (?) Hasdrubal the Carthaginian . . .
an unidentified tribune of the plebs
. . . when no judgement had been made [(?) on the investigation] . . . as tribune of the plebs . . .
an unidentified general
. . . and . . . of silver . . . he triumphed . . .
C. Julius Julus
[C. Julius Julus, son of Gaius]; twice consul; appointed [decemvir with consular] power [to draw up laws].
(?) Sex. Appuleius
. . . son of Sextus . . . [triumphed] from Spain . . .
M. Furius Camillus
. . . he did not allow [the people] to migrate to Veii after the city had been captured. He celebrated a third triumph after defeating the Etruscans at Sutrium and subduing the Aequi and Volsci. He celebrated a fourth [triumph] after bringing [the war] with Volaterrae to a close, [and slaughtering the Gauls in the Alban territory].
L. Papirius Cursor
. . . in the war with the Samnites, when he had returned to Rome to take the auspices and meanwhile the magister equitum, Q. Fabius Maximus [son] of Ambustus, [joined] battle contrary to his orders . . .
C. Fabricius Luscinus
. . . [he conquered the Lucanians and Bruttii and celebrated] a second [triumph over them]. He deposited . . sestertii in the treasury as booty from them. [When he was sent to king] Pyrrhus to redeem [the prisoners of war], he achieved their release [to the Roman people free of charge].
C. Cornelius Cethegus
. . . and the Cenomani . . . their leader . . .
(?) Q. Publilius Philo
. . . in his first consulship . . . he celebrated a triumph over . . . as (?) proconsul, he triumphed [. . . ]lani
Fertor Resius
Fertor Resius, king of the Aequicoli. He was the first to practice the ius fetiale. The Romans learnt this custom from him.
Appius Claudius
Appius Claudius; quaestor urbanus; consul with P. Servilius Priscus.
M. Aemilius Barbula
M. Aemilius Barbula, son of Quintus and grandson of Lucius; dictator.
Publius Claudius Pulcher and Appius Claudius Pulcher
[Publius Claudius Pulcher, son of Appius and grandson of Publius], enrolled colonists for Cales; and as consul, [along with L. Porcius, triumvir], he founded a colony at Gravisca.
[Appius * Claudius Pulcher, son of Appius and grandson of Gaius]; quaestor; triumvir for casting and stamping bronze, silver and gold coinage; curule aedile; investigative judge of cases of poisoning; praetor judging cases of extortion; supervisor of road-laying; consul with M. Perperna.
* Suffect consul in 130 B.C.; alternatively, this may refer to Gaius Claudius Pulcher, consul in 92 B.C.
Q. Fabius, Paullus, Scipio and Q. Fabius
[Q.] Fabius Maximus, son of Quintus; curule aedile.
L. Aemilius Paullus, son of Lucius; [twice] consul; censor; augur; celebrated three triumphs.
P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus, son of Paullus; twice consul; censor; augur; celebrated a triumph.
Q. Fabius Maximus, son of Quintus; curule aedile; restored this monument.
Cornelia
Made by Tisicrates. Cornelia, daughter of Africanus, mother of the Gracchi.
C. Caecilius Metellus
C. Caecilius Metellus, son of Quintus, imperator.
M. Livius Drusus
M. Livius Drusus, son of Marcus and grandson of Gaius; pontifex; tribune of the soldiers; decemvir for judging disputes; tribune of the plebs; decemvir for giving and assigning ownership of land, under the terms of his own law; and the same year quinquevir for giving and assigning ownership of land under the terms of the Lex Saufeia; he was killed while still in office {as tribune}.
C. Julius Caesar and C. Octavius
C. Julius Caesar, son of Gaius and grandson of Gaius; father of the deified Julius; tribune of the soldiers; decemvir for giving and assigning [ownership] of land; quaestor; praetor for judging between citizens and foreigners; proconsul in Asia.
C. Octavius, son of Gaius, grandson of Gaius and great-grandson of Gaius; father of Augustus; twice tribune of the soldiers; quaestor; aedile of the plebs with Gaius Toranius; judge of investigations; praetor; proconsul; proclaimed imperator in his province of Macedonia.
Cn. Calpurnius Piso
Cn. Calpurnius Piso, son of Gnaeus; quaestor; as propraetor, he was assigned the province of Nearer Spain by decree of the senate.
M. Valerius Messalla and M. Valerius Messalla Corvinus
M. Valerius Messalla, son of Marcus and grandson of Manius; pontifex; twice tribune of the soldiers; quaestor; praetor urbanus; consul; quinquevir for giving, assigning and judging ownership of land; interrex three times; censor.
M. Valerius Messala Corvinus, son of Marcus and grandson of Marcus; . . .
M'. Valerius Maximus. Found at Arretium.
M'. Valerius Maximus, son of Volusus; dictator; augur; he was appointed dictator before he had held any other magistracy; he celebrated a triumph over the Sabines and Medullini; he led the plebs back down from the Mons Sacer, and reconciled them with the patricians; the senate freed the people from a heavy burden of debt, on his proposal; a position for a curule chair was awarded to him and his descendents near the shrine of Murcia, for the purpose of watching public games. He was subsequently appointed princeps senatus.
Appius Claudius Caecus. Found at Arretium.
Appius Claudius Caecus, son of Gaius; censor; twice consul; dictator; three times interrex; twice praetor; twice curule aedile; quaestor; three times tribune of the soldiers; he captured many towns from the Samnites; he routed the army of the Sabines and Etruscans; he prevented the agreement of a truce with king Pyrrhus; as censor, he constructed the Appian Way and brought an aqueduct into the city. He built a temple of Bellona.
Q. Fabius Maximus. Found at Arretium.
[Q. Fabius] Maximus, son of Quintus; twice dictator; five times consul; censor; twice interrex; curule aedile; twice quaestor; twice tribune of the soldiers; pontifex; augur. As consul for the first time, he conquered the Ligurians and celebrated a triumph over them. In his third and fourth consulships, he restrained Hannibal, who was rampant after many victories, by following him closely. As dictator, he came to the rescue of the army of Minucius, the magister equitum whose imperium had been raised to the same level as his own by the people; and on that account he was called "father" by the army of Minucius. As consul for the fifth time, he captured Tarentum and celebrated a triumph. He was considered to be the most cautious general of his time, and the most experienced in military matters. He was chosen to be princeps senatus during two lustra.
L. Aemilius Paullus. Found at Arretium.
L. Aemilius Paullus, son of Lucius; twice consul; censor; interrex; praetor; curule aedile; quaestor; three times military tribune; augur. As consul for the first time, he conquered the Ligurians and celebrated a triumph. He was elected consul for a second time in his absence, in order that he should take personal command of the war against the king {Perseus}. Within [ten days of arriving] in Macedonia, he destroyed the army of the king. He captured [the king and his children] . . .
Ti. Sempronius Gracchus. Found at Arretium.
[Ti.] Sempronius Gracchus, son of Publius . . .
L. Licinius Lucullus. Found at Arretium.
L. Licinius Lucullus, son of Lucius; consul; praetor; curule aedile; quaestor; tribune of the soldiers; augur. He celebrated a triumph over Mithridates king of Pontus and Tigranes king of Armenia. He defeated large forces of both kings in many battles, by land and sea. He rescued his colleague {Cotta} from a siege, after he had been defeated by king Mithridates and had taken refuge in Calchedon.
Aeneas, son of Venus and Anchises. He led the Trojans who survived the capture of Troy to Italy. He undertook a war . . . He founded [the town of Lanuvium, and he reigned there] for three years. He disappeared during the war at Laurentum; he was given the name Father Idigens and he was included among the gods.
Romulus. Found at Pompeii.
Romulus, son of Mars. He [founded] the city of Rome, and reigned there for 38 years. He was the first general to dedicate the spolia opima to Jupiter Feretrius, after killing the enemy general Acro, king of the Caeninenses. He was accepted among the gods, and was given the name Quirinus.
Lavinia, daughter of Latinus.
Silvius Aeneas. Found at Lavinium.
Silvius Aeneas, son of Aeneas and Lavinia.
P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus.
P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus, son of Publius; twice consul; censor; curule aedile; tribune of the soldiers . . .
M. Vinucius. Found at Tusculum.
[add.1] [M. Vinucius, son of Publius; consul; member of the board of fifteen] for performing sacrifices; [praetor; quaestor; legatus] propraetor of Caesar Augustus in [Illyricum; he was the first to advance] beyond the river Danube; he [routed] the army of [the Dacians] and the Bastarnae in battle; he brought the Cotini, [Osi], . . . and Anartii [under the sway of Imperator Caesar] Augustus [and the Roman people].
See also: CIL_12.652 (C. Sempronius Tuditanus)
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