Folia archeologica 15.

Sándor Soproni: Castellum Carporum

CASTELLUM CARPORUM 51 From the account of Zosimos it is not difficult to draw a parallel between the fortress of the Carpi he mentions and the castellum Carporum of the inscription. Every circumstance points to the identity of the castellum of the inscription with the fortress noted by Zosimos. The dating of the inscription to the middle of the third century may be accepted on the basis of the type of lettering. The presence of the Emperor makes the participation of praetorian soldiers in the battle justified. Our sources did not mention similar instances and therefore it is natural to closely relate the event mentioned in the ancient source to this inscription. The exact location of the battle in the inscription (although only the name of the war was generally mentioned) indicates the great significance of the storming of the Carpian fortress at that time. By mentioning the castellum Carporum those who erected the tombstone wanted to emphasize that P. Ael. Proculinus did not die in an insignificant war but precisely in the battle which took place at the fortress. Zosimos, who otherwise only briefly describes the history of the reign of Philippus, treats the battle taking place at the fortress of the Carpi in detail because of its significance. Evidently the presence of the Emperor also added to the fame of the battle which the imperial propaganda very likely tried to increase. After the peace treaty the Emperor returned to Rome, had a triumph and bestowed the title of Augustus on his son and that of „mater Augusti et castrorum et Senatus et Patriae" on his wife.

4

9 The coins issued in 248 have the designation Carpicus Maximus

5

0 which the Emperor assumed in commemoration of the victory over the Carpi.

6

1 The decisive and final stage of the war occurred in the first half of 247 and P. Ael. Proculinus fell at this time, in the spring of 247, probably April or May, in the battle at the fortress of the Carpi. Unfortunately our sources are not sufficient to locate the castle. Zosimos mentions only that the Carpi lived along the Lower Danube. Ptolemaios more exactly fixes their area : they lived in the area between Bastarna and Peucin (III, 5, 24) or in the territory between the Sarmatians and Tiragetas (III 10, 13). Research places them in the area of the eastern foothills of the Carpathians, in the valley of the Prut and Siret Rivers.

5

2 From the coins hidden during the invasion taking place in the time of Philippus it may also be discovered that the centre of the two routes of attack was approximately in this area.

5

3 But, considering all the circumstances, it is not likely that the Emperor, leaving the boundaries of the Empire, would have penetrated the barbarian territories as far as that. The fortress of the Carpi should be sought much closer, probably in the area of present-day Tran4

9 Calderini (op. cit. 151) dates the return to May 247, Ensslin fop. cit. 90 f.) places the bestowing of the title Augustus before July 247. Cf. also PWRE XIX Hb op. cit. 762. The title Augustus was dated to 248 bv Stein (op. cit.) and also by Rappaport (op. cit). 5

0 Stein, Carpicus. PWRE VI Hb (Stuttgart 1899) 1610. Cf. Coh V 135. nr. 3. = RIC IV/3 261 — RIC IV/3 61 f. The inscriptions appearing on the reverse of the coins, VICTORIA CARPICA are dated to the end of 247 (Coh V 238 = RIC IV/3 66.). The portrayal of Victoria on the reverse side may also be related to this victory (Coh V 158, 160, 165 etc.). 5

1 The opinions about the raid of 248 are quite different (Calderini

, A., op. cit. 153. f; Mitrea, В., op. cit. 159.; Tudor, D. op. cit. 35. 5

2 Patsch, С., op. cit. 1608 f.; Rappaport, В

., op. cit. 25.; Schmidt, E., op. cit. 204. 5

3 See Mitrea, В., op. cit. map on p. 156. 4*