Use of <i>securitas </i>in Latin epigraphic finds from Roman Africa: general observations
The lexical unit ‘security' in Latin is typically designated as securitas . Securitas as the collective value of the Roman civitas was actively promulgated starting from the Principate Period, when Romans started to mention it in literature, on coins, in epitaphs and official inscriptions. We have examined 26 inscriptions from Roman provinces in North Africa. As a result, we made several conclusions. First, we noticed the absence of Latin epigraphic finds mentioning social and personal security in Cyrenaica and Mauretania Tingitana. Second, we discovered the quantitative prevalence of the above mentioned inscriptions (15) in Numidia. Third, we classified the formulae of funeral and dedicatory inscriptions. Epitaphs contain both traditional formulae mentioning manes or having Christian connotations ( perpetuae securitati - AE . 1923. 15, 1969/70. 714; BCTH . 1932/33. 471; CIL . VIII. 3873, 4615, 21461; securitati aeternae - AE . 2003. 2018; CIL . VIII. 3763) and rarer types. The latter include the phrase templum securitatis ( ILTun . 1715, ILAfr . 357) probably having parallels only in Caralis, Sardinia ( CIL . X. 7719). Most likely, this expression may designate a final resting place, since no temples dedicated to Securitas have been found so far. Official inscriptions contain eulogies addressed to ruling emperors making efforts to maintain the security of quirites : publicae securitatis conservatorem ( AE . 1934. 7), securitate temporum ( AE . 1917/18. 91), securitati provincialium ( AE . 1902. 220; CIL . VIII. 20816), perpetuae securitatis ac libertatis auctori ( CIL . VIII. 7005), securitatem populi Romani ( CIL . VIII. 7975). A series of finds mentioning statuam aeream Securitatis Saeculi ( CIL . VIII. 7095-7098) is of particular interest. A statue of Secular Security made of bronze was erected in Cirta-Constantina (Numidia) under Caracalla, due to a magistrate called Marcus Cecilius Natalis.