Scorpus

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flavius ​​Scorpus
FLAVIUS SCORPUS
Mention on the tombstone of Diocles
Nation: S · P · Q · R Roman Empire
Chariot races in ancient Rome
Period: late 1st century AD
Victories: 2048 (information 50 years after death)

Flavius ​​Scorpus († approx. 95 probably in Rome at the age of 27) was a charioteer in the Roman Empire under Emperor Domitian . He is mentioned both on inscriptions from various tombs and in epigrams by the poet Martial .

On the grave inscription of the later charioteer Gaius Appuleius Diocles , who died in 146 or 147, the name "Flavius ​​Scorpus" and the number of 2048 victories can be found. The non-three-part name suggests that he was a freedman : Flavius indicates the previous owner and the original name Scorpus suggests a possible origin from Eastern Europe. On a gravestone of an officer there is a picture of a four-in-hand car with his handlebars labeled “Scorpus” .

Martial gives the age at death of 27 years, he lets Scorpus say the following:

"Ille ego sum Scorpus, clamosi gloria Circi,
Plausus, Roma, tui deliciaeque breves,
Invida quem Lachesis raptum trieteride nona,
Dum numerat palmas, credidit esse senem."

"I am Scorpus, the splendor and fame of the noisy circus ,
Roma , your clapping of hands and your only brief enjoyment:
after only nine triennials [9 times 3 years] Lachesis wrested me enviously ;"
When she counted the victories, I seemed an old man to her. "

- Marcus Valerius Martialis : Epigrams 10, 53

In addition to an additional mourning poem about him, the poet complains that he himself only earns 100 lead coins, while Scorpus, as the winner, carries away 15 sacks of gold.

His early death will be taken as evidence of a death in a race.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b CIL VI 8628 , accessed on July 12, 2019.
  2. ↑ a b CIL VI 10048 , accessed on July 12, 2019.
  3. ↑ CIL VI 10052 , accessed July 12, 2019.
  4. ↑ Martial, Epigrams : 4, 67 ; 5, 25 ; 10, 50 53 74 ; 11, 1 .
  5. ↑ a b Ludwig Friedländer : Sittengeschichte Roms - Chapter 10. Reprint, Phaidon Verlag, Vienna 1934.
  6. ↑ Terra X from 11:00.
  7. ↑ Terra X from 5:20 am.
  8. ↑ German translation is a rewrite . Alexander Berg: The Epigrams . 1865, p. 369.
  9. ↑ Martial, Epigrams 10, 50 .
  10. ↑ Martial, Epigrams 10, 74 .
  11. ^ Tratschke : Stars worth millions in ancient Rome . In: Die Zeit , July 19, 1974, archived version from January 18, 2017 .
  12. ↑ Terra X from 56:00.
personal data
SURNAME Scorpus
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Flavius ​​Scorpus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Charioteer in ancient Rome
DATE OF BIRTH at 68
PLACE OF BIRTH uncertain: Eastern Europe
DATE OF DEATH at 95
Place of death uncertain: Rome