senator of the second century AD. He is best known from Lucian's vivid portrayal of him in Alexander vel Pseudomantis, where the senator is described as "a man of good family and tested in many Roman offices, but utterly sick as far as the gods were concerned," as the most distinguished victim of the bogus oracle established by the story's namesake in Paphlagonia. Rutilianus was suffect consul in the nundinium of May-June 146 with Titus Prifernius Paetus Rosianus Geminus as his colleague.[1]
Life
Anthony Birley states he was "probably" the son of
After completing his term as praetor, Rutilianus likely served as
aerarium Saturni or Senate treasury, which he held for three years; Mireille Corbier dates his tenure from the year 141 to 143 with Lucius Coelius Festus as his colleague.[5] At some point prior to his consulate Rutilianus was accepted into the collegium of Augurs, which Birley notes, confirms his "high social standing."[2]
After stepping down from his consulate, Rutilianus held at least two offices. The first was an appointment as governor of the
imperial province of Moesia inferior as the immediate predecessor of Gaius Curtius Justus, who is considered to have entered the governorship in 156.[2] However, Géza Alföldy places Marcus Valerius Etruscus as Justus' predecessor and instead dates Rutilianus between the years 146 and 155, perhaps between the years 149 and 152.[6] The second office was proconsular governor of Asia, the apex of a successful Senatorial career, which Ronald Syme dates to the term 160/161.[7]
Rutilianus and the oracle
The proconsular province of Asia.
Asia Minor, whose fame eventually extended beyond Bithynia, Galatia, and Thrace to Italy and Rome. Rutilianus had been drawn to the oracle, ostensibly to serve his term as proconsul of Asia, but instead, "he very nearly abandoned the office entrusted to him in order to take wing to Abonoteichus."[8] Lucian explains that Rutilianus, "though a man of birth and breeding, put to the proof in many Roman offices, nevertheless in all that concerned the gods was very infirm and held strange beliefs about them. If he but saw anywhere a stone smeared with holy oil or adorned with a wreath, he would fall on his face forthwith, kiss his hand, and stand beside it for a long time making vows and craving blessings from it."[8]
Shortly after Rutilianus had been caught up in this oracle, Lucian had taken a personal interest in debunking it and paid a visit to Alexander. By this point Rutilianus had asked the oracle whom he should marry, the response was that the proconsul, who was in his sixties, should marry Alexander's daughter, allegedly engendered on the goddess
Bithynia et Pontus, Lucius Hedius Rufus Lollianus Avitus, the latter convinced him that it would be futile, for even if Lucian won his case Rutilianus would use his influence to prevent Alexander from being punished.[12]
References
^Géza Alföldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter den Antoninen, (Bonn: Habelt Verlag, 1977), p. 151.
^ abcBirley, The Fasti of Roman Britain, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981), p. 249
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