Servius Sulpicius Similis
Servius Sulpicius Similis (died c. 125) was an
His place of origin is unknown. A fragmentary inscription bearing Similis' name has been found in a cathedral in Carthage.[2] This led Ronald Syme to comment, "An African 'patria' is not excluded".[3]
Career
While a
This was followed by his governorship of Roman Egypt, the largest province governed by an eques. It was the most important because Egypt provided a large share of the grain needed to feed Rome. Not only did the governor have command of the troops stationed there—during his tenure two legions were based in Egypt, Legio III Cyrenaica and Legio XXII Deiotariana—he also managed the financial and judicial affairs. Papyrus copies of his rulings have been recovered. One confirms the edict of an earlier prefect, Marcus Mettius Rufus, who ordered that copies of marriage contracts should be registered with all the documents about the husband's properties.[6] Another, dated 1 June 108, directs the strategos of Diopolitis to pay the salary owed to one Chairemon.[7] Two more record his opinion in inheritance cases: in one he affirmed, "As an Egyptian, he had the right to make his will on whatever terms he wished"; in the other he ruled that a will could be made on whatever terms the testator wishes, provided that "he left as heirs those children of his in whose name he made the 'general sales'."[8]
Trajan appointed Similis Praetorian prefect around 112, with Publius Acilius Attianus as his counterpart. Similis was very diligent in administering justice, never remaining at home during daylight. Dio Cassius shares the anecdote that when Trajan learned that Similis would not allow his illness prevent him from hearing cases and told him to go home, Similis replied, "The prefect ought to die on his feet".[9]
It is believed that Sulpicius Similis also participated in
References
- ^ G. Bastianini, "Lista dei prefetti d'Egitto dal 30a al 299p", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 17 (1975), p. 281
- ^ CIL VIII, 24587
- Journal of Roman Studies, 70 (1980), p. 79
- ^ Historia Romana, 59.19
- ^ Ulpian, De officio praetoris tutelaris (fr. Vat. 233)
- Papyrus Oxyrhynchusii.237, col. viii, lines 21 to 27
- ^ Papyrus BGU 15.1 #2465
- ^ Papyrus Oxyrhynchus, xlii.3015
- ^ Dio Cassius, Historia Romana, 59.18
- ^ Michel Christol, Ségolène Demougin, "Notes de prosopographie équestre V. Les ornements de Ser. Sulpicius Similis", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 74 (1988), pp. 13–14.
- ^ Syme, Tacitus (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1958), p. 241 n. 10
- ^ Birley, Hadrian: the Restless Emperor (London: Routledge, 1997), p. 96