Philanthropy

//Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae// 6271 ([|Ferentinum]) To //Aulus// Quinctilius Priscus, son of //Aulus,// of the [|Palatine] tribe, [|member of the board of four with the power of aedile, member of the board for administering justice, member of the board of four elected every five years, recruited by a council decree, priest, and aide-de-camp]...//[praefectus fabrorum]// [|In light of his outstanding generosity shown to his fellow people], they have voted to place a statue of him in senatorial dress at public expense in the forum, wherever he himself desires. [|He has accepted the honour, but rejected the __offer__ to pay for it.] He, in accord with a decree of the Council, bought off the state the farms Ceponia, Roia, and Mamia and the field at Exoscum for 70,000 [|sesterces] and gave them back for the perpetual use of the state. From their rent of 4,200 sesterces each year, on 2 May each year on his birthday in perpetuity there should be given to townsfolk, inhabitants, and their legally married wives a pound of cake and a hemina of mead; and at a dinner for the decurions mead, cake, and a gratuity of 10 sesterces, the same to the children of the councillors; and to the six men entrusted with the [|cult of Augustus] and those who would dine with them, cake, mead, and 8 sesterces; and at a larger dinner in my honour a sestertius for each man; and for the decoration of my statue and portrait busts, the state would in perpetuity spend 30 sesterces on the decision of the board of four, under the responsibility of the aediles. It is desirable that they should make a scattering of 30 [|modii] of nuts to the children of the townsfolk without making distinction between __free__ and slave, and a distribution of 6 draughts from jars of wine to the children of the councillors.

Trans: T. Parkin and A. Pomeroy, // Roman Social History: A Sourcebook // (Routledge, 2007).

What is the medium of this inscription?
 * Questions:**

Who is Aulus Quinctilius Priscus and what was his contribution to gain this dedication?

Are there other examples of philanthropy and monuments honoring the __donations__?

Where are the referenced farmlands located?

This public inscription dedicated to a local Decurion is a unique example of altruistic behavior in the Roman Empire. Decurions were usually __retired military__ officers who sought __access__ to political authority in their local community. This monument is insightful to both societal and political relations; generosity and ancient Rome are not synonymous with each other and this is an example of an outlier that aids us in our perception of human nature. Compassion and empathy are essential for progress in civilizations because the law of comparative advantage shows self sufficiency does not promote innovation. This communal recognition of altruism insinuates the magnitude of revere and respect the lower and middle classes had for his etiquette.
 * Interpretation: **

 The celebration commemorating his birthday entailed to involve all of the hierarchy, but ulteriorly sought to __reward__ the peasants and slaves. The reciprocity in the act of distributing food was of gratefulness. This truly is philanthropy because those rewarded included the lowest constituents with the least political influence or had no suffrage whatsoever. Surely it was a clever and strategic political plot for him to buy and subsidize the land for agriculture such as a feudal system, but to particularly state an intention to disburse food for __free__ and slaved children depicts benevolence. Also, fair interpretations of public __welfare__ can be perceived in the empire from this occasion. Food and land are two commodities here being extended or subsidized to the public.

 I am unsure how prevalent [|philanthropy] was in the Roman Empire. This notion could be possibly be exemplified in the [|Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker] also because of a middle class merchant having such an elaborate grave seems too expensive for him or his family solely to provide. __Government grants__ and subsidies would seem to be interested in pleasing the public over desiring to do public favors. The purchasing of land would seem a likely market for the imperial court to gain capital to extend their empire, but the reallocation of it for a collective public good I’d assume was uncommon. The infrequency of occurrence is what makes this inscription significant for the discussion of Roman society. Aulus Quinctilius Priscus’s interior intentions were to satisfy the general public. Even if his actions partially consisted of interior motives the reception by the people shows their appreciation. The public are pleased by this representation that benefited them.

 From this document you can sense the disparity of wealth. For a local Decurion to be able to comfortably contribute this land for the lower income community who were so appreciative they celebrated his birthday by declaring to continue similar contributions. He included gifts to military and councillors not directly as bribes but as an act to gain admission to their approval. Freed men probably desired relative local autonomy rather than imperial administrative power and influence. This act was a hospitable political move to benefit the common welfare.

How prevalent or frequent was altruism in Ancient Rome? Where are the subsidized farms located? Are there any other records of Aulus Quinctilius Priscus?
 * Lingering Questions: **

Hawes, Adeline Belle "Charities and Philanthropies in Roman Empire" //The Classical Weekly// Vol.6 No.29(April 19, 1913) URL: [] (Accessed April 11, 2012)
 * Bibliography: **

Lindering, Jona “Decuriones/ Curiales,” //Livius Organization,// 1995. URL: [] (Accessed April 1, 2012)

Mohler, S.L. “Feminism in the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum,” //The Classical Weekly//Vol.25 No. 16 (Feb 15, 1932) URL: [] (Accessed April 1, 2012)

Stillwell, Richard. MacDonald, William L. McAlister, Marian Holland. “Ferentium (Ferento) Italy,” //Princeton, N.J. Princeton University Press//. 1976. URL: [](Accessed April 1, 2012)


 * Comments:**

Good job. One thing I'm curious about as a reader is the identity of the "Palatine Tribe." If you covered that, I think it would be interesting. Also, as a reader I'm unsure of what a Decurion is. Maybe you could define that. Sincerely, Andrew Cooper

very nice start. like said above maybe talk about what the palatine tribe is. also maybe a link for who aulus quinctilius priscus is, if you can find something on him. but your links were nice and your questions worked well.- Tyler Duncan