Servius Maluginensis
Encyclopedia
Servius Cornelius Lentulus Maluginensis was a Roman
patrician who flourished in the reigns of the emperors Augustus
and Tiberius
. He served as consul suffectus in AD 10, alongside Q. Junius Blaesus.
After a long vacancy (either 87 to 15 BC or 82 to 10 BC) he became flamen dialis
under Augustus' direction. According to Tacitus
(Annals
3.58, 71), Servius wanted to be governor of Asia in AD 22, but his religious obligations appeared to bar his leaving Rome. The emperor Tiberius
finally decided that the flamen dialis must stay in Italy to perform his duties and obliged Servius to forfeit his prospective governorship.
The exact date when Servius became flamen dialis is disputed. Cassius Dio (54.36) says it was in about 11 BC, and many modern scholars accept this date without question. But Tacitus (Ann. 3.58) indicates that the date was 72 years after the suicide of Cornelius Cinna (87 BC). Some modern translators (including Rex Warner, but not Wood) change Tacitus to match Dio instead of vice-versa, even though Tacitus is the more reliable historian. Gaius Stern asserts that Tacitus is probably correct, meaning that Maluginensis became flamen dialis while Lepidus was pontifex maximus
(16/15 BC), so that Lepidus had to supervise Maluginensis' inauguration at Augustus' direction, possibly unwillingly.
Maluginensis died soon after, in AD 23. His son of the same name was selected to take over his priesthood.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
patrician who flourished in the reigns of the emperors Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
and Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
. He served as consul suffectus in AD 10, alongside Q. Junius Blaesus.
After a long vacancy (either 87 to 15 BC or 82 to 10 BC) he became flamen dialis
Flamen Dialis
In ancient Roman religion, the Flamen Dialis was the high priest of Jupiter. There were 15 flamines, of which three were flamines maiores, serving the three gods of the Archaic Triad...
under Augustus' direction. According to Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
(Annals
Annals (Tacitus)
The Annals by Tacitus is a history of the reigns of the four Roman Emperors succeeding Caesar Augustus. The surviving parts of the Annals extensively cover most of the reigns of Tiberius and Nero. The title Annals was probably not given by Tacitus, but derives from the fact that he treated this...
3.58, 71), Servius wanted to be governor of Asia in AD 22, but his religious obligations appeared to bar his leaving Rome. The emperor Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
finally decided that the flamen dialis must stay in Italy to perform his duties and obliged Servius to forfeit his prospective governorship.
The exact date when Servius became flamen dialis is disputed. Cassius Dio (54.36) says it was in about 11 BC, and many modern scholars accept this date without question. But Tacitus (Ann. 3.58) indicates that the date was 72 years after the suicide of Cornelius Cinna (87 BC). Some modern translators (including Rex Warner, but not Wood) change Tacitus to match Dio instead of vice-versa, even though Tacitus is the more reliable historian. Gaius Stern asserts that Tacitus is probably correct, meaning that Maluginensis became flamen dialis while Lepidus was pontifex maximus
Pontifex Maximus
The Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post...
(16/15 BC), so that Lepidus had to supervise Maluginensis' inauguration at Augustus' direction, possibly unwillingly.
Maluginensis died soon after, in AD 23. His son of the same name was selected to take over his priesthood.