Marcus Rutilius Lupus
Encyclopedia
Marcus Rutilius Lupus was Prefect of Egypt during the Jewish uprising of 115
-117
(the Kitos War
). Although Lupus successfully contained the initial revolt in Alexandria
, he had to call on the main Imperial forces to quell it, which object was eventually achieved with enormous loss of life and property. He also extend his protection to non-rebellious Jewish residents of Alexandria .
During his tenure of office some architectural works had been constructed in the province: a new portico in the Oasis of Thebes was in the same manner (as the temple at Panopolis in Thebaid under the prior prefect Lucius Sulpicius Inscript ) dedicated to Serapis and Isis (Samuel Sharpe : 157) with the following inscription: "For the fortune of the Lord Emperor Caesar Nerva Trajanus, the best, Augustus, Germanicus, Dacicus, under Marcus Rutilius Lupus, praefect of Egypt. To Sarapis and Isis, the most great gods, the inhabitants of Cysis, having decreed the building of the pylon, did it in token of their piety. In the year 19 of the Emperor Caesar Nerva Trajanus, the best, Augustus, Germanicus, Dacicus, the first of Pachon” (from Sir John Gardener Wilkinson book on Egypt, p.370)
of Rome at some time between 103
and 111
. This post was the second highest position for Roman knights, immediately following in importance the post of Prefect of Egypt.
industry , and is credited with the introduction of consular dating to the urban stamps in year 110 C.E. During the first decade of 100 C.E. he, being a landower and already a brick producer in Rome, started exloring clay deposits near present-day Vatican
known as figlinae Brutianae and stamped his product with a wolf rebus
, perhaps because of his cognomen
Lupus. Production continued there until his death, perhaps around 123 AD. He also acquired other clay-lands, respectively figlinae Naevianae and figlinae Narnienses (Bodel: 23).
115
Year 115 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalla and Vergilianus...
-117
117
Year 117 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Niger and Apronianus...
(the Kitos War
Kitos War
The Kitos War , translation: Rebellion of the exile) is the name given to the second of the Jewish–Roman wars. Major revolts by diasporic Jews in Cyrene , Cyprus, Mesopotamia and Aegyptus spiraled out of control resulting in a widespread slaughter of Roman citizens and others by the Jewish rebels...
). Although Lupus successfully contained the initial revolt in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, he had to call on the main Imperial forces to quell it, which object was eventually achieved with enormous loss of life and property. He also extend his protection to non-rebellious Jewish residents of Alexandria .
During his tenure of office some architectural works had been constructed in the province: a new portico in the Oasis of Thebes was in the same manner (as the temple at Panopolis in Thebaid under the prior prefect Lucius Sulpicius Inscript ) dedicated to Serapis and Isis (Samuel Sharpe : 157) with the following inscription: "For the fortune of the Lord Emperor Caesar Nerva Trajanus, the best, Augustus, Germanicus, Dacicus, under Marcus Rutilius Lupus, praefect of Egypt. To Sarapis and Isis, the most great gods, the inhabitants of Cysis, having decreed the building of the pylon, did it in token of their piety. In the year 19 of the Emperor Caesar Nerva Trajanus, the best, Augustus, Germanicus, Dacicus, the first of Pachon” (from Sir John Gardener Wilkinson book on Egypt, p.370)
Early career
He is also known to have been the Praefectus annonaePraefectus annonae
The praefectus annonae was a Roman imperial official charged with the supervision of the grain supply to the city of Rome. Under the republic, the job was usually done by an aedile...
of Rome at some time between 103
103
Year 103 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Maximus...
and 111
111
Year 111 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Piso and Bolanus...
. This post was the second highest position for Roman knights, immediately following in importance the post of Prefect of Egypt.
Role in the brick industry
According to research by Bloch, Stienby and Setälä, Marcus Rutilius Lupus was one of the most important person in the history of the Roman brickBrick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
industry , and is credited with the introduction of consular dating to the urban stamps in year 110 C.E. During the first decade of 100 C.E. he, being a landower and already a brick producer in Rome, started exloring clay deposits near present-day Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
known as figlinae Brutianae and stamped his product with a wolf rebus
Rebus
A rebus is an allusional device that uses pictures to represent words or parts of words. It was a favourite form of heraldic expression used in the Middle Ages to denote surnames, for example in its basic form 3 salmon fish to denote the name "Salmon"...
, perhaps because of his cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
Lupus. Production continued there until his death, perhaps around 123 AD. He also acquired other clay-lands, respectively figlinae Naevianae and figlinae Narnienses (Bodel: 23).
Sources
- P.A.Brunt, "The Administrators of Roman Egypt", The Journal of Roman Studies, vol. 65 (1975), pp. 124-147.
- John P. Bodel, Roman brick stamps in the Kelsey Museum, University of Michigan Press, 1983, page 23.
- Salo Wittmayer Baron, "A social and religious history of the Jews." pp.94-95
- Samuel Sharpe, History of Egypt, Moxon 1859, volume 2, page 157
Further reading and external links
- "The revolt against Trajan", from livius.org