Plancia Magna
Encyclopedia
Plancia Magna was a prominent woman from Anatolia
who lived between the 1st century and 2nd century in the Roman Empire
.
Marcus Plancius Varus
and the Herodian Princess
Julia
. Her mother became a priestess and served in the temple of the Ancient Greek Goddess Artemis
in Perga. Artemis was the most important Goddess in Perga. Magna’s brother was Roman Senator, Consul Gaius Plancius Varus
. Magna was born and raised in Perga
, the capital of the Roman province
of Pamphylia
. Her cognomen
Magna, is either from her maternal or paternal grandmother.
Her maternal grandparents were King Tigranes VI of Armenia
and his wife Opgalli, while her maternal uncle was prince Gaius Julius Alexander
. Magna’s maternal ancestors were King Archelaus of Cappadocia
, King of Judea Herod the Great
and his wife Mariamne
. Magna along with her brother and maternal cousins were among the last known descendants of the Herodian Dynasty
. She appeared to be an apostate
to Judaism
. It is unlikely that she attempted to exert influence on Judean Politics.
Magna married a man of Roman Senatorial rank
called Gaius Julius Cornutus Tertullus
, who was the son of a Proconsul and Suffect Consul. Her husband was a local citizen of Perga and his family originated from Pamphylia. Magna bore Tertullus a son and only child, Gaius Julius Plancius Varus Cornutus
.
. From surviving inscriptions dedicated to her and her family, it is understood that Magna, her father and brother were wealthy and influential citizens in Perga. Due to the goodness and generosity of Magna, her father and her brother, they were accepted as the second founders of Perga. They each were given the honorific title of ‘’Ktistes’’ or ’’Founder’‘.
She was a matron, civic minded and a charitable woman. Magna dedicated her life and wealth to beautification and development of Perga, which contributed to the prosperity of the city. She was a great benefactress and patron of Perga. Magna inherited and took charged of her late father’s large family estates in Galatia
and became the head of her family.
In the reign of Roman Emperor
Hadrian
117–138, she undertook large remodelling projects in Perga. She elevated to the rank of tutelary divinity of the city. In 120, Magna erected a number of statues depicting various members of the imperial family at Perga. Between 120–122, she undertook to magnificently beautify the Hellenistic Gate at Perga, the city’s most magnificent structure that was the entrance to the city.
The sides of the towers of the Hellenistic Gate and the horse-shoed courtyard was restored. The courtyard had marble facing with decorative architectural elements and statuary, providing two-tiered triumphal arch that had three entrances and decorated statues.
The decorated statues were of various Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses. These deities included the Roman Emperors and the wives from the reigns of Nerva
to Hadrian. The gate had a number of Greek and Latin inscriptions. Among these inscriptions, were two surviving inscriptions resting north of the Hellenistic Gate. This inscriptions resting north were probably supported by a statue donated by Magna.
Translated from Latin
[first two lines]
Translated from Greek [last 2 lines]
Magna held the title of high-priestess of the temple of the ancient Greek Goddess Artemis
in Perga. Artemis was the most important goddess in the city. She also was the high-priestess of the imperial cult and the high-priestess for life of the mother of the gods.
Magna was honored by the Boule
, Demos
and Gerousia
of Perga with the honorific title of ’’Demiourgos’‘. The person who held this yearly title, their name was used to identify the year. Demiourgos was the highest civil servant position in the government of Perga. This title was usually reserved for men and through this title she had sponsored the local games held in Perga.
A surviving inscription on a base from a statue erected by the community of Perga, reveals her position in the city:
When Magna died she was buried in a tomb which of located right of the Hellenistic Gate.
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
who lived between the 1st century and 2nd century in the Roman Empire
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....
.
Ancestry, family, and early life
Plancia Magna came from a distinguished family. She was the daughter of Roman Senator, ProconsulProconsul
A proconsul was a governor of a province in the Roman Republic appointed for one year by the senate. In modern usage, the title has been used for a person from one country ruling another country or bluntly interfering in another country's internal affairs.-Ancient Rome:In the Roman Republic, a...
Marcus Plancius Varus
Marcus Plancius Varus
Marcus Plancius Varus was an Anatolian Roman noble who lived in the 1st century in the Roman Empire. His paternal ancestors were originally from Latium in Central Italy. They had immigrated to Anatolia in the time of the late Roman Republic. Varus came from a local, wealthy family who were...
and the Herodian Princess
Herodian Dynasty
The Herodian Dynasty was a Jewish dynasty of Idumean descent, client Kings of Roman Judaea Province between 37 BCE and 92 CE.- Origin :During the time of the Hasmonean ruler John Hyrcanus 134-104 BCE, Israel conquered Edom and forced the Edomites to convert to Judaism.The Edomites were integrated...
Julia
Julia (daughter of Tigranes VI of Armenia)
Julia was a Herodian Princess who lived in the 1st century and possibly in the 2nd century in the Roman Empire.She was of Jewish, Nabataean, Edomite, Greek, Armenian and Persian ancestry. She was the daughter of the Herodian Prince, later King Tigranes VI of Armenia and his wife Opgalli...
. Her mother became a priestess and served in the temple of the Ancient Greek Goddess Artemis
Artemis
Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. Some scholars believe that the name and indeed the goddess herself was originally pre-Greek. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals"...
in Perga. Artemis was the most important Goddess in Perga. Magna’s brother was Roman Senator, Consul Gaius Plancius Varus
Gaius Plancius Varus
Gaius Plancius Varus was a Roman who lived between the 1st century and 2nd century in the Roman Empire. Varus was the son of Roman Senator, Proconsul Marcus Plancius Varus and the Herodian Princess Julia. His sister was Plancia Magna and was the maternal uncle to Gaius Julius Plancius Varus Cornutus...
. Magna was born and raised in Perga
Perga
Perga was an ancient Greek city in Anatolia and the capital of Pamphylia, now in Antalya province on the southwestern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Today it is a large site of ancient ruins east of Antalya on the coastal plain. Located there is an acropolis dating back to the Bronze Age...
, the capital of the Roman province
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
of Pamphylia
Pamphylia
In ancient geography, Pamphylia was the region in the south of Asia Minor, between Lycia and Cilicia, extending from the Mediterranean to Mount Taurus . It was bounded on the north by Pisidia and was therefore a country of small extent, having a coast-line of only about 75 miles with a breadth of...
. Her 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...
Magna, is either from her maternal or paternal grandmother.
Her maternal grandparents were King Tigranes VI of Armenia
Tigranes VI of Armenia
Tigranes VI, also known as Tigran VI or by his Roman name Gaius Julius Tigranes was a Herodian Prince and served as a Roman Client King of Armenia in the 1st century....
and his wife Opgalli, while her maternal uncle was prince Gaius Julius Alexander
Gaius Julius Alexander
Gaius Julius Alexander was a Herodian Prince that lived in the 1st century and 2nd century in the Roman Empire.Alexander was of Jewish, Nabataean, Edomite, Greek, Armenian and Persian ancestry. He was the son of the Herodian Prince, later King Tigranes VI of Armenia and his wife Opgalli...
. Magna’s maternal ancestors were King Archelaus of Cappadocia
Archelaus of Cappadocia
-Family & Early Life:Archelaus was a Cappadocian Greek nobleman, possibly of Macedonian descent. His full name was Archelaus Sisines. He was the first born son, namesake of the Roman Client and High Priest Ruler Archelaus, of the temple state of Comana, Cappadocia and Glaphyra. Archelaus’ father...
, King of Judea Herod the Great
Herod the Great
Herod , also known as Herod the Great , was a Roman client king of Judea. His epithet of "the Great" is widely disputed as he is described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis." He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and elsewhere, including his...
and his wife Mariamne
Mariamne (second wife of Herod)
Mariamne I, also called Mariamne the Hasmonean was the second wife of Herod the Great. She was known for her great beauty, as was her brother Aristobulus...
. Magna along with her brother and maternal cousins were among the last known descendants of the Herodian Dynasty
Herodian Dynasty
The Herodian Dynasty was a Jewish dynasty of Idumean descent, client Kings of Roman Judaea Province between 37 BCE and 92 CE.- Origin :During the time of the Hasmonean ruler John Hyrcanus 134-104 BCE, Israel conquered Edom and forced the Edomites to convert to Judaism.The Edomites were integrated...
. She appeared to be an apostate
Apostasy
Apostasy , 'a defection or revolt', from ἀπό, apo, 'away, apart', στάσις, stasis, 'stand, 'standing') is the formal disaffiliation from or abandonment or renunciation of a religion by a person. One who commits apostasy is known as an apostate. These terms have a pejorative implication in everyday...
to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. It is unlikely that she attempted to exert influence on Judean Politics.
Magna married a man of Roman Senatorial rank
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
called Gaius Julius Cornutus Tertullus
Gaius Julius Cornutus Tertullus
There were two Romans of Senatorial rank with the name Gaius Julius Cornutus Tertullus who lived in the 1st and 2nd centuries in the Roman Empire...
, who was the son of a Proconsul and Suffect Consul. Her husband was a local citizen of Perga and his family originated from Pamphylia. Magna bore Tertullus a son and only child, Gaius Julius Plancius Varus Cornutus
Gaius Julius Plancius Varus Cornutus
Gaius Julius Plancius Varus Cornutus was a man of Roman Senatorial rank who lived in the Roman Empire in the 2nd century.Cornutus was the son and only child of Gaius Julius Cornutus Tertullus and Plancia Magna. His paternal grandparents were the Proconsul and Suffect Consul Gaius Julius Cornutus...
.
Activity in Perga
Plancia Magna is an example of one of the most successful, influential, and highly respectful women from AnatoliaAnatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. From surviving inscriptions dedicated to her and her family, it is understood that Magna, her father and brother were wealthy and influential citizens in Perga. Due to the goodness and generosity of Magna, her father and her brother, they were accepted as the second founders of Perga. They each were given the honorific title of ‘’Ktistes’’ or ’’Founder’‘.
She was a matron, civic minded and a charitable woman. Magna dedicated her life and wealth to beautification and development of Perga, which contributed to the prosperity of the city. She was a great benefactress and patron of Perga. Magna inherited and took charged of her late father’s large family estates in Galatia
Galatia
Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Galatia was named for the immigrant Gauls from Thrace , who settled here and became its ruling caste in the 3rd century BC, following the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC. It has been called the "Gallia" of...
and became the head of her family.
In the reign of Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
117–138, she undertook large remodelling projects in Perga. She elevated to the rank of tutelary divinity of the city. In 120, Magna erected a number of statues depicting various members of the imperial family at Perga. Between 120–122, she undertook to magnificently beautify the Hellenistic Gate at Perga, the city’s most magnificent structure that was the entrance to the city.
The sides of the towers of the Hellenistic Gate and the horse-shoed courtyard was restored. The courtyard had marble facing with decorative architectural elements and statuary, providing two-tiered triumphal arch that had three entrances and decorated statues.
The decorated statues were of various Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses. These deities included the Roman Emperors and the wives from the reigns of Nerva
Nerva
Nerva , was Roman Emperor from 96 to 98. Nerva became Emperor at the age of sixty-five, after a lifetime of imperial service under Nero and the rulers of the Flavian dynasty. Under Nero, he was a member of the imperial entourage and played a vital part in exposing the Pisonian conspiracy of 65...
to Hadrian. The gate had a number of Greek and Latin inscriptions. Among these inscriptions, were two surviving inscriptions resting north of the Hellenistic Gate. This inscriptions resting north were probably supported by a statue donated by Magna.
Translated from Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
[first two lines]
- to the genius of the city
- Plancia Magna daughter of Marcus
Translated from Greek [last 2 lines]
- to the fortune of the city
- Plancia Magna
Magna held the title of high-priestess of the temple of the ancient Greek Goddess Artemis
Artemis
Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. Some scholars believe that the name and indeed the goddess herself was originally pre-Greek. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals"...
in Perga. Artemis was the most important goddess in the city. She also was the high-priestess of the imperial cult and the high-priestess for life of the mother of the gods.
Magna was honored by the Boule
Boule (Ancient Greece)
In cities of ancient Greece, the boule meaning to will ) was a council of citizens appointed to run daily affairs of the city...
, Demos
Demos
Demos may refer to:* Demos, a rhetorical term for the population of an ancient Greek state** Deme or Demoi, the term for an ancient subdivision of Attica, Greece...
and Gerousia
Gerousia
The Gerousia was the Spartan senate . It was made up of 60 year old Spartan males. It was created by the Spartan lawgiver Lycurgus in the seventh century BC, in his Great Rhetra...
of Perga with the honorific title of ’’Demiourgos’‘. The person who held this yearly title, their name was used to identify the year. Demiourgos was the highest civil servant position in the government of Perga. This title was usually reserved for men and through this title she had sponsored the local games held in Perga.
A surviving inscription on a base from a statue erected by the community of Perga, reveals her position in the city:
- Plancia Magna
- Daughter of Marcus Plancius Varus
- and daughter of the city.
- Priestess of Artemis
- and both first and sole public priestess
- of the mother of the gods
- for the duration of her life
- pious and patriotic.
When Magna died she was buried in a tomb which of located right of the Hellenistic Gate.
Sources
- Elaine Fantham, Helene Peet Foley, Natalie Boymel Kampen, & H. A. Shapiro (1995). Women in the classical world: image and text, Oxford University Press
- Charles Gates (2003). Ancient cities: the archaeology of urban life in the Ancient Near East and Egypt, Greece and Rome, Routledge
- http://www.hotelle.com/Perge.asp
- http://www.atamanhotel.com/plancia.html
- http://www.adiyamanli.org/aspendos.html
- http://www.serifyenen.com/heritage_Summer2005.asp
- http://www.holylandphotos.org/browse.asp?s=1,3,8,22,84&img=TCMCPA03
- http://www.holylandphotos.org/browse.asp?s=1,3,8,22,84&img=TCMCPA04
- acsearch.info ancient coin search engine: Kings of Armenia