L. Volusius L. f. Maro: la fortunata carriera del figlio di un liberto intraprendente e capace

Abstract

Two new texts from Lucus Feroniae mention a L. Volusius Maro, already known from a grave inscription
of his freedmen. The two epigraphs are unfortunately incomplete, but they identify a
civis with an important role in the colony, since he held the most important local priesthoods and
the role of quattuorvir quinquennalis. The municipal career of Volusius Maro took place under the
protection of L. Volusius Saturninus (cos. 12 BC) “pater”, who appears in one of the two texts, dated
to 8 AD, for the transfer (to the colony?) of an ager and a hortus. It seems possible to connect
to these two inscriptions the ex voto dedication of a freedman of Volusius Saturninus pater, who held
a series of functions as apparitor for the two Volusii, consuls in 12 BC and in 3 AD, and who was
viator tribunicius for the emperor Augustus, and therefore became public praeco and scriba librarius.
It does not seem unlikely to recognize the freedman as the father of Volusius Maro.

Keywords: L. Volusius Maro, L. Volusius Saturninus pater, Lucus Feroniae, flamen, apparitor.