Archaeological Lysanias
Two inscriptions have been ascribed to Lysanias. The name is conjectural in the latter case.
The first, a temple inscription found at Abila, named Lysanias as the Tetrarch of the locality.
The temple inscription reads:
| Inscription | Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| Huper tes ton kurion Se | For the salvation of the Au lords | |
| soterias kai tou sum | and of their household, | |
| auton oikou, Numphaios Ae | Nymphaeus, free of Ea | |
| Lusianiou tetrarchou apele | Lysanias tetrarch established | |
| ten odon ktisas k.t.l | this street and other things. |
It has been thought that the reference to August lords as a joint title was given only to the emperor Tiberius (adopted son of Augustus) and his mother Livia (widow of Augustus). If this analysis is correct, this reference would establish the date of the inscription to between AD 14 (when Tiberius began to reign) and 29 (when Livia died), and thus could not be reasonably interpreted as referring to the ruler executed by Mark Antony in 36 BC. However, Livia received suitable honors while Augustus was still alive, such as "Benefactor Goddess" (Θεα Εύεργέτις) at a temple at Thassos, so there would be no clear reason that "August Lords" could not be Augustus and Livia.
Read more about this topic: Lysanias