Bulla Regia, Tunisia. Memmian Baths; A.D. 220-40.

Dated by an inscription and construction techniques.

AE 1921.45 = ILAfr 454a.

[Iul]iae Me[m]mia[e] | [Pris?]cae Ruf[ae] Aemil|[iana]e Fidia[nae], claris|[simae et nobilis]s[imae f]eminae, | [C. Memmi I]ul. Albi consularis | [viri patr]oni et alumni fil(iae), ob | [praecipu]am operis sui thermarum | [magnifi]centiam qua et patriam | [suam e]xornavit et saluti civium | [ ..10.. ]ico consulere | [dignata] est | [ -- ] bene et eius | [ -- pa]tronae et (the text continues on another side of the stone, but in a very fragmentary form).

Trans: "To Julia Memmia Prisca Rufa Aemiliana Fidiana, a woman of most noble senatorial family, daughter of C. Memmius [Fidus] Julius Albius, a man of consular rank, and patron and native (of the city), on account of the outstanding magnificence of her work, the baths, by which she both beautified her home town and looked after the health of the citizens [?]ico, she was worthy [ -- ] well and her [ -- ] to the patroness and ..."


References


For a larger view, click the image

All photographs © Garrett G. Fagan. For permission to re-use, please e-mail me.


Long View
 
Approach
Entrance. The Baths are below street level 
Steps down to Baths (image not yet scanned) 
Apodyterium (changing room) looking E. Frigidarium entrance to right.
Frigidarium (cold room), N. wall; entrance is to apodyterium.
E. pool in frigidarium.
 
Caldarium (hot room), looking SE. The current floor is that of the hypocaust.
Service area behind caldarium.
Service area behind caldarium.
Service corridor running E.-W. and flanking the heated section of the Baths.

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