The Augustan Revolution
OctavianwritestoMylasaas‘‘appointedasconsulforthethirdtime.’’The
titulatureispuzzling,andthepresenceoftheparticle‘‘and’’aftertheword
consulperhapssuggeststhatsomethinghasbeenomitted—hewasImpera-
torVbeforeActiumandVIafterit.Theexpressionmaymean,asitisnor-
mallytaken,thathewassimplyconsulforthethirdtime,thatis,in.But
mightitnotbeadocumentoflate,when(perhaps)hisonlyofficialposi-
tionwasthatofconsuldesignateforthethirdtime?Theletterreferstotwo
successiveembassieswhichtheMylasanshadsenttoreporttheirsufferings
andlossesinthewar.Oneitherofthesedatingsthismustrefertothepre-
liminariesofthewarofActium.^52
. LetterofOctaviantoRhosus,inresponsetoanembassy...
IGLSIII,no.;Sherk,Roman Documents,no.,iii.
Octavian writes as ImperatorVI (after Actium), consul for the third time
(..)and‘‘designated(consul)forthefourthtime’’(for),sointhelast
fourmonthsof.HementionsthattheembassyfromRhosusmethimin
Ephesusandofferedacrownandvarioushonours(Dioindeedreferstohis
brief visit to Asia before his return to Italy in the middle of thewinterof
/).^53 HeundertakestodothepeopleofRhosusfurtherserviceswhenhe
comestoSyria,throughwhichhedidsubsequentlypassin..;andhe
testifiesmostemphaticallytotheconstantintercessionswhichSeleucus,who
wasoneoftheambassadors,hadmadeonbehalfofhiscity.
. LetterofOctaviantoRhosus,recommendingSeleucus...
IGLSIII,no.;Sherk,Roman Documents,no.,iv.
Octavianwritesasconsulforthefourthtime,butisapparentlynotyetdes-
ignatedasconsulfor.HerefersagaintotheservicesofSeleucusasnaval
commander,andtohisimmunity,Romancitizenship,andotherprivileges.
Hecontinuesinaverysignificantmanner:‘‘Irecommendthismantoyou.
For such men render one’s benevolence more ready towards their native
citiesaswell.OntheassumptionthereforethatIwillgladlydoforyouwhat-
everispossibleforthesakeofSeleucus,haveconfidence,andsendtomeon
whatever matter you wish.’’ Octavian writes as a monarch. If in ..he
. Forcomparativeevidence,seeMagie,Roman Rule in Asia Minor(),–and
notes. If, however, the titulature has been seriouslyabbreviated, it remains possible that
Octavianwroteasconsuldesignateforthesecondandthirdtime,i.e.,in–,andthat
theseembassiestooreferredtothewarofLabienus.
.Dio,,–.