Latin Epigraphy now no longer uses the termἔξα[ρχος?]Παλμυρηνῶν, but refers strictly
to his Roman status—λαμπρότατος(vir clarissimus, that is a senator)—and
son of Odenathus, thelamprotatos hypatikos. This too is, of course, a Roman
status,clarissimus consularis. It would be of considerable historical importance
to know ifconsularis/hypatikosis being used here in the sense of ‘‘governor’’—
which would imply that he was governing the (praetorian) province of Syria
Phoenice.^29 The alternative is that this is simply a status designation. But the
question may remain undecided in this context. The essential point is that
this is indeed a Roman status designation and that the context of this hon-
orific inscription, as of the three erected to Odenathus himself, is civilian.
All four are erected by trade or professional groups within Palmyra. These
themselves present problems which need not be discussed here.
What light do these inscriptions throw on Odenathus’ position within
the structure of the Palmyrene community in the late s? We may begin
with the bilingual inscription of the association of gold- and silver-workers
(no. ). Interestingly, to describe their association they use a different trans-
literated Greek word in the Palmyrene text from that employed in the Greek
text: TGM’ (τάγμα) DY QYNY’ ‘BD’ DHB’ WKSP’. The Greek text, largely
restored, gives Odenathus, as well as his Roman rank,consularis, the appel-
lationδεσπότης, ‘‘master,’’ almost precisely reflected in the Palmyrene text,
which calls him MRN, ‘‘our master.’’ So isthisperhaps a reference to his
dynastic role in Palmyra? The Greek inscriptions from the temple of Baal-
shamin, one in honour of Odenathus’ son Hairanes (no. ), and two for Ode-
nathus himself (nos. and ), show that any such notion would be com-
pletely misconceived. For, like the inscription put up some years earlier by
the soldier of III Cyrenaica, these inscriptions reflect a personal relationship,
in these cases between associations and a prominent citizen. The meaning
which should be given toδεσπότηςand MRN in inscription , set up by one
trade-association, is clearly indicated by the term which is used in the three
other contemporary inscriptions of trade associations (nos. –), as it had
been in that from the soldier:πάτρων. Far from suggesting that Odenathus
was already a ‘‘prince’’ in Palmyra, these texts illustrate how profoundly Pal-
myra, while still—uniquely—retaining the public use of a Semitic language,
had taken on the character of a Graeco-Roman city; and more specifically
how, as a Romancoloniawhose leading family now enjoyed high senatorial
rank, Roman concepts of status and relationship had come to play a part in
its social structure.
. See B. Rémy, ‘‘Ὑπατικοίetconsularesdans les provinces impériales prétoriennes
au IIeet IIIesiècles,’’Latomus (): .