The Roman City-State under the Emperors Here too there are endless revelations concerning (for instance) the syco-
phantic public rhetoric of the period, the topography of Rome, the early
historyofthefiscus(theemperor’streasury),theconductoffuneralsandthe
roleofimagines(portraits),theimportanceattachedtoinscriptions,thead-
ministrationof justice,andtheroleofthepraetorswhothenmanagedthe
Aerarium,thepublictreasuryinRome.ButIwillleaveallthataside,tofocus
onanotheraspectinwhichTacitus’narrativeisrevealedtobeincomplete.In
hisaccountoftheyear,Tacitushadrecordedthatbythedecretum(decree)
oftheSenateGermanicushadbeenentrustedwiththeprovinces‘‘whichare
dividedbythesea’’(thatis,theeasternprovinces),andalsohadbeengranted
animperiumsuperiortothatofthegovernorinanyareawhichhevisited.^50
But, as the new text now shows (ll. –), that was not thewhole story.
TheinitiativefortheappointmentofGermanicustohiseasternmissionhad
indeedcomefromEmperorandSenate:Germanicus‘‘hadbeensentbyour
princepsontheauctoritasofthisordo[theSenate]toputinorderthecondi-
tionoftransmarineaffairs.’’Pisooughtthereforetohaveseenhimself,inhis
roleaslegateofSyria,asbeingahelper(adiutor)ofGermanicus.Butinstead
hehadneglectednotonlythemaiestasoftheDomusAugustabutalsotheius
publicum,thepubliclaw.ForhehadbeensubordinatedtoGermanicusinhis
roleandstatusasproconsul,andnotjustasanyproconsul,butasoneinvested
withspecialpowersbyalaw:^51
Tothatproconsul,concerningwhomalaw[lex]hadbeenputtothe
peopletotheeffectthat,towhatsoeverprovincehecame,heshould
possess a superior imperium to him who governed that provincepro
consule, given that in all matters a greaterimperiumshould attach to
TiberiusCaesarAugustusthantoGermanicusCaesar.This last provision beautifully confirms the reality of the tensions which
markedtheimperialhouseinthesofthefirstcentury.Otheraspectsof
thelawarepuzzling—whydiditreferonlytogovernorsproconsule,andhow
diditapplytosomeonelikePiso,whowasnotaproconsulbutalegatus?But
.Ann.,,:‘‘tuncdecretopatrumpermissaeGermanicoprovinciaequaemaridivi-
duntur, maiusque imperium, quoque adisset, quam iis qui sorte aut missu principis ob-
tinerent.’’
.Senatus consultum,ll.–:‘‘neclecta maiestatedomusAug(ustae),neclectoetiam
iurepublico,quodadlect(us)proco(n)s(ule)eteiproco(n)s(ule),dequo lexadpopulum
lataesset,utinquamcumq(ue)provinciamvenisset,maiuseiimperiumquamei,quieam
provinciamproco(n)s(ule)optineret,esset,duminomniremaiusimperiumTi.Caesari
Aug(usto)quamGermanicoCaesariesset.’’