Res Gestae

Ammianus Marcellinus

Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).

And subsequent generations have brought over other obelisks, of which one was set up on the Vatican,[*](On the spina of the Circus Gai et Neronis; it is now in front of St. Peter’s; it is 25.36 m. high and without hieroglyphics.) another in the gardens of Sallust,[*](These now belonged to the imperial house; the obelisk is at present in the Piazza delta Trinità dei Monte; it is 13 m. high and has a copy, made in Rome, of the hieroglyphics on the obelisk set up by Augustus in the Circus Maximus.) and two at the mausoleum of Augustus.[*](These are before the church of Santa Maria Maggiore and on the Quirinal; the former is 14.40 m. high, the latter somewhat less; neither has hieroglyphics.)

Now the text of the characters cut upon the ancient obelisk which we see in the Circus[*](This obelisk, the greatest of them all (32. 50 m.), was set up at the Lateran by Fontana in 1588.) I add below in its Greek translation, following the work of Hermapion.[*](He seems to have lived in the time of Augustus.) The translation of the first line, beginning on the South side, reads as follows:

The Sun speaks to King Ramestes. I have granted to thee that thou shouldst with joy rule over the whole earth, thou

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whom the Sun loveth—and powerful Apollo, lover of truth, son of Heron, god-born, creator of the world, whom the Sun hath chosen, the doughty son of Mars, King Ramestes. Unto him the whole earth is made subject through his valour and boldness. King Ramestes, eternal child of the Sun. SECOND LINE.

Mighty Apollo, seated upon truth, Lord of the Diadem, who hath gloriously honoured Egypt as his peculiar possession, who hath beautified Heliopolis, created the rest of the world, and adorned with manifold honours the Gods erected in Heliopolis—he whom the Sun loveth. THIRD LINE.

Mighty Apollo, child of the Sun, all-radiant, whom the Sun hath chosen and valiant Mars endowed; whose blessings shall endure forever; whom Ammon[*](Ammon (or Hammon), was an important Egyptian and Libyan god, identified by the Romans with Jupiter, cf. Virg., Aen. iv. 198 ff.) loveth, as having filled his temple with the good fruits of the date palm; unto whom the Gods have given length of life.

Apollo, mighty son of Heron, Ramestes,[*](See Index.) king of the world, who hath preserved Egypt by conquering other nations; whom the Sun loveth; to whom the Gods have granted length of life; Lord of the world, Ramestes ever-living.

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WEST SIDE, SECOND LINE.[*](There seems to be no reason to suspect lacunae. Ammianus gave only parts of the inscriptions as specimens, in order not to weary his readers by repetitions of the same general purport.)