Abstract

‘Tiberium Neronem et Claudium Drusum priuignos imperatoriis nominibus auxit [sc. Augustus]’’, i.e. honoured them with salutations as ‘imperatores’’. So I took it in my commentary, supposing argument needless. I must now defend my view against R. Syme, Historia antiqua, Commentationes Louanienses in honorem W. Peremans, p.239. Syme asserts ‘Avoiding a technical term, he [Tacitus] describes the stepsons of the Princeps as invested with imperatoriis nominibus. That is, a grant of imperium proconsular.’’ He adds in a footnote ‘As emerges clearly from Dio 54.33.5, cf. 34.4. The matter must be stated firmly, since both Koestermann and Goodyear are totally inadequate.’’ Let me make amends.