Sulpicius Serenus, procurator Augusti, et la titulature des préfets de Bérénice

Abstract

A Greek ostracon, recently found at the praesidium Dios (Iovis in the Itin. Ant.) in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, has made it necessary to rethink the place in the equestrian career occupied by the praefectura of Berenice. The text of the ostracon is a report of activities combined with a demand for workers and tools written by the ‹overseer of wells› to Sulpicius Serenus, procurator Augusti. Sulpicius Serenus is already known by two inscriptions, one being I.Memnon 20, where his function after the three militae equestres is in lacuna. The other one is I.Pan 87, where he commemorates his victory over the nomadic tribe of the Agriophagi, but does not mention his title. There are numerous clues that his procuratorship is, in fact, the praefectura of Berenice. A prosopographic table of the prefects of Berenice, taking into account unpublished material from the praesidium of Didymoi, is appended.