Edition · 释读
1Vernantibus
2saeculis ddd((ominorum)) nnn((ostrorum))
3Genio splendidae ur
4bis Catinae
5Facundus Porfyrius
6Mynatidius v((ir)) c((larissimus)) ·
7cons((ularis)) · eiusdem
Translation · 翻译
[English]At the dawn of the new age of our threefold lordship, (dedicated) to the Genius of the splendid city of Catania. Facundus Porfyrius Mynatidius, vir clarissimus, consular governor of the same (city?) (set this up).
[Italiano]Nel rifiorire dell'era dei nostri tre signori, al genio della splendida città di Catania Facundio Porfirio Munatidio, senatore (vir clarissimus) governatore consolare della stessa (città?) (dedicò).
The text (on imported marble) would have been fixed to the base of a statue of the Genius of the city of Catania, probably erected on the stage-building of the theatre. The Genius was the protective spirit of a person or a thing. Dedications to the Genius of the Emperor were common, but also to cities (e.g. both a statue and temple of the Genius of the city of Lilybaeum = Marsala are mentioned in other inscriptions). Facundus Porfyrius is not otherwise known. The precise significance of 'cons eiusdem' in line 7 is extensively debated and several alternatives have been suggested: the most likely interpretation is 'consularis eiusdem', signifying consularis of the same city, i.e. Catania, and so by extension / implication the province of Sicily.