Aurelius Theogeiton: a ship owner from the Syrian Arados on a trip to Italy

Abstract

The marble tombstone of the ship owner (naukleros) Aurelius Theogeiton from the Syrian Arados represents the deceased and a simple depiction of a ship lacking power and steering elements. The inscription clearly names Italy as the destination of his activity – information which is otherwise rarely found. He seems to have been one of those ship owners who navigated their vessels by themselves between the Eastern Mediterranean and Italy. The tombstone dates to the early 3rd century, probably after the constitutio Antoniana from AD 212. Its original site of erection and therefore starting point for the activities of Aurelius Theogeiton was located in the Eastern Mediterranean, most likely in Asia Minor.