Magistri or magistratvs? A problem in hispano-latin epigraphy

Abstract

the epigraphic abbreviation MAG, when referring to the secular leaders of gentes and unprivileged towns, has been inconsistently interpreted by various authors as mag (ister), mag(istratus) or mag (isterium). a study of the meaning and usage of the terms magistri and magistratus suggests that the officials of vici, pagi and castella were called magistri, while those of gentes and unprivileged towns (oppida, civitates) were known as magistratus. this finding provides reliable criteria for determining the meaning of MAG in particular cases.Keywords: castella, élites, magistrates, oppida, pagi, peregrine towns, vici.Resumen: la abreviatura epigráfica MAG, cuando se refiere a los líderes políticos de gentes y de comunidades no privilegiadas, ha sido interpretada de manera inconsecuente como mag(ister), mag(istratus) o mag(isterium) por varios autores. Un estudio del uso y de la significación de los términos magistri y magistratus concluye que los responsables de vici, pagi y castella se llamaban magistri, mientras que los dirigentes de gentes y de comunidades no privilegiadas (oppida, civitates) se llamaban magistratus. este resultado proporciona criterios fiables para establecer la significación de MAG en determinados casos.Palabras clave: castella, comunidades peregrinas, élites, magistrados, oppida, pagi, vici. Recibido: 08-02-2015Informado: 18-03-201518-03- Definitivo: 28-04-2015 anyone who studies the latin epigraphy of Hispania will be familiar with the problem of the ambiguous abbreviation MAG, which can mean either magister or magistratus 1 . in a phrase such as "per mag." or "mag. iivir", which is the correct solution? too often this question has been decided arbitrarily by educated guess or an editor's opinion, rather on sound principles. in some cases, scholars have disagreed as to the meaning of this abbreviation in a particular inscription. in others, the published expansion is couched in a query such as "mag(istrum?)" or "mag(istratus?)", 1 according to the list of epigraphical abbreviations on the website of the american society of Greek and latin epigraphy (http://classics.case.edu/ asgle/bookshelf/abbreviations-in-latin-inscriptions/), MAG can stand for mag(ister), mag(isterii), ma- g(isterio), mag(isterium), mag(istra), mag(istras), mag(istratibus), mag(istratu), mag(istratus), ma g(istreis), ma g(istri), mag(istris), mag(istro), ma g(istrorum), mag(istros), mag(istrum); to which should be added mag(istratum).