Dedication to Diadumenian at Ostia         

M [[ ]]
ANTONINO
[[ ]]
NOBILISSIMO CAES
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS
IMP CAES M SEVERI
[[ ]] PII FELICIS AVG
TRIB POTEST COS DESIGN
II P P PROCOS FILIO
VALERIO TITANIANO
PRAEF VIG E M V
CVRANTE
FLAVIO LVPO SVB PRAEF


Revealed -

M(ARCO) [[OPELLIO]]
ANTONINO
[[DIADUMENIANO]]
NOBILISSIMO CAES(ARI)
PRINCIPI IUVENTUTIS
IMP(ERATORIS) CAES(ARIS) M(ARCO) [[OPELLI]] SEVERI
[[MACRINI]] PII FELICIS AUG(USTI)
TRIB(UNICIA) POTEST(ATE) CO(N)S(ULIS) DESIGN(ATI)
II P(ATRIS) P(ATRIAE) PROCO(N)S(ULIS) FILIO
VALERIO TITANIANO PRAEF(ECTO) VIG(ILUM) EM(INENTISSIMO) V(IRO)
CURANTE
FLAVIO LUPO SUBPRAEF(ECTO)


The appearance of the words Marcus, Antonino, and Severus in this inscription, along with the the obliteration of a short word before "Severi" has led some scholars to conclude that this is evidence of the Damnatio Memoriae of Geta after he was killed (or caused to be killed) by his brother Caracalla. However, close inspection reveals that it it is Diadumenian and Macrinus who got the chisel here.

This inscription must date to late May of the year 218, when, after Julia Maesa had succeeded in spreading the rumor that Elagababus was in fact Carracalla's son and thus could claim to be emperor (following the murder of Caracalla, in which Macrinus may have played a part), Macrinus reversed his reduction in soldier's pay, and named his son Diadumenian as co-emperor and successor.

The plan was unsuccessful, as Macrinus's army abandoned him and declared allegiance to Elagabalus. Macrinus and Diadumenian were executed in June, 218, and the obliteration of their names was likely ordered by the Severan women, and can be dated to that time.

The inscription is found at the firehouse (Caserma dei Vigili) at Ostia. Inv. 19787.