Cnaeus Sentius Felix: la straordinaria ascesa di un mercante forestiero a Ostia tra I e II secolo d.C. (CIL XIV, 409)

Abstract

Sentius Felix was an important merchant, who lived between the end of the I and the beginning of the II century A.D. in Ostia. All we know about him come from a problematic inscription (CIL XIV, 409), engraved on his funerary altar commissioned by his adopted son. The exegesis of this complex document could explain the important phenomenon of social rise of plebs media in the specific milieu of Ostia. In fact, Felix succeeded to enter in the local élite. Moreover, the new explanation of the above quoted text could help us to reconsider the role of the middle class during the early empire.

Keywords

• Epigraphy
• Roman History
• Social History
• Ostia Antica
• 1st-2nd century AD
• Roman empire