Stele of Vespasian


The Stele of Vespasian is a stele celebrating Roman emperor Vespasian. It was written in Ancient Greek and found in 1867 at Armazi, near Mtskheta, Georgia in the ancient capital of the Caucasian Kingdom of Iberia.

Stele

The stele memorialises reinforcement of the fortification of Armazi walls by Emperor Vespasian. Additionally, the inscription mentions two emperors Titus, Domitian and two kings Mihrdat I of Iberia, Pharasmanes I of Iberia and prince royal Amazaspus. The inscription is dated to 75 AD. The top of the stele is lost. According to Professor David Braund, the missing text was in Latin or Armazic. Cyril Toumanoff identifies Amazaspus as King Amazasp I of Iberia, though it can be prince royal Amazaspus, son of Pharasmanes I of Iberia, who is known from the Epigram of Amazaspos found in Rome.