v26_0167 - MARC ANTOINE and PINARIUS SCARPUS denier

MARC ANTOINE and PINARIUS SCARPUS

(31 BC)

Lucius Pinarius Scarpus commanded four legions on behalf of Marc Antony in Cyrenaica (including the eighth legion which appears on the reverse of the first type of Scarpus). According to tradition, Scarpus was also a great-grandnephew of Julius Caesar and was lying on the will of the Dictator. He fought in the Caesarian camp at the battle of Philippi in 42 BC. He then joined the camp of Marc Antoine to which he remained faithful until 31 BC. After the battle of Actium (September 2 31 BC) he changed sides to join that of Octavian, preventing any resistance from the province of Cyrenaica and making possible an invasion of Egypt from the west. It seems that Pinarius Scarpus had his title of Imperator confirmed by Octavian and then retired to private life..