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Papion & Fabius Maximus
During the reign of Augustus (27 BC - AD 14)
 

On this page one can read the decree's text
and see the coins of Papion & Fabius Maximus (below it)
 
Both Papion and Paullus Fabius Maximus are mentioned in the famous Priene Inscription. This inscription is the proof of a decree passed to thank Augustus for all his benevolence. It proclaimed the commencement of one (1) calendar for all Asia Minor, and the intent to let it start at (our) 23rd of September, Augustus' birthday. In the  meantime renaming it's first month, which was dedicated to Zeus, to Augustus. The decree has the following text :

It seemed good to the Greeks of Asia, in the opinion of the high priest Apollonios son of Menophilos of Aizanoi :

Since Providence (i.e. the Goddess) which has ordered all things and is deeply interested in our life, has set in most perfect order by giving us Augustus, whom she filled with virtue that he might benefit humankind, sending him as a savior (sôtêr), both for us and for our descendants, that he might end war and arrange all things, and since he, Caesar (note : Caesar, not Augustus !), by his appearance (phanein) excelled even our anticipations, surpassing all previous benefactors, and not even leaving to posterity any hope of surpassing what he has done, and since the birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning of the good tidings for the world that came by reason of him.
When the High Priest (of the Koinon of Asia) was Lucius Vulcacius Tullus and his secretary was Papion of Dioshieron, the Koinon of Asia passed a decree at Smyrna that a crown should he given to the one who could devise the greatest honors to the God.
Paullus Fabius Maximus the proconsul - sent for the well-being of the province by his (i.e. Augustus') right hand and decision - has made myriad benefactions to the province, the extent of which benefactions no one could adequately express; and now that which was unknown until this time by the Hellenes he devised regarding the honor of Augustus: calculating, time to have begun at his birth.
For this reason, with good fortune and for salvation this was decided by the Hellenes in Asia. The new year will begin in all the cities on the ninth day before the Kalends of October, which is the birthday of Augustus. In order that the day be always aligned in every city, the Roman date will be used along with the Greek date.
The first month will be observed as Kaisar(eios), as decreed earlier, beginning from the ninth day before the Kalends of October.
The crown that was decreed for the one proposing the greatest honors on behalf of Caesar will be given to Maximus the proconsul, who also will always be proclaimed publicly in the athletic contests at Pergamon, the Romaia Sebasteia, with, "Asia crowns Paullus Fabius Maximus, who most reverently proposed the honors for Caesar". Likewise he will be proclaimed in the Kaisareia, the games celebrated in the city.
The edict of the proconsul and the decree of the Koinon of Asia will be inscribed on a marble stele, which will be set up in the temenos of Rome and Augustus. The public advocates of the year will see to it that the edict of Maximus and the decree of Asia will be engraved on marble steles in the leading cities of the districts. These steles will be placed in the Kaisareia.
The months shall be observed as follows: Kaisar(eios), 31 days; Apellaios, 30 days; Audnaios, 31 days; Peritios. 31 days; Dystros, 28 days; Xandikoi. 31 days; Artemisios. 30 days; Daisios, 31 days; Panemos, 30 days; Loos. 31 days; Gorpiaios, 31 days; Hyperberetaios, 30 days.

Part of the Priene Inscription

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Papion
 
Augustus Snakey God
1. Front 2. Back
Bronze Orichalcum - Æ 18-20 mm - 3,3 grams - Die axis 11:00.
1. [KAISAROS] SEBASTOY (Kaisaros Sebastou - Caesar Augustus).
Bust of emperor with Lituus before his breast.
2. ΔIOΣIEPITΩN ΠAΠIΩN ΓPA (Diosieriton Papion Grammateys - Dioshieron, Papion Secretary).
Bust of Zeus (-Dioshieron ?) wearing item (Uraeus ?) on his forehead. Facing right.
 
Birgi, 120km to Izmir, is situated on the south slope of Mt. Boz (Bozdag). Birgi was an important center in Lydian period and dominated by Persians, Roman and Byzantines respectively. The town was named as Dioshieron (Zeus’ Sacred Place), Christopolis and (after 7th cent.) Pyrgion, which means tower or fortress. It was named Birgi after the Turks captured it in 14th century.

Papion was Secretary (Grammateus) to Lucius Vulcacius Tullus when a competition was held who could devise the highest honours to Augustus (they chose to rename a month & the year would from now on start on Auggie's birthday). The position of Grammateus to the High Priest of the Koinon of Asia was not exactly one for the poor.

Provincially minted in Dioshieron, Lydia
Obv. : Good - Rev. : Good.

 

Fabius Maximus

 
Fabius Maximus Dorykanos of Hierapolis
1. Front 2. Back
Bronze Bronze - Æ 13-15 mm - 3,2 grams - Die axis 12:00 - Struck 10-9 BC.
1. [Φ]A[BIOΣ MAΞIMOΣ] (Fabius Maximus).
Bare head of proconsul Fabius Maximus facing right. Dotted coin rim visible.
2. IEPAΠ / ΛEITΩN / DOPYKA / NOΞ (Ierapoleiton Dorykanos - Hierapolis. Magistrate Dorykanos Dioskoridouch). Lettering within dotted coin rim.
 
He was the elder son of Quintus Fabius Maximus (suffect consul 45 BCE) and an unknown wife. He had one younger brother, Africanus Fabius Maximus and a sister, Fabia Paullina. Their father died on the 31st of December, 45 BCE. Paullus was named in honour of Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus, who was either his natural paternal great-great-grandfather or great-great-great-grandfather. The first known post of Paullus was quaestor under Augustus during the latter's travels through the eastern provinces in 22-19 BCE. He does not reappear until his consulship in 11 BCE. He served (next year !) as proconsul of the province of Asia in 10/9 BCE, during which he minted coins with his own image. Paullus is mentioned by Juvenal as having been a generous patron of poetry[18]. He is also mentioned (along with Iullus Antonius by name in Horace's third poem (from the year 13 BCE) and hinted at in one of Horace's odes[19]. He is also the recipient of a wedding song composed by the poet Ovid. Ovid also wrote to Paullus during the exile of the former[21]. In life he was a close friend of Augustus, and his wife, Marcia, was a first cousin of the emperor. Paullus died in the summer of 14 CE. It is reported (by Tacitus) that prior to his death, Paullus accompanied Augustus on a secret visit to Augustus' last surviving grandson, Agrippa Postumus, where grandfather and grandson were reconciled. However, Paullus is said to have mentioned this event to his wife, Marcia, who, in turn, informed Augustus' wife, Livia. Augustus was reported to be so angered by this betrayal of his trust the he ordered Paullus' death (or suicide). There have, however, been doubts expressed as to the accuracy and truth of this report.

This coin, unusual in that it portrays the proconsul rather than the emperor on the obverse, propagandizes the amicitia between the proconsul and the emperor. Of all the Roman Patrician families, the Fabii can be considered to have consolidated the most political power in the early Republic.

Within 20 years after Augustus' victory at Actium, the Koinon of Asia sought greater means for honoring Augustus. Around 9 BCE, the members of the provincial council decreed a competition: whoever could suggest the highest honors for Augustus would be awarded a crown by the province. The winning proposal (conventiently) came from the Roman proconsul of the province, Paulus Fabius Maximus.

Provincially minted in Hierapolis, Phrygia.
Obv. : Worn - Rev. : Good.