What Can Epigraphy Tell Us about Partitio Imperii in Fifth-Century Dalmatia?

The issue at hand is a Greek epitaph inscribed on an early Christian sarcophagus found in St. Elijah’s Church on the island of Lopud off the coast of Dalmatia in the southern Adriatic. We present a description of the monument, a reading, and dating of the epitaph, as well as epigraphic, anthroponomic, and historical analysis and provide archaeological-topographic context of the find. We identify the name of the deceased (Isaac) and origin (northern Syria or Asia Minor) and determine the date (17 October 452). In particular, we analyze the mention of the western Roman consul in the dating formula, establishing it as the first reliable epigraphic corroboration of the fact that Dalmatia was a part of the western Roman Empire in the fifth century.