Caracalla’s Titulature, Geta’s Murder, and Egypt. Some Chronological Considerations

Abstract

In the wake of the death of Septimius Severus on 4 February 211, Caracalla assumed the victory title Parthicus maximus and his father’s surname Severus. This article sets out to examine how these changes in Caracalla’s titulature are reflected in papyri from Egypt, and what the papyri in their turn may tell us about the drama that took place in Rome. The issue of the knowledge in Egypt of Geta’s death will also be addressed.