«Dispensatore di governatori». A proposito di una dedica a un prefetto al pretorio da Gortina (IC IV 323)

IC IV 323, a dedication from the Praetorium of Gortyna,
honours a high-ranking official named Markellinos, who is celebra-
ted as «guide of the whole Hesperian land» and defined by another
expression that is partially obscured by a lacuna but can plausibly
be restored as «bestower and guardian of governors». This confirms
the identification of the honorand with Antonius Marcellinus, prae-
torian prefect ca. 340-341. The second part of the article discusses
the capacity of praetorian prefects to appoint provincial governors
in Late Antiquity, reconsidering the entire dossier of documents con-
cerning this prerogative, which should not be the exclusive domain
of the Eastern prefect, as is usually argued, but was probably sha-
red by all praefecti praetorio.