| Stele of Vespasian | |
| Material: | Stone |
| Size: | 126 x 116[1] |
| Writing: | Ancient Greek |
| Created: | 75 AD |
| Discovered: | 1867 |
| Place: | Armazi |
| Location: | Georgian National Museum, Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, Georgia |
The Stele of Vespasian (Georgian: ვესპასიანეს სტელა) is a stele celebrating Roman emperor Vespasian. It was written in Ancient Greek and found in 1867[2] at Armazi, near Mtskheta, Georgia in the ancient capital of the Caucasian Kingdom of Iberia.
The stele memorialises reinforcement of the fortification of Armazi walls by Emperor Vespasian.[3] [4] Additionally, the inscription mentions two emperors Titus, Domitian and two kings Mihrdat I of Iberia, Pharasmanes I of Iberia and prince royal Amazaspus. The inscription is dated to 75 AD.[5] [6] The top of the stele is lost. According to Professor David Braund, the missing text was in Latin or Armazic (outgrowth of Aramaic language).[7] Cyril Toumanoff identifies Amazaspus as King Amazasp I of Iberia,[8] though it can be prince royal Amazaspus, son of Pharasmanes I of Iberia, who is known from the Epigram of Amazaspos found in Rome.