The incipit of a review of (Classicist) Peter Toohey, Boredom: A Lively History:
In the late third century, the Roman city of Beneventum inscribed the following message of thanks:
For Tanonius Marcellinus, a most distinguished man of the consular rank and a most worthy patron as well, because of the good deeds by which he rescued the population [of Beneventum] from endless boredom, the entire people [of this city] judges that this inscription should be recorded.
The identity of Tanonius Marcellinus has been lost, Peter Toohey writes in “Boredom: A Lively History,” but the sort of restlessness experienced by the inhabitants of Beneventum is still with us today. Boredom is universally viewed as an affliction, he argues, but the dreary feeling can also be useful—as long as it is in short supply. […]
Of course, I had to look this one up, here it is:
TANONIO MARCELLINO
V C CONS CAMP PATRO
NO DIGNISSIMO OB IN
SIGNIA BENEFICIA QUI
BUS LONG POPULI TAE
DIA SEDAVIT UNIVER
SA PLEBS BENEVENTA
NA CENSUIT PO
NENDAM
… it’s number 1854 in volume 2 of Gustav Wilmanns, Exempla inscriptionum latinarum in usum praecipue academicum. Can’t help but wonder if Tanonio is a mistake for either ‘Antonio’ or T. Antonio …
Maybe not?
Proceedings of the 21st International Congress of Byzantine … – Google Books Result
Elizabeth Jeffreys, Fiona K. Haarer – 2006 – History – 1700 pages
… thermarum Severianarum Audientius Aemilianus vc cons(ularis) Camp(aniae) constituit dedicarique precepit, curante Tanonio Chrysantio vp: ILS 5478. …
books.google.com/books?isbn=075465740X…