The
cursus honorum for Charax is partly known from a
Greek inscription erected in
Pergamum. Inscriptions from elsewhere in Asia Minor and Greece provide other details of his life. Bernard Remy, in his monograph on the
Fasti of Roman officials of the provinces of Asia Minor, suggests that while traveling through the eastern provinces, the emperor
Hadrian met Charax. There is ample evidence that Charax was very wealthy; his possessions included a large tile factory. Being respectably wealthy, and a cultured man, he obviously appealed to the hellenophile emperor who decided to facilitate the latter's election as
quaestor; this office enrolled him in the Senate. In any case, after this event Charax advanced to the office of
praetor, after which he held a series of promotions at what Remy describes as a very fast rate. This was followed immediately by
legatus legionis or commander of
Legio II Augusta, which was stationed in
Roman Britain; Alföldy dates his commission from about 141 to around 144. During these years the legion was involved with the campaigns of governor
Quintus Lollius Urbicus in Scotland, and with the building of the
Antonine Wall. it is possible Charax was consul
in absentia. Here the information on the Pergamum inscription ends, indicating it was inscribed shortly after Charax's consulate. Details from the other inscriptions now come into play. He constructed at his own expense the vestibule (
propylon) for the
Asklépiéion in Pergamum. Another inscription from
Sparta attests he was an eponymous
patronomos around the middle of the second century; this was a position that was sometimes held by distinguished foreigners. == References ==