Collector · Consul / diplomat

Robert Ainslie

1730–1812 · United Kingdom

British ambassador at Constantinople. Collected at Kition (Larnaca).

Life and work

1782
Through Domenico Sestini, bought for Ainslie from a Greek's house in the Saline village near Larnaca, a Latin dedication to Nerva of AD 96 by the Civitas Citiensium (CIL III 216); Sestini: 'per il quale ne feci l'acquisto'. Mommsen: 'translata Constantinopolim ad Ainslie Britannum'.
LarnacaBombardieri 2024, p. 44 Masson 1986
1782
The British consul Michel de Vezin bought for Ainslie two or three other Kition stones, including the Greek inscription for Tiberius Claudius Hyllus Justus (CIG 2633) which also went, apparently, to Constantinople and is lost; whether the Berenice stone (CIG 2614) went is not known.
LarnacaMasson 1986
1782–1788
Ainslie had commissioned Sestini to form a collection for him, chiefly of coins; the episode led Sestini to publish the unpublished pieces of the Ainslie collection and later to quarrel with his 'Maecenas'.
ConstantinopleMasson 1986

2 people

Latin dedication to Emperor Nerva, AD 96, by the Civitas Citiensium (CIL III 216)
From Saline village (Borgo delle Saline), near Larnaca1782Masson 1986 Bombardieri 2024, p. 44
Greek inscription honouring Tiberius Claudius Hyllus Justus, high priest of the island (CIG 2633 = IGR III 981), black schist
From Kition area1782Masson 1986 Bombardieri 2024, p. 44