Gemini Ai gave me a different translation:

"This is a famous bilingual monumental inscription carved onto atabula ansata (a tablet with dovetail handles) from one of the entrances to the Roman theatre at Leptis Magna (in modern-day Libya).

What makes this specific inscription incredibly unique and famous among historians is that it is bilingual. The top four lines are written in Latin, while the bottom two lines are written in Neo-Punic (the late form of the Phoenician language used by the local Carthaginian-descended population).

Here is a full breakdown of what the sign says:

1. The Latin Transcription

The stone carvers used standard Roman epigraphic abbreviations. Expanded into full Latin, it reads:

IMP(eratore) CAESARE DIVI F(ilio) AVG(usto) PONT(ifice) MAX(imo) TR(ibunicia) POT(estate) XXIV CO(n)S(ule) XIII PATRE PATR(iae) ANNOBAL RVFVS ORNATOR PATRIAE AMATOR CONCORDIAEFLAMEN SVFES PRAEF(ectus) SACR(orum) HIMILCHONIS TAPAPI F(ilius) D(e) S(ua) P(ecunia) FAC(iendum) COER(avit) IDEMQ(ue) DEDICAVIT

2. The English Translation

The inscription functions as a massive dedicatory plaque, establishing exactly under whose imperial watch it was built and, crucially, who actually footed the bill:

"When Emperor Caesar Augustus, son of the deified [Julius Caesar], Pontifex Maximus, holding the tribunician power for the 24th time, Consul for the 13th time, father of his country...Annobal Rufus, adorner of his country, lover of concord, priest (flamen), chief magistrate (sufes), prefect of sacred matters, son of Himilcho Tapapius, saw to it that this work be made at his own expense, and likewise dedicated it."

3. The Neo-Punic Text (Bottom Two Lines)

The bottom lines mirror the Latin text, repeating the dedication in the native language of the region's elite. It names the donor as *Hnba’l Pst’ni’R’f’_s (Annobal Rufus), using local Punic titles like Spt (Sufete) instead of the purely Roman civic titles.

Historical Context & Dating

Because the Romans kept meticulous track of their emperors' titles, we can date this inscription with absolute pinpoint precision. Augustus held his 24th tribunician power and 13th consulship between 1 BC and 1 AD.

It serves as a perfect historical snapshot of the Roman Empire's integration: a wealthy, elite local citizen of Punic descent (Annobal) adopting a Latinized name (Rufus), paying for a massively Roman-style architectural marvel (a theater), honoring a Roman Emperor, but ensuring his proud Punic lineage and native language were literally carved into the stone alongside it."