Gaius Vibius Maximus

Gaius Vibius Maximus was an eques active during the reign of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan. His appointments include prefect of Roman Egypt. Maximus was also a figure in literary circles, and said to have written a history that has not survived.

The earliest step known in Maximus' career is that he was prefect of an ala in Syria,[1] one of the steps of the tres militiae that most equestrians followed. The poet Statius is our source for his next known appointment: in his Silvae, Statius begs Maximus to leave Dalmatia and return to Rome to be with his sick son; Statius hopes this son will show an aptitude for writing history like his father.[2]

His final known posting was as prefect of Egypt, which he held from 103 to 107.[3] When his friend Pliny the Younger heard of Maximus' appointment, he wrote to him on behalf of Arrianus Maturus, a citizen of Altinum, asking Maximus to find a position for Maturus.[4] As governor of Egypt, Maximus issued an edict that a census (apographa) be conducted for that province.[5] During his tenure Petronius visited the Colossi of Memnon at dawn of 16 February 104 and heard the statue sing.[6]

If he is the same Maximus Pliny addressed one of his later letters, then Vibius Maximus was engaged in a fierce rivalry with Gaius Pompeius Planta, one of his predecessors as prefect of Egypt.[7] However, experts believe this Maximus is a different man: Sherwin-White argues that this letter was addressed to Novius Maximus.[1] Another possible identification for this Maximus is Maesius Maximus.

After he completed his appointment as prefect of Egypt, Vibius Maximus was condemned on a serious charge, suffered damnatio memoriae, and his name was erased from public inscriptions.[1]