Equestrian career

[popularis]

I wouldn't say the post of praefectus fabrum was necessarily honourary (there is a great deal of debate on this one), at least not in the early principate (I can't speak for the post-Claudian period).

I really just meant that it's probably not messing around with machinery. More of a sinecure, maybe. I don't have access to PME, but I dug out an article by Devijver (Anc. Soc. 27, 1996) where he writes that the praefectura fabrum, "strictly speaking, did not form part of the hierarchical career within the militiae equestres. Such a prefect was a kind of orderly, a liaison officer attached to the provincial governor. Thanks to his contacts with this prominent senator, the praefectus fabrum could often proceed to a career in the militiae equestres." (He may be overly prescriptive in assigning him to a governor, but I think we get the general idea.)

Yup, I'd agree with that, more or less (the civilian vs military discussion is an interesting one for another day). It does, I think, appear to become more of a sinecure by the late first century AD. However, there are those who argue that the post was entirely honorary by the end of the Augustan period (some even argue that it was an honour given in return for municipal benefaction). The post itself is a bit of a puzzler, and I try not to define it unless I absolutely have to

blue skies

Tom