Rufius Probianus

[2] However in the year 384 the emperor of the eastern empire, Theodosius I, decided to enact a law that forbid the issuance of gold and diptychs made of ivory by anyone other than a consul.

Rufius Probianus was but one example of a lesser official issuing an ivory diptych as he was only vicarius of the city of Rome, a station well below that of a consul.

[3][4] Despite diptychs presumably being banned at the time of Theodosius rule, he was only emperor of the eastern half of the empire.

It is believed by some that the laws passed by the emperors of each half of the Roman empire, often only applied to the territories where they were enacted.

The Diptych has traveled around through the years and can be linked to Werden Abbey where it was paired with the Vita Secunda manuscript into a book box.