03-19-2005, 12:38 AM
In a contribution titled ‘New Research on the Euphrates Frontier in Turkey’, by J. G. Crow and D. H. French (Roman Frontier Studies XII, 1979) the authors reported on some finds from the rescue archaeology underway at the village of Tille on the right bank of the Euphrates and some 45 km north of Samosata. It would lie in the ancient kingdom of Commagene<br>
The third group of tiles stamps found ‘…is rare and obscure: VIIM. If it does refer to a military unit it presents problems. Legio VII Macedonica is an unlikely candidate (ILS 2695), and no other seventh legions are known with a beginning in M. Similarly no auxiliary unit except perhaps an anonymous VII millaria; but the stamp is not broken after M, it is complete. VII M may perhaps be connected with the enigmatic entry in the Antonine Itinerary which records a leg VII at Samosata (186,6). Legion VII Claudia appears only briefly in Syria ((Rey-Coquais 1978, 68, n. 324). Some of the legions which appear on the ltinerary appear to be Tetrarchic in origin. Perhaps an otherwise unknown VII Martia is to be sought.’<br>
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Besides the obvious interest of even a possible VII Martia to go with I, IV and perhaps V, does anyone have access to a full copy of the Antonine Itinerary to check the other legions it apparently mentions? Where can a complete copy be found?<br>
<br>
Daniel. <p></p><i></i>
The third group of tiles stamps found ‘…is rare and obscure: VIIM. If it does refer to a military unit it presents problems. Legio VII Macedonica is an unlikely candidate (ILS 2695), and no other seventh legions are known with a beginning in M. Similarly no auxiliary unit except perhaps an anonymous VII millaria; but the stamp is not broken after M, it is complete. VII M may perhaps be connected with the enigmatic entry in the Antonine Itinerary which records a leg VII at Samosata (186,6). Legion VII Claudia appears only briefly in Syria ((Rey-Coquais 1978, 68, n. 324). Some of the legions which appear on the ltinerary appear to be Tetrarchic in origin. Perhaps an otherwise unknown VII Martia is to be sought.’<br>
<br>
Besides the obvious interest of even a possible VII Martia to go with I, IV and perhaps V, does anyone have access to a full copy of the Antonine Itinerary to check the other legions it apparently mentions? Where can a complete copy be found?<br>
<br>
Daniel. <p></p><i></i>
