Rare ancient artwork and pictures

[Nathan Ross]

All these tombstones put me in mind of this one, from Aquileia and dated very exactly to (I think) July 28 AD352. It appears the man served in a unit called the Moesiaci, and retired with the honorary rank of protector.

Interestingly, the shield design is very similar to that of the Moesici Seniores in the Notitia Dignitatum. The figure wears a crested Intercisa helmet. He is also wearing a muscle cuirass, or so it appears to me...:

[attachment=11513]Moesiaci1.jpg[/attachment]

In the full image (shown in lower quality here) the subject, whose name is lost, is portrayed three times - once in his military gear and twice in civilian apparel.

A transcription of the text:

Aic(!) ego sum positus Ma[ --- ]/nes natus in Dardani[a cum --- coniuge ---] / qu(a)e vixit annos bis qua[ternos mecum sine ull]/a querella in pace decessi [--- Septembr]/es IAOS annis tricinta(!) / et quinque ex/x(!) tri(bunis) [or "exxibi"] ex pr(o)tecto/ribus depositus / situs(!) diem quintu(m) Kalenda/s A(u)gustas c[o]nsules(!) / Decentio Caesa/ri et <P>aulo / consulibus

[EDIT] - the diagonal belt worn very high on the chest rather resembles the curious arrangement shown in de rebus bellicis...)