Exploratores (paper request)

[Nathan Ross]

But of course this is a very old discussion which we might never solve to satisfaction.

Yes indeed! Looking at the first page of the Ezov paper on the de Gruyter website, it looks like it's mainly dealing with 2nd-3rd century numeri exploratorum. In only seven or eight pages, I doubt there's much beyond that... but it does sound interesting nonetheless.

Looking through the various inscriptions to these units from earlier centuries, there are a few things worth mentioning (or repeating!): exploratores units (usually numeri, although there's also an ala exploratorum pomariensium in Mauretania) seem to be based solely on the frontiers - and I think this continues into the ND.

They could be stationed together with regular auxiliary units (as at Risingham or High Rochester), or on their own (as seems to have been the case with the numerus exploratorum (Germanicianorum) Divitensium (Antoninianorum/Alexandrianorum), probably based in the fort opposite Cologne during the third century, before the Constantinian rebuilding. The latter seem to have been a relatively higher class unit, based on the honorific titles and the fact that at one point they were apparently commanded by an equestrian prefect doing his militiae quarta.

On the other hand, at least one auxiliary unit (VIIII Batavorum in Raetia) seems to have gained the additional title exploratorum at some point, but lost it again before it appears in the ND as cohortis novae batavorum.

So perhaps the name originated with units of (irregular?) scouts, but, as Robert suggests, later acquired a sort of kudos as a specialist designation and was applied to more regular troops stationed on the frontiers in a scouting role?

I was intrigued to find an inscription to one man, Audacius Quietus, who besides being a soldier of the numerus exploratorum Batavorum at Cologne, also apparently served as the governor's boatman! (barcarius consularis)...