Quote:He postulates a hypothetical conversation between the governor and his advisor: "We can't go on calling this place Cohors III Nerviorum. What is its real name?" -- to which the reply is: "We call it Durobrivae, the fort by the bridge." [ Or Navio, the place by the river? ]
In the case of the Second Legion, they didn't bother with that conversation, they just opted for Isca, as every river seemed to be called that ;-) (incidentally, my money is on Isca for Inveresk; unimaginative, these Romans).
Mike Bishop
PS I don't suppose anybody is interested in the fact that I excavated outside the south gate of Brough in 1981/2 and have thus touched the road surface upon which the boots of said cohort tramped? Thought not...
You know my method. It is founded upon the observance of trifles
Quote:I don't suppose anybody is interested in the fact that I excavated outside the south gate of Brough in 1981/2 and have thus touched the road surface upon which the boots of said cohort tramped? Thought not...
Hey! You never sent me an offprint! :wink:
[attachment=2960]Brough-on-Noe.jpg[/attachment]
John1 - I've been doing a little research into Roman Aquitaine(s) which I thought might be helpful and I was going to send you a PM but I can't without your proper name! Would you like to send me one to establish the link? Ta
Hi Vindex, I've PM'd you with my details a couple of times, no response, are you getting them?
Hmm...no email indication as usual but I've just looked in my PMs . Will respond now
Moi Watson
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Merlot in one hand, Cigar in the other; body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!
Quote:Tease, can you give a translation and interpretation please
I'll have a go, and perhaps the teasing Dr Campbell can amend as appropriate... :wink:
Inscription from Viminiacum, late 2nd/early third century?:
D(is) M(anibus) / M(arcus) Val(erius) Speratus / vet(eranus) leg(ionis) VII Cl(audiae) ex b(ene)f(iciario) / co(n)s(ularis) dec(urio) m(unicipii) A(eli) V(iminacii) praef(ectus) coh(ortis) / I Aquet(anorum) v(ixit) a(nnos) LV o(biit) in Britt(annia) / Lucia Afrodisia con/iugi b(ene) m(erenti) et sibi vivae / posuit
Which I think says:
"To the Gods Below, Marcus Valerius Speratus, Veteran of Legion VII Claudia, formerly Beneficiarius Consularis, Decurion of the town of Aelia Viminiacum and Prefect of Cohort I Aquetanorum, who lived 55 years and died in Britain. His well deserving wife Lucia Afrodisia and himself while still alive set this up"
Or something... Interesting for a couple of reasons, though perhaps not the ones Duncan has in mind (?) -
Firstly, did Speratus become prefect of I Aqu after retiring from the legion and becoming a decurion (having made a lot of money somewhere along the way)?
Secondly, what's this business about setting up his own tombstone, presumably before leaving for Britain to join his cohort? (if I've worked out the wording right) Is this usual? Did he have a premonition of death? hock:
Quote:Tease, can you give a translation and interpretation please
No tease intended. It's a very interesting inscription.
Quote:... perhaps the teasing Dr Campbell can amend as appropriate ...
Just the last bit, which should read "While she was alive, Lucia Afrodisia set this up for her well-deserving husband and for herself" (thus removing one of your two problems).
Quote:Firstly, did Speratus become prefect of I Aqu after retiring from the legion and becoming a decurion (having made a lot of money somewhere along the way)?
I take it that Speratus was a time-served legionary in the Viminacium legion, who subsequently became a town councillor (decurion) in the neighbouring frontier town (where he was presumably well-known, particularly as he had served on the legate's staff), and then embarked upon an equestrian career. My gut feeling is that this (elevation to equestrian status) is a later development (i.e. we would not expect this during the first/second centuries).
Tiddis has the mausoleum of Quintus Lollius Urbicus, and he (little known to me, as is most stuff I find on this exploration) was govenor of both Germania and Britannia coincidentally both the sites of the where we find the 1st Cohort of Aqui. Although I understand the cohort was in Germania Superior and Urbicus was in Germania Inferior. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_Lollius_Urbicus
Could it be that the 1st Cohort Aqui had a habit, at least for a period, of drawing some troops, or officers from Berber families? and could Urbicus have had a hand in this?
This is might to extent be reinforced (big leap) by the Birley ref which has "a Sittius" commanding the Varduli, a northern Iberian group pretty much in the recruiting area for the Aquitanians. The inscription is from Thibilis, another dependent town of Constantine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varduli http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thibilis
hock:
![[Image: copie2debanniere1002n.jpg]](http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/4580/copie2debanniere1002n.jpg)
