08-05-2013, 04:40 PM
Quote:The tombstone of a man from a Xth cohort I suspect would most probably be from the former, but could possibly be one from the latter... Detail on that tombstone may help towards a suitable interpretation.
There are two that I can think of, both for tetrarchic Herculiani legions:
(CIL 08, 08440) An inscription dedicating a mithraeum constructed by the 7th and 10th cohorts of II Herculia in Mauretania Caesariensis (Sitifis), probably dating to Maximian's campaign of 298: Deo Invicto Mit(h)r(a)e leg(io) II Herculiae fec(it) / co(ho)r(te)s X et VII votum solverunt / l(ibentes) a(nimo)
(AE 1980, 777) a brick-stamp from Sirmium, 10th cohort of VI Herculia: L(egio) VI H(e)r(culia) C(ohors) X (Another inscription to VI Herculia (AE 1964, 0226) from Mursa, is dated c.306-311, so this is definitely a tetrarchic legion.)
Both of these clearly had ten cohorts in the tetrarchic period, and (probably) were raised on the old model with c.6000 men.
The real question, I think, is whether the real 'new' legions of the post-Constantine period, the ones supposedly based on the legion vexillations, were organised into cohorts or not.
Does anyone know of an inscription or other reference to cohorts in the legions of the comitatensis, iuniores or seniores?
Nathan Ross