The L. Artorius Castus Inscription
Chapter Two:
A NEWLY PROPOSED READING FOR THE
“ARM[…]S” LACUNA OF THE L. ARTORIUS CASTUS INSCRIPTION
If
we accept a Severan date for the Castus memorial stone, we can proceed to
attempt to solve the mystery of the ARM[…]S lacuna. Until we have a satisfactory reading for that
lacuna, it is impossible for us to determine exactly what as the nature of the
military action which saw Castus take temporary command of three British legions
(or legionary vexillations).
There
have been a few different ideas for ARM[…]S. I covered these briefly in the
Introduction and don’t feel the need to provide more detail here. One point should be raised and that concerns
an initial observation by Dr. Benet Salway on the dux command of Castus. Note, however, that he changed his mind about
this after reviewing my proposed new reading for ARM[…]]S:
“I
don’t think that this [confirmed Severan date for the stone] helps enormously
in deciding where the British legionary troops may have been led in campaign
to, except to say that there were obviously opportunities for action against
the Armenians by British-based troops in the second Parthian War of Septimius
Severus, the eastern campaigns of Caracalla, Severus Alexander, and Gordian
III.”
As
mentioned by Prof. Roger Tomlin, there is absolutely no evidence that British
troops were used in any of these Eastern campaigns.
More
importantly, Severus’ major British War came after his Parthian War. And
it is this latter military operation that seemed to hold the most promise for a
command of legions or legionary troops by L. Artorius Castus, a prefect of the
Sixth legion stationed at York.
The
Sixth Legion was always oriented towards the North. Its job, literally, in the time period we are
considering, was to guard the northern limes and to strike back at tribes
invading from the North. That task was
its primary - and one might go so far as to say - exclusive role in
Britain. Yes, while we can argue that
its prefect took vexillations of his own legion and of the other two legions
with him somewhere outside of Britain (even Armenia at the far other end of the
Roman Empire), it makes more sense to see him moving his entire legion with
generous detachments from the other two or, indeed, all three British legions against
a Northern foe.
To
the best of our knowledge, the only such use of all three legions in Britain
during the Severan period would have taken place during the Emperor’s own
invasion of the North.
With
that thought in mind, I decided to take another look at ARM[…]S.
The
funny thing about the human brain is that it tends to shut itself up in a
box. In looking at ARM[...]S again the
other day, I decided to ask a rather simple, obvious question: why are we
restricting ourselves to just one word in the lacuna? Might there not be two words here, one or
both perhaps being abbreviated?
I
began looking for words that might fit and make sense in the context of the
inscription. Again and again I struck
out. I had almost given up when I
realized I had missed something. I had
initially dispensed with gentes, 'tribes', because it would not fit. And then I saw the splendid NTE ligature used
for CENT just a little farther along in the same line as ARM[...]S.
Guess
what? Allowing for ARMATAS GENTES,
'armed tribes', written as ARM/GENTES with the NTE ligature, fit perfectly!
At
first glance, this notion seemed to suffer from the same problem as Malcor’s
ARMATOS – that is, it was too vague and nonspecific. But, if we take into account the
above-defined characteristics of the Sixth Legion, and recall that Severus
fought in the North of Britain against two large tribal confederations,
we might well imagine Castus saying he had been put in charge of legionary
forces sent against armed tribes.
And,
in fact, no one reading the stone with ARM.GENTES present could possibly come
to any other conclusion. For as Castus
does not add that these armed tribes were anywhere outside of Britain, it would
naturally be assumed they were inside the province and were, therefore, British
tribes. Furthermore, given that a
prefect of the Sixth was leading the troops, the action must have been in the
North.
But
to see if this idea actually worked, I had to satisfy a number of
conditions. Most of these had to do with
finding precedents for the usage ARMATAS GENTES as well as ARM as an
abbreviation (this last not just for other Arm- words, but specifically for
armatas). If I could not come up with
sufficient examples, my case would collapse.
The
last precedent had to address the apparent vagueness of ARM.GENTES. Could I find similar phrases in ancient Latin
epigraphy?
Well,
let’s address this last question first.
I
believe that concern can be quelled by looking at another ADVERSUS inscription.
In
what way would this passage -
dux
vexil(lationum) IIII / Germ(anicarum) VIII Aug(ustae) X<X=V>II{I}
Pr(imigeniae) I / M(inerviae) XXX Ulp(iae) advers(us) defectores / et rebelles
[publication:
CIL 03, 10473 = D 01153 = IDRE-02, 00280 = TitAq-01, 00021 = Legio-XXX, 00150 =
AE 1972, +00378
dating:
208 to 211 EDCS-ID:
EDCS-29500132]
be
any different than
[pr]aef{f}(ectus)
leg(ionis) VI / Victricis duci legg[ionu]m Britanici(mi)arum adversus
arm[gente]s
"Prefect
of the Sixth Victorious Legion, Dux of British legions against armed
tribes"
I
mean, it seems the first one is perhaps even more ambiguous.
The
following website on the first inscription is helpful.
"Caius
Julius Septimius Castinus , consul-designate, legate propraetor of the three
Augusti, for lower Pannonia, legate of the I Legion Minerva, according to the
will of our masters head of a vexillation taken from the four Germanic legions,
the VIII Augusta, the XXII Primigenia, the I Minerva and the XXX Ulpia against
traitors and rebels...
Named
Dux of a vexillation, he drew detachments from the two legions of Upper
Germania, the VIII of Argentorate and the XXII of Mainz, as from the two
legions of Lower Germania, the I Minerva of Bonne and the XXX Ulpia of Vetera
((Under the Severi, a considerable role was given to these large expeditionary
forces organized for a single expedition and commanded by a Dux.)). Against
whom and when was this armed force to fight? We do not know exactly and can
only examine the possibilities:
1)
Against Pescenius Niger in 193-194? The legions of the East proclaimed the
legate of Syria, Niger (appointed in 191-192), Emperor. The legions of
Septimius Severus won two successes, at Cyzicus, on the shores of the Black
Sea, then at Nicaea, a little further east, in late 193-early 194. The decisive
victory came at Issus, in April 194, practically where Alexander the Great
defeated Darius III. Niger was captured and beheaded, his supporters hunted
down and executed.
2)
Against Claudius Albinus in 196? During the year 196, the governor of Brittany,
Claudius Albinus, "associated Caesar" since 193, rallied all of Gaul,
attached the Tarraconaise and set up his headquarters in Lyon from where he
threatened all the garrisons on the Rhine border. Septimius Severus won a
difficult victory on the outskirts of Lyon and Albinus committed suicide.
3)
Against a revolt which would take place in 207 and of which we would ignore the
leaders, the troops and the extent."
In
exactly the same way Castus is made dux of British legionary troops and is sent
against armed tribes. I would go
further, though, and say that the Castus inscription’s phrase is more
precise than that concerning Castinus in so far as the action listed
in the former must have taken place in the province of Britain.
Whether
armatas could be rendered in an epigraphic context as ARM was proven easily
enough.
Firstly,
the database TRISMEGISTOS shows the following instances of ARM words
abbreviated in extant inscriptions. There are, in fact, dozens of Arm- words
abbreviated ARM on stones.
Abbreviated
word Frequency
ARM
armorum 54
ARM
Armini 26
ARM
Armeniaco 16
ARM
Armeniaci 12
ARM
Arma 6
ARM
Armilustrium 5
ARM
Armeniae 4
ARM
Armenico 4
ARM
Arm 3
ARM
armatura 3
ARM
Armeniacus 3
ARM
armamentarii 2
ARM
armamentarius 2
ARM
armillis 2
ARM
Armato 1
ARM
Armemiaco 1
ARM
Armeni 1
ARM
Armenicus 1
ARM
armillae 1
ARM
armis 1
ARM
Armogio 1
ARM
armorum 1
But
what of armatas? I found that rather quickly.
publication:
CIL 03, 14320,02 (p 2328,159) = AHB p 605
dating:
201 to 300 EDCS-ID: EDCS-32300027
province:
Dalmatia place: Tomislavgrad /
Duvno / Zupanjac / Delminium
Arm(ato)
Aug(usto) s(acrum) / Mattonia / Tertia li/be(n)s posuit
inscription
genus / personal status: mulieres;
tituli sacri; tria nomina
material:
lapis
We
may compare this inscription with another found dedicated to the same god in
Dalmatia:
publication:
CIL 03, 14320,01 (p 2328,159) = D 04880 = AHB p 604
dating:
101 to 250 EDCS-ID: EDCS-31300289
province:
Dalmatia place: Tomislavgrad /
Duvno / Zupanjac / Delminium
Armato
s(acrum) / Sest(ia) One/sime ex / voto pos(uit) / l(ibens)
inscription
genus / personal status: mulieres;
tituli sacri; tria nomina
material:
lapis
Armatus
is discussed in detail in željka pandža - Sveučilište u Mostaru, Filozofski
fakultet, Odjel za arheologiju, University of Mostar, Faculty of Humanities,
Department of Archaeology - BOG ARMATUS NA NATPISIMA S DUVANJSKOG POLJA/GOD
ARMATUS IN THE INSCRIPTIONS FROM DUVANJSKO POLJE.
Yes,
this is a proper name or epithet, and of a deity in Dalmatia who they think was
originally a native "Mars".
But... armatus, just the word
itself, means 'armed', of course, and a person or
deity
named such would be 'the armed one' or ‘one who is armed’.
So
here we do have an instance of ARM being used for 'armed.'
And
what about the final epigraphic evidence required to demonstrate that the
formation ARMATAS GENTES was allowable?
Well,
there turned out to be a considerable body of material available to prove that
point.
Firstly,
I have found a phrase, armato milites, 'armed soldiers', in Virgil's Aeneid
(ii.20). However, as Benet Salway has pointed out, "As verse Virgil's is
not probative." But it does show again the adjective in front of the noun,
as in my proposed armatas gentes for the LAC lacuna "ARM[...]S." 'armatis militibus', "armed
soldiers", occurs in HISTORIA AUGUSTA Septimius Severus 7 and in the same
source's Antoninus Caracalla 2. HA Maximus and Balbinus 8 has 'armatos hostes',
"armed enemies".
In
this source, from M. Lollius (https://www.proquest.com/openview/7b05c38fafed83474edb23a8e641b789/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y):
armati
duces "armed leaders"
In
Suetonius's Twelve Caesers, I found 'armata praesidii' (Julius), "armed
guard." Also 'armatis cohortibus',
"armed cohorts" (Nero).
This
as well -
armatum
concilium "armed council"
armatum
tribunum "armed tribunes" Cic. Pis. 77
armatus
hostis armed enemy Sallust Bellum Catilinae
armatis
hominibus armed men Sallust BC
armata
milia armed thousands Caeser Gallic Wars 2
armatum
hostem an armed enemy Caeser Gallic Wars 5
armata
civitas an armed city Caeser Civil Wars 3
armatos
castris "armed camp" Tacitus Annals 2
armatis
cohortibus "armed cohorts" Tacitus Annals 3
armatorum
milia "armed thousands" Tacitus History 3
armati
exercitus "armed army" Tacitus History 3
armatorum
Romanorum "armed Romans" History 4
And
even in later historical sources, like Ammianus Marcellinus (Book XX; V):
armatarum
cohortium "armed cohorts"
Or
here:
https://www.notitiadignitatum.org/extracod.pdf
armatos
hostes "armed enemies"
And
here:
https://www.notitiadignitatum.org/21a-mast.pdf
armatae
militiae "armed forces"
As
well as here:
https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/gregorytours/gregorytours6.shtml
armatorum
turbae "armed crowd"
I'm
sure other examples could be found - perhaps many such.
Prior
to this I had located armatas gentes in two instances from the historian Livy.
I
have also found a use of armatus as an adjective fronting another noun IN THE
INSCRIPTIONS, 'armatam statuam', "armed statue":
publication:
CIL 06, 41142 = CIL 06, 01377 (p 3141, 3805, 4948) = CIL 06, 31640 = D 01098 =
IDRE-01, 00010 = AE 2013, +00013
dating:
171 to 180 EDCS-ID: EDCS-01000261
province:
Roma place: Roma
M(arco)
Claudio [Ti(beri)] f(ilio) Q[uir(ina)] / Frontoni co(n)s(uli) / leg(ato)
Aug(usti) pr(o) pr(aetore) provinciarum Daciarum et [Moesiae] / super(ioris)
simul leg(ato) Aug(usti) pr(o) pr(aetore) provincia[rum III] / Daciar(um)
leg(ato) Augg(ustorum) pr(o) pr(aetore) Moesiae super(ioris) [et] / Daciae
Apule(n)sis simul leg(ato) Augg(ustorum) pr(o) pr(aetore) pro/vinciae Moesiae
super(ioris) comiti divi Veri / Aug(usti) donato donis militarib(us) bello
Ar/meniaco et Parthico ab Imperatore An/tonino Aug(usto) et a divo Vero
Aug(usto) corona / murali item vallari item classica item / aurea item hastis
puris IIII item vexillis / IIII curatori operum locorumq(ue) publicor(um) /
misso ad iuventutem per Italiam legen/dam leg(ato) Augg(ustorum) pr(o)
pr(aetore) exercitus legionarii / et auxilior(um) per Orientem in Armeniam / et
Osrhoenam et Anthemusiam ducto/rum leg(ato) Augg(ustorum) legioni(s) primae
Minervi/ae in ex{s}peditionem Parthicam deducen/dae leg(ato) divi Antonini
Aug(usti) leg(ionis) XI Cl(audiae) prae/tori aedili curuli ab actis senatus
quaes/tori urbano Xviro stlitibus iudicandis / huic senatus auctore Imperatore
M(arco) Au/relio Antonino Aug(usto) Armeniaco Medico / Parthico maximo quod
post aliquo<d=T> se/cunda proelia adversus Germanos / et Iazyges ad
postremum pro r(e) p(ublica) fortiter / pugnans ceciderit armatam statuam
[poni] / in foro divi Traiani pecunia publica cen[suit]
inscription
genus / personal status: Augusti/Augustae;
milites; ordo senatorius; tituli honorarii; tituli sacri;
tria nomina; viri
material:
lapis
Nations
(gentibus) found fronted by an adjective, diversis, 'different':
publication:
CIL 13, 05954 (4, p 77) = CLE 01942 = AE 2013, 01106 = Vipard-2013, 00014
dating:
1 to 300 EDCS-ID: EDCS-10801366
province:
Belgica | Germania superior
place: Grand / Grannum / Leuci
[In
co]nubio iuncti diversis gentibu[s orti(?)] / Gallae cum Parthis
mon<u=I>me[ntum 3] / [3]um statuerunt Basilidae [3] / [3 n]unc(?) et sibi
non dubitantes / [n]omina noscentur satum c[
inscription
genus / personal status: carmina;
mulieres; tituli operum; tituli sepulcrales; viri
material:
lapis
And
nations fronted by another adjective, bellicosissimis, "warlike":
publication:
CIL 06, 01014 (p 842, 3070, 3777, 4316, 4340) = CIL 06, 31225 = D 00374
dating:
176 to 176 EDCS-ID: EDCS-17400014
province:
Roma place: Roma
S(enatus)
p(opulus)q(ue) R(omanus) / Imp(eratori) Caes(ari) divi Antonini f[i]l(io) divi
Veri Parth(ici) max(imi) fratr(i) / divi Hadriani nep(oti) divi Traiani
Parth(ici) [pro]nep(oti) divi Nervae abnep(oti) / M(arco) Aurelio Antonino
Aug(usto) Germ(anico) Sarm(atico) / pontif(ici) maxim(o) tribunic(ia)
pot(estate) XXX imp(eratori) VIII co(n)s(uli) III p(atri) p(atriae) / quod
omnes omnium ante se maximorum Imperatorum glorias / supergressus
bellicosissimis gentibus deletis et subactis / [
inscription
genus / personal status: Augusti/Augustae;
tituli honorarii; viri
material:
lapis
And
still more nations fronted by adjectives, in these two cases devictarum and
maxsimis:
publication:
CILA-02-03, 00927 = IUtrera 00001 = TabSiar = Espectaculos-01, 00004 =
Crawford-1996, 00037 = HEp 1995, 00734 = HEp 1999, 00524 = HEp 2011, 00447 = AE
1983, +00515 = AE 1984, 00508 = AE 1986, 00275 = AE 1986, 00308 = AE 1988,
00703 = AE 1989, +00358 = AE 1989, 00408 = AE 1991, 00020 = AE 1999, 00031 = AE
1999, 00891 = AE 2001, +00033 = AE 2001, +00039 = AE 2001, +00087 = AE 2002,
+00043 = AE 2002, +00044 = AE 2002, +00045 = AE 2002, +00046 = AE 2003, +00047
= AE 2003, +00048 = AE 2003, +00049 = AE 2003, +00050 = AE 2008, +00651 = AE
2014, +00070
dating:
19 to 20 EDCS-ID: EDCS-45500034
province:
Baetica place: La Canada / Siarum
[Quod
M(arcus) Silanus L(ucius)] Nor[banus Balbus co(n)s(ules) v(erba) f(ecerunt) de
memoria honoranda Germanici Caesaris qui] / [mortem obire nu]<m=N>quam
debuit [3 uti de] / [honoribus m]eritis Germanici Caesar[is 3 ageretur] /[atque
de] ea re consilio Ti(beri) Caesaris Aug(usti) prin[cipis nostri ageretur et
cognoscendarum] / copia sententiarum ipsi fieret atque is adsu[e]ta sibi
[moderatione ex omnibus iis] / honoribus quos habendos esse censebat senatus
legerit eo[s quos ipse vellet et Iulia] / Augusta mater eius et Drusus Caesar
materque Germanici Ca[esaris Antonia consilio] / adhibita ab eis et
deliberationi satis apte posse haberi exist<i=U>[marent d(e) e(a) r(e)
i(ta) c(ensuere)] / placere uti ianus marmoreus extrueretur in circo Flaminio
pe[cunia publica posi]/tus ad eum locum in quo statuae divo Augusto domuique
Augus[tae publice positae es]/sent ab C(aio) Norbano Flacco cum signis
devictarum gentium
publication:
CIL 11, 01421 (p 1263) = InscrIt-07-01, 00007 = D 00140 = DecretaPisana 00002 =
Freis 00017 = Questori 00328 = Segenni = Bergemann 00036 = Epigraphica-2007-99
= AE 1991, +00021 = AE 2000, +00037 = AE 2002, +00451 = AE 2003, +00626 = AE
2007, +00070 = AE 2007, +00539 = AE 2009, +00014 = AE 2010, +00037
dating:
4 to 14 EDCS-ID: EDCS-20402891
province:
Etruria / Regio VII place: Pisa /
Pisae
scrib(endo)
ad]/fu[e]r(unt) Q(uintus) Sertorius Q(uinti) f(ilius) Atilius Tacitus P(ublius)
Rasinius L(uci) f(ilius) Bassus L(ucius) Lappius / P(ubli) [f(ilius) G]allus
Q(uintus) Sertorius Q(uinti) f(ilius) Alpius Pica C(aius) Vettius L(uci)
f(ilius) Virgula M(arcus) Herius / M(arci) [f(ilius) P]riscus A(ulus) Albius
A(uli) f(ilius) Gutta Ti(berius) Petronius Ti(beri) f(ilius) Pollio L(ucius)
Fabius L(uci) f(ilius) Bassus / Sex(tus) [A]ponius Sex(ti) f(ilius) Creticus
C(aius) Canius C(ai) <f=E>(ilius) Saturninus L(ucius) Otacilius Q(uinti)
f(ilius) Panthera / quod [v(erba) f(acta)] sunt cum in colonia nostra propter
contentiones candidato/ru[m m]agistratuus non essent ea acta essent quae infra
scripta sunt / cum a(nte) [d(iem) II]II Nonas Apriles allatus esset nuntius
C(aium) Caesarem Augusti patris patri/ae [po]ntif(icis) max{s}<i=U>mi
custodis imperi(i) Romani totiusque orbis terrarum prae/si[dis f]ilium divi
nepotem post consulatum quem ultra finis extremas popu/li [Ro]mani bellum
gerens feliciter peregerat bene gesta re publica devicteis aut / in [fid]em
receptis bellicosissimis ac max{s}imis gentibus
Some
examples of gentis/gentes used with adjectives in inscriptions. This is NOT an exhaustive list by any means,
as if one searches for merely gent there are thousands of hits in the database
to look at. Frankly, I lacked the
patience for that exercise!
publication:
CIL 03, 00247 = D 00754 = IIulian 00020 = BritRom-14, 00017 = AE 2019, +01631 =
GLIA-02, 00332
dating:
362 to 362 EDCS-ID: EDCS-22300504
province:
Galatia place: Ankara / Ancyra
Domino
totius orbis / Iuliano Augusto / ex Oceano Bri/tannico vi(i)s per / barbaras
gentes / strage resistenti/um patefactis adus/que Tigridem una / aestate
transvec/to Saturninius / Secundus v(ir) c(larissimus) praef(ectus) /
praet(orio) [d(evotus)] N(umini) m(aiestati)q(ue) [ei(us)]
inscription
genus / personal status: Augusti/Augustae;
ordo senatorius; tituli
honorarii; tituli sacri; tria nomina;
viri
material:
lapis
publication:
CIL 03, p 0774 (p 1054, 2328,57) = IGRRP-03, 00159 = IDRE-02, 00394 = Scheid =
Cooley-2012a = GLIA-01, 00001 = AE 2007, +00036 = AE 2007, +00037 = AE 2009,
+00035 = AE 2013, +00004 = AE 2013, +00005 = AE 2014, +00010 = ZPE-220-281 = AE
2021, 012097
dating:
14 to 14 EDCS-ID: EDCS-20200013
province:
Galatia place: Ankara / Ancyra
Rerum
gestarum divi Augusti quibus orbem terra[rum] imperio populi Rom(ani) /
subiecit et i<m=N>pensarum quas in rem publicam populumque Romanum fecit
incisarum / in duabus aheneis pilis quae su[n]t Romae positae exemplar
sub[i]ectum // [1] Annos undeviginti natus exercitum privato consilio et
privata impensa / comparavi per quem rem publicam a dominatione factionis
oppressam / in libertatem vindicavi eo [nomi]ne senatus decretis
honorif[i]ci(i)s in / ordinem suum m[e adlegit C(aio) Pansa et C(aio) Hirt]io consulibus
consula/rem locum s[ententiae dicendae simu]l [dans et i]mperium mihi dedit /
res publica n[e quid detrimenti caperet] me pro praetore simul cum / consulibus
pro[videre iussit p]opulus autem eodem anno me / consulem cum [consul uterqu]e
in bel[lo ceci]disset et triumvirum rei publi/cae constituend[ae creavit] / [2]
qui parentem meum [trucidaver]un[t eo]s in exilium expuli iudiciis legi/timis
ultus eorum [fa]cin[us] et postea bellum inferentis rei publicae / vici b[is
a]cie / [3] [b]ella terra et mari c[ivilia ex]ternaque toto in orbe terrarum
s[aepe gessi] / victorque omnibus v[eniam petentib]us civibus peperci
exter[nas] / gentes
publication: CIL 03, p 0774 (p 1054, 2328,57)
= IGRRP-03, 00159 = IDRE-02, 00394 = Scheid = Cooley-2012a = GLIA-01, 00001 =
AE 2007, +00036 = AE 2007, +00037 = AE 2009, +00035 = AE 2013, +00004 = AE
2013, +00005 = AE 2014, +00010 = ZPE-220-281 = AE 2021, 012097
dating:
14 to 14 EDCS-ID: EDCS-20200013
province:
Galatia place: Ankara / Ancyra
exter[nas]
/ gentes
publication: D 09351 = CLE 01916 = ILCV 00779
(add) = BCTH-1976/78-152 = BCTH-1990/92-160 = CLEAfr-01, p 120 = CLENuovo p 138
= Hamdoune-2016, p 169 = AfrRom-19-1000 = AE 1901, 00150 = AE 1993, +01780 = AE
2016, +01832
dating:
370 to 370 EDCS-ID: EDCS-16800401
province:
Mauretania Caesariensis place:
Ighzer Amokrane / Fundus Petrensis
Praesidium
aeternae firmat prudentia pacis / rem quoque Romanam fida tutat undique dextra
/ amni praepositum firmans munimine montem / e cuius nomen vocitavit nomine
Petram / denique finitimae gentes
publication:
ASAE-1934-22,2
dating:
308 to 310 EDCS-ID: EDCS-72000104
province:
Aegyptus place: Luxor / Al Uqsur
/ Karnak / Al Karnak / Theben / Thebai / Thebae / Iounou-Shema / Diospolis
Magna
Pietatis
auctor[e]m et barbara/rum gentium extinctorem / d(ominum) n(ostrum) Val(erium)
Licinium P(ium) F(elicem) Invictum / Aug(ustum) Aur(elius) Maximinus v(ir)
p(erfectissimus) du[x] / Aeg(ypti) et Theb(aidos) utrarumq(ue) Libb(yarum) /
devotus N(umini) m(aiestati)q(ue) eorum(!)
inscription
genus / personal status: Augusti/Augustae;
ordo equester; tituli
honorarii; tituli sacri; tria nomina;
viri
publication:
IK-12, 00313a = IIulian 00026
dating:
361 to 363 EDCS-ID: EDCS-00400018
province:
Asia place: Ephesus
D(omino)
n(ostro) Fl(avio) Cl(audio) Iuliano / virtutum omnium magistro / philosophiae
principi / venerando et / Piissimo Imperatori / victoriosissimo Augusto /
omnium barbararum / gentium debellatori / Ael(ius) Cl(audius) Dulcitius / v(ir)
c(larissimus) procons(ul) Asiae / vice sacra cog(noscens) / d(evotus) N(umini)
maiestatiq(ue) eius
inscription
genus / personal status: Augusti/Augustae;
ordo senatorius; tituli
honorarii; tituli sacri; tria nomina;
viri
material:
lapis
Conclusion
The
corpus of epigraphic and literary examples cited allows for the validity of my
proposed reading ARMATAS GENTES for the L. Artorius Castus inscription’s lacuna
ARM[…]S.
Having
assembled my argument, I went back to the professional epigraphers Salway and
Graham to ask them what they thought.
Here are their responses to my query:
“Leaving
aside the Virgil, you have now assembled a convincing body of parallels to
argue for your restoration of this lacuna on the epitaph for Artorius Castus.
Well
done.”
Benet
Salway
“Yes,
your reading does make sense, and I applaud it! When you make your case for the
restoration, perhaps you should send a copy of it to Silvia Orlandi so that she
can add or reference your version to the EAGLE database, where most people hunt
for inscriptions... (this would also advertise your work to more scholars).”
Abigail
Graham
***
Selected from:
LET NOT ANYONE ESCAPE FROM SHEER DESTRUCTION: A NEW ARGUMENT FOR A ROMAN KING ARTHUR
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