Gents Mag 1742 p.31

---

	introduction
	list, 2nd qtr 18th century
	previous page
	Gentleman's Magazine 1742 p.31 placed on the right side of the altar seems a corroborating proof of it. 2. If the form of the character N at the beginning of the third line would admit of it standing for AV [ligature] the obvious reading here would be et numini Augusti; but as I understand it will not, the most probable reading that occurs to me is, et numini Domini nostri, the letter D being supplied at the end of the second line, Thus we have another British inscription with the words, et numini domini nostri Augusti, Horsley Northumb. LXXX; as Gordian is afterwards titled in this. 3. The form of the character N for AN in the last line of this inscription seems to support the gentleman's opinion, who takes IW at the end of the third line to stand for Tun, and then no doubt Tungrorum. is the true reading of that word. 4. The insertion of the ancient M between the lines, which has been omitted by the workman, being placed over the word GOR. and before the following point, induces me to give it this reading. Vegetius speaking of the first cohort of a legion sais: Habet pedites mille centrum quinque, equites locatos centum triginta duos, et appellatur cohors miliaria Lib II. c.6. The cohort therefore received its name miliaria or millenaria from the number of common foot soldiers, who were a thousand, the additional hundred and five being subaltern officers, as Stewechius shews upon the place. Vegetius indeed ascribes these numbers both of the foot and horse only to the first cohort of a legion, and a less number of each to the other cohorts; but under the lower emperours, and especially in the provinces, it seems by inscriptions, as if those numbers were not always regularly observed. And therefore this second cohort, which was honoured with the name of the emperour, exceeded the common number both in the foot and horse, might possibly occasion its being particularly mentioned. 7. I think the vacant space in this line after the letter D very well suits with the conjecture of the gentleman, who reads the name Claudianus. 8. Instante here seems to denote the same as curante in some other British inscriptions, Horsl. Durham XI, XII. So Pliny Panegyr. c.18 sais Instant operibus, speaking of the officers, who directed the soldiers works. 10. Princeps is a proper name, which occurs several times in Gruter. The small letter i placed in the belly of the L stands, as I suppose, for the name of the month, which might either be omitted at first, or placed in that manner for want of room. 11. But the most considerable doubt which occurs in the inscription, is this; that it makes the Emperour Gordian colleague with Pompeianus in his third cosulate, which the fasti consulares ascribe to the second. Nor is any mention made of this third consulate any where, but here, and in another inscription given to us by GRUTER, p. MLXXXV. n.10; which I conclude therefore must be a mistake, especially since in several others of Gruter's inscriptions Pompeianus is joined with him in his second consulate, agreeably to the fasti. The two fragments of the glass bowl with the name AKTAI[O]N on one, and a dog's head on the other, cut with an adamant, as is supposed, are very curious. It is a great pity the bowl had not been preserved intire. The pedestals here mentioned as found in the wood, where the fort was, are, I suppose, pillars erected for the support of an hot bath, and the hollow instrument made of clay, a tube for carrying off the smoke. This will be more evident by comparing these remains with the draught of the hypocaust found at Lincoln, and published by the antiquary society of London. I wish a more accurate description had been given of the whole. the space it contain'd, and particularly the matter and dimensions of the pillars, as likewise whether any cinders or ashes were found there. J. WARD N.B.The other, Letters concerning this Piece of Antiquity must be, referred to our next.
	continued
	gazetteer links
	-- Camboglanna

Lakes Guides menu.

---