Gents Mag 1860 part 1 p.349
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Gentleman's Magazine 1860 part 1 p.349
being erected). As usual, the stone is fractured. In the last example we had the lower lines of the inscription complete. In this case, the fracture is vertical, and the right hand portion of the stone is altogether wanting. Hence, though we have a portion of every line of the inscription, we have not one copmplete. In all probablity, the present fragment is only half of the original. When whole, it has, seemingly, been a square tablet, with a circular recess at the bottom. It may have been placed over a statue, the head of which occupied the recess. The stone, as we now have it, is 1 ft. 11 in. long, 1 ft. 3 in. broad, and 4 in. thick. The sides are panelled. The margin of the face of the tablet is tastefully adorned by a moulding of the cable pattern. The letters of the inscription are very clearly cut, and possess a beauty of form well worty the attention of modern type-founders. The following is the inscription:- DEI HERC ... VICTI COI ... TrBVS PRO S ... COMMiLiTON ... BARBARORV ... OB VIRTV ... P SEXTANiV ... TAT TRAIA ... Some ligatures (or tied letters) are introduced in the inscription, but they are of a very simple description. They are indicated in the foregoing copy by a smaller type. Judging from the character of the letters and the simplicity of the ligatures, the inscription is probably not later than the time of Heliogabalus. The inscription is quite new in its character; and hence, if complete, would probably present some fresh phase of society in Roman Britain. Judging from the portion of the circular recess at the bottom which is deficient, we have as yet got only half of the inscription. It is a hazardous, and, for historical purposes, an unsatisfactory thing in such circumstances, to draw upon the imagination for the remainder. The stone was probably set up in a temple of Hercules, who, among his other titles, reckoned those of Invictus and Conservator, traces of which appear in the inscription. One peculiarity of the stone is that the name of the deity is in the genitive case. The word governing it is wanting, so that we do not know the precise form of dedication. Perhaps the word numini (to the majesty of the god) is to be supplied; or perhaps the dedication is to some fellowship of the priests or worshippers of the god - Sodalicio cultorum Herculis; or it may be that the word fanum is on the missing part of the stone; in which case the first lines of the inscription would simply announce the fact that this was a temple of Hercules. Our chairman, Mr. Clayton, informs me that he saw at Verona a slab containing the words Fanum Herculis. This slab, or the statute which probably accompanied it, had evidently been set up 'for the safety' (pro salute) of some individual or body of men. If we take the words as they stand before us, they read, 'for the safety of our foreign fellow-soldiers, on account of their valour.' In this case the inscription has been made by Italian troops, in honour of some auxiliary cohort or ala with whom they had co-operated. This interpretation breathes a more kindly feeling than we should expect from Latin soldiers. The word barbarus, as applied to foreign troops, is exceedingly rare in Roman inscriptions, if, indeed, another example besides this can be found. It is not impossible that, should the remainder of the inscription turn up, the occasion of its erection may prove to have been a successful onslaught of the |
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