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The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook

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118 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>Army</strong><br />

Thiadices, who said he could take them. I request, brother, that you<br />

have some scales (?) made for my personal use, as beautiful as possible,<br />

and write to me so that in payment for them I can make you bread or<br />

send you money, whichever you wish. Now, I want you to know that I<br />

am going to get married. As soon as I have married, I shall write to you<br />

at once to come. Farewell. Regards to [ _ _ _ ].<br />

No. 13<br />

[ _ _ _ ] to Terentius and [ _ _ _ ] and Atticus [ _ _ _ ], fondest greetings.<br />

First of all I pray that you are in [good health]; my dearest wish [ _ _ _<br />

] is for you and the children to remain in good health. I received from<br />

Ca [ _ _ _ ] the bunch of radishes (?) that you sent. You are going to get<br />

gourds and citrus fruit (from me); divide them with your brothers as<br />

you yourselves wish. Regards to your comrades in the army. Isidorus<br />

sends you his best wishes. I pray that you are well.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se are examples of Latin and Greek ostraca, dating from late first-mid second<br />

century AD, found near a quarry and gold mine on the road from Coptos in<br />

Egypt to the Red Sea. A small detachment of soldiers was stationed here perhaps<br />

to guard the mine and the trade route.<br />

187 ILS 9073, inscription, Rusicade (Skikda), Numidia, AD 268–70<br />

In honour of Jupiter Best and Greatest, I have fulfilled my vow to the<br />

Genius of Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Claudius Unconquered<br />

Pius Fortunate Augustus, Aelius Dubitatus, soldier of the ninth<br />

praetorian cohort, century of Etrius; for nine years I have looked after<br />

the staging post at Veneria Rusicade, and my fellow-soldiers have been<br />

safe and fortunate [ _ _ _<br />

Rusicade was a colony which, along with Cirta, Milev, and Chullu, formed a<br />

loose confederation; it was an important port and the terminus for the road<br />

from Cirta which Hadrian had rebuilt, and along which grain was transported<br />

for export from Numidia. In the third century there was apparently a detachment<br />

from the ninth praetorian cohort based here.<br />

188 Frend 1956:46, inscription, Sulmenli (Eulandra ?), Asia, AD 213<br />

[In the consulships of Emperor Antoninus for the third time and<br />

Caelius B]albinus, 11 October, at Prymnessus, the procurator<br />

Philocurius: ‘[ _ _ _ ] they are showing dissension in respect of matters

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