The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook
The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook
The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook
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134 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>Army</strong><br />
220 CIL 3. 11082, inscription, Arrabona (Györ), Upper Pannonia,<br />
AD 207<br />
To the Victory of our Emperors and of Legion I Adiutrix Loyal and<br />
Faithful Antoniniana, Publius Marcius Sextianus, son of Publius, from<br />
Ephesus, (set this up) at public expense through the decree of the town<br />
council, dedicated by Egnatius Victor, legate of the Emperors with<br />
propraetorian power, and Claudius Piso, legate of the fifth legion, on<br />
13 June, in the consulship of Aper and Maximus.<br />
Victory was one of the most important of the deified abstractions worshipped<br />
by the <strong>Roman</strong>s; associated with the name of an emperor or legion, it signified<br />
their role in a particular military victory, while Victoria Augusta symbolized<br />
the perennial military success of emperors.<br />
221 Dio, 65. 14<br />
(Flavian forces at the battle of Cremona, AD 69.) As the sun was rising<br />
the soldiers of the third legion, called the Gallic, which had its base in<br />
Syria and was, as it happened, at that time on the side of Vespasian,<br />
suddenly greeted it as they usually did…<br />
Cf. Tacitus, Histories 3. 24. <strong>The</strong> third Gallic legion had been serving in Syria<br />
since the battle of Philippi and had participated in Antony’s campaign against<br />
the Parthians. Over this period the legion had acquired a tradition of worship<br />
of an oriental solar deity.<br />
222 CIL 7. 506=RIB 1330, inscription, Condercum (Benwell),<br />
Britain, 2nd C.AD<br />
To Jupiter Best and Greatest, of Doliche, and the spirits of the Emperors,<br />
for the welfare of Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrian Antoninus<br />
Augustus Pius, father of the fatherland, and of Legion II Augusta,<br />
Marcus Liburnius Fronto, centurion of the same legion, willingly and<br />
deservedly fulfilled his vow.<br />
Cf. text no. 41. Doliche was a hill in Commagene (Tell Dülük) with a long<br />
tradition of worship. <strong>The</strong> priests of the cult associated it with various other<br />
deities, and its popularity within the army may be connected with the role of<br />
iron in the lore surrounding Dolichenus.<br />
223 CIL 6. 30947=ILS 4302, inscription, Rome<br />
In honour of Jupiter Best and Greatest, of Doliche, where iron is born,<br />
Gaius Sempronius Rectus, centurion of the frumentarii, gave this gift.