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

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

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<strong>The</strong> soldiers 35<br />

45 RIB 201=Smallwood GN 284 (a), inscription, Camulodunum<br />

(Colchester), Britain, 1st C.AD<br />

(Relief of cavalryman spearing a fallen enemy) Longinus, son of<br />

Sdapezematygus, soldier on double pay in the first ala of Thracians,<br />

from the district of Serdica, 40 years old, fifteen years’ service. His<br />

heirs had this constructed in accordance with his will. He lies here.<br />

46 CIL 8. 2094=ILS 2518, inscription, Africa, 2nd C.AD<br />

To the spirits of the departed, Gaius Julius Dexter, veteran, soldier in a<br />

cavalry ala, clerk (curator) of a troop, armourer, standard-bearer of a<br />

troop, served twenty-six years, honourably and duly discharged, was a<br />

member of the Board of Two in his own colony of <strong>The</strong>lepte, lived eightyfive<br />

years, was cremated here. Tutia Tertia, wife of Julius Dexter, lived<br />

seventy years, was cremated here.<br />

<strong>The</strong>lepte was a settlement in Africa (Medinet-el-Kedima in Tunisia), at a strategic<br />

point on the road from Ammaedara to Capsa. It was probably founded by<br />

veterans and was raised to the rank of colony in the reign of Trajan.<br />

47 ILS 2558=Smallwood NH 336, inscription, Danube area, 2nd<br />

C.AD<br />

I am the man who once was famous on the Pannonian shore and<br />

foremost in bravery among a thousand Batavians; with Hadrian<br />

watching I succeeded in swimming in full armour across the vast waters<br />

of the mighty Danube, and with a second arrow I transfixed and broke<br />

the arrow which I had shot from my bow, while it was still suspended<br />

in the air and falling back (to earth). No <strong>Roman</strong> or foreign soldier was<br />

ever able to outdo me in throwing the javelin, no Parthian in firing an<br />

arrow. Here I lie and here I have sanctified my achievements on this<br />

memorial stone. Let people see if anyone can emulate my feats after<br />

me. By my own example, I am the first person to have done such deeds.<br />

Batavian cavalry units impressed Hadrian by swimming the Danube fully armed<br />

(Dio, 69. 9).<br />

48 P. Oxy. 1666=Daris, Documenti 8, papyrus, Oxyrhynchus, Egypt,<br />

3rd C.AD<br />

Pausanias to his brother Heraclides, greetings. I think that our brother<br />

Sarapammon has told you the reason why I went down to Alexandria,

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