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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<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,