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Three Soldiers of the Cohors Hispanorum in Cyrenaica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

Joyce Reynolds
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Extract

I give below the texts of two new military inscriptions from Cyrenaica with one published earlier and now reread. They are of some interest both for the history of the Roman army and for the history of the province.

1. Limestone stele (width 0.61 m × height 1.35 m × depth 0.27 m) inscribed on one face which is very worn on the lefthand side, where it has been exposed to the weather. Found in 1970 by Mr. Abdussalem Bazama, half-buried on the east bank of the Wadi Kambish just west of the city of Ptolemais, beside the road which leads from the city through the surviving gate in the west wall. Left in situ.

Letters, probably Augustan/Julio/Claudian: 1. 1, 0.07; 11.2, 3, c. 0.05; 1. 4, 0.075. A gable is outlined in relief above the text.

C(aio) Sempronio C(aii) f(ilio)

Longo duplicar(io)

c(o)hortis Hispanor(um)

vacat

vac. Venusta lib(erta) vac.

2. Limestone stele (width 0.45 m × height 1.07 m × depth 0.35 m) inscribed on one face. Photographed at Cyrene in 1929, but without record of the fmdspot; now in Cyrene Museum.

Letters, probably Augustan/Julio/Claudian, 0.05.

M(arcus) Aemiliu[s]

M(arci) f(ilius) Macer

Turanicu[s]

ỊẠṚỊ me(n)s(or) c(o)h[o]-

rtis Hispan-

orum an(n)o-

[r]um XXXX aer-

a XIIX frạ[ter]

vac. hie [posuit]

1.4 the first four letters are enigmatic (for suggestions on their meaning see p. 00); 1.5 it is just possible that the figure I stands between cohortis and Hispanorum, but 1 think it unlikely.

Type
Research Article
Information
Libyan Studies , Volume 12: Twelfth Annual Report of the Society for Libyan Studies (1980–81) , 1981 , pp. 49 - 53
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 1981

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References

1 The gate is that named Taucheira Gate and Wadi is the West Wadi on the plan fig. 3, p. 38 in Kraeling, C. G., Ptolemais, City of the Petapolis (Chicago, 1952)Google Scholar
2 Oiriginally published by Ghislanzoni, E., Notiziario Archeologico I (1915) 179, whence AE 1915, no. III, and subsequently discussed by A. Heron de Villefosse Bulletin Archéologique 1917, p. clll, whence AE 1917/1918, no. 64, W. Wagner, Die Dislocation der römischen Auxiliarformationen in den Provinzen Noricum, Pannonien, Moesien und Dakien von Augustus bis Gallienus (Berlin, 1938) 152 f., P. Romanelli, La Cirenaica romana (Verbania, 1943) 192 f., S. Applebaum, Journal of Jewish Studies II (1950) 30, K. Kraft, Zur Rekrutierung der Alen und Kohorten am Rhein und Donau (Berlin, 1951) 178, no. 1510, J. M. Solana Sainz, Autrigonia Romana (Valladolid, 1978) 209Google Scholar
3 For the layout of the cemeteries of Cyrene see Cassels, John, PBSR XXIII (1955) 1 fGoogle Scholar
4 For duplicarii see Sander, E., Historia VIII (1959) 239 f. The grade is uncommon but not unknown in early inscriptions; the privileged position involved is most easily explained in this case as connected with cavalry service in an infantry unitGoogle Scholar
5 For some account of the country see Goodchild, R. G., The Roman and Byzantine Limes in Cyrenaica in Libyan Studies (London, 1976) 195 f. (from JRS xliii (1953))Google Scholar
6 CILXVI. 110Google Scholar
7 CILXVI. 2, 4, 26, 30, 31, 46, 163, 185; Wagner, l.c. in n. 2 argued that it must have been in Pannonia at latest by 29Google Scholar
8Romanelli, , Applebaum, , and Wagner, , 11. cc. in n. 2Google Scholar
9 For discussion of aera see Ritterling, E., Rheinisches Museum LIX (1904) 55 fGoogle Scholar
10 A connection between the second cognomen of the subject (Turanicus) and the Spanish placename Turaniana (Itin. Ant. 405.1) has been suggested to me by Mr. Saddington, but Turaniana is surely, as suggested in RE VII.A2, col. 1371, a road-station deriving its name from that of the owner of the estate or villa with which it was connectedGoogle Scholar
11 It might be that MES should be taken with the four letters precedingGoogle Scholar
12 See e.g. Romanelli, , l.c. in n. 2, 76 f. for a basic accountGoogle Scholar
13 See Goodchild, l.c. in n. 5, and c.f. the raids on Cyrene and Ptolemais featured in the letters of SynesiusGoogle Scholar