Gods & goddesses Status, job or army rank

Deae Suli Minervae = to the goddess (dea) civis, cives = a citizen or tribesman/tribeswoman (Celtic/Roman) Decoding f, fil, filius (or filia) = a son (or daughter) Loucetio Marti = to Loucetius (Celtic/Roman) l, lib, libertus/a = a freedman/freedwoman (ex-slave) Nemetonae to Nemetona (Celtic) Roman religious N.B. freedmen took the name of their ex-master. Na () Sacratissima = very sacred Diana se suisque / se et suis = for himself and his family (Roman goddess of hunting) haruspex = a senior priest who predicted the future after Numin[ibus] Aug[ustorum] = to the Divinities of inscriptions examining the organs of sacrificed animals the Emperors (the guardian spirit or divinity - - of a Roman Emperor was worshipped throughout the Empire: lapidarius = a stonemason shared the title ‘’ with his brother at the Roman sculptor = a stonemason Lucius Verus from 161-169 AD.) > or ) a centurion Suleviis = to the Suleviae (an Eastern European name Baths, Bath for a group of 3 Celtic Mother goddesses) > regionarius = a centurion in charge of the area Virtuti et Numini Aug[usti] = to the Virtue and LEG = Legion Divinity of the Emperor (abstract ideas like ‘virtue’ were Leg II Aug(usta) = 2nd Legion ‘the Emperor’s’ often personified and worshipped) was based in Britain from c. 74 AD Votive inscriptions follow a set pattern, since they were dedicated to a god or goddess to thank them for People Leg VI Vic(trix) = 6th Legion ‘Victorious’ something they had done in response to a prayer. was transferred to Britain c.122 A.D. with the Emperor Hadrian The person dedicating the stone would have previously • A name ending in “i’ followed by F or FIL means promised to do this if the god answered their prayer. the person’s son or daughter: it is a patronymic. Leg XX V(aleria) V(ictrix) = 20th Legion ‘Courageous and Victorious’ named after the Boudican • Slaves had one name, freedmen had two, and rebellion 60-61 A.D. Typical pattern citizens three. • Freedmen added their ex-master’s name to their P.T.O. for example slave name. Places • Name of God or Goddess Aufidius Eutuches = a freedman (ex-slave) cives Carnutenus = a tribesman from Chartres, in France • The reason for the offering Gaius Curatius Saturninus = a centurion PRO SE ET SUIS = for himself and his family civis = a citizen of Trier, in Germany PRO SALUTE ET INCOLUMITATE = for the Gaius Severius Emeritus = a centurion health and safety of ... Lucius Marcius Memor = a senior priest EX VISU POSSUIT = following a vision, or holy Aufidius Lemnus = a freedman (ex-slave) dream Marcus Aufidius Maximus = a centurion • Name of person making the offering, perhaps their father’s name patronymic ( - F or - FIL), their Novantius = he was someone’s father job and where they came from. Peregrinus = he was Secundus’ son • Dedication formulae such as D D (Dono Priscus = he was Toutius’ son Dedit): gave this as a gift V S L M (Votum Solvit Libenter Merito) = kept Sulinus = he was Brucetus’ son his promise happily and deservedly Sulinus = he was Maturus’ son SACRUM F (fecit) L M = made this sacred offering happily and deservedly Vettius Benignus = a freedman (ex-slave) Layout Translation

Dedication to the god or goddess To the goddess Sulis Minerva Notice the different spelling DEAE SULI She is usually called Dea Sulis Minerva – this is all in the DATIVE case, meaning ‘TO’ MINERVAE

Reason for dedicating this votive altar PRO SALUTE for the safety The goddess is thanked for looking after the former master of the person dedicating the stone of Marcus Curatius His names end in “-i” (GENITIVE case) because it is MARCI CURATI the Latin equivalent of apostrophe-s or “OF Marcus” Modestus, a centurion “-is” and “-ae” are also Genitive endings MODESTI >

of the 20th Legion LEGIONIS XX

‘Courageous & Victorious’ VALERIAE VICTRICIS

Name of person giving the stone as an offering Curatius Lemnus, Notice that when the slave Lemnus was freed he was given CURATIUS LEMNUS the name of his ex-master his freedman (ex-slave) His Status LIBERTUS

Formal dedication of the stone has kept his promise (to the goddess) VOTUM SOLVIT Lemnus would have sacrificed to the goddess in advance and asked her to protect his ex-master. He happily and deservedly would have promised to give her this votive altar as a LIBENTER MERITO ‘thank-you’ present for answering his prayer

The example shown here is fictitious – purely to illustrate the format.