20 



Here Banna is in company with Amboglanna, and thus strengthens 

 the Ravenna Hst, when it places Axelodunum in near proximity to 

 Aballaba and Amboglanna. I am well aware that all these lists are 

 not exactly in the same order, but a satisfactory reason seems clear^ 

 though, for the purposes of this paper, it is not necessary that we 

 should enter into the details. It is sufficient that we have here 

 three independent lists all pointing to the fact that Axelodunum 

 is in the neighbourhood of Amboglanna. 



Granted that the first twelve stations on the Wall are in direct 

 sequence from east to west, there seems no satisfactory reason why, 

 in a military list at any rate, the remaining stations should not 

 follow according to the same order. Hence, taking the Notitia 

 list, and allowing on an average of four miles between each station, 

 Axelodunum could not be more than fifteen or sixteen miles west 

 of Amboglanna, i.e., Birdoswald. That a greater distance inter- 

 vened is not likely when the intention of the Rudge Cup — a libation 

 cup (?) — is concerned. Hence Axelodunum would appear to be in 

 its proper place in direct sequence west of and not far from 

 Amboglanna, and thus Maryport could not be Axelodunum. 



Further light on this question will be shown when we come to 

 discuss the next name, for arguments in favour of one name natur- 

 ally are against another. Granted now that we must'give up the name 

 Axelodunum, we have still three names left, all of which as I have 

 said are Notitia names. These names, still in alphabetical order, are 

 Glanoventa, Olenacum, Virosidum. We cannot pursue the same 

 line of argument with regard to these names that we did with regard 

 to Axelodunum, and perhaps fortunately so, for in this case I am 

 afraid that your patience would be sorely tried long ere I had 

 finished my argument. 



Fortunately for you, but not for the cause which I have in hand, 

 no remains of any kind, so far as we know, have been found that 

 would tend to identify any of the places that have been called by 

 these names. We shall therefore have to strike out a new and 

 independent line, where, not altars, but roads must be our means 

 of communication, and this seems at any rate a more rational 

 method ! As a preliminary to this method, we must ask if there is 



