204 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1715. 



from the similitude of faces, is further confirmed by the horse ; a creature of 

 which Geta was very fond ; insomuch that he affected to be represented under 

 the figure of Castor, (as the Roman emperors often were under the figures of 

 their gods) of whom it is said. Castor gaudet Equis ; — Of this figure, there is 

 in Oiselius, a coin of Geta's, very much to this purpose ; represented tab. 4, 

 fig. 5, of this book. 



These things bring to mind the authority which Geta had in South-Britain : 

 where (as Herodian affirms) all matters were under his administration, during 

 the stay which Severus and Caracalla made in the north ; which was a year, or 

 more. In this time, Geta had it in his power to do many things in favour of 

 cities and countries, here in the south. The great generosity of his mind 

 prompted him to public works ; such as are to this day attested by inscriptions, 

 with his name in them : and it is highly probable, that this statue was erected 

 to Geta on some such account. 



If this be granted, as from the concurrence of so much, and so good testi- 

 mony, it seems highly probable, here is a large and pleasant view opened into 

 antiquity ; not of late taken notice of by any writer : it shows, that Geta was 

 a great benefactor to old Bath ; either by laying, in a perfect morass, the 

 foundation of that town ; or by preserving the hot- springs entire, from the in- 

 flux of other waters ; or both : works of great munificence, and becoming 

 Geta's spirit. By these, or some such ways, it is probable this place was 

 obliged to Geta; but no one is more probable, than that of preserving the 

 aquae calidae ; which were in those days so famous, as to give a denomination 

 to the place. It is well known that Rome had her Thermas Severianae and 

 Antoninianae, so called from their respective founders ; the former being built 

 by Severus, the father, the latter by Antoninus, the brother, of Geta ; so that 

 to take care of baths, was a sort of greatness that family seemed to delight in; 

 and Geta may reasonably be supposed to have his share of this delight. 



From the great probability of this opinion, the author has, out of love to 

 liis native country, and the honour due to Geta, collected together what he can 

 meet with relating to that emperor. He has made a new edition of Geta's life, 

 from the Historiae Augustas Scriptores; restoring it to its true author, Julius 

 Capitolinus ; and explaining it, with the notes of Casaubon, Gruter, and 

 Salmasius; to which he has added some of his own. He has reprinted all the 

 inscriptions, he can meet with, of Geta's, and many of his coins; with short 

 notes on both. 



To this dissertation, de Geta Britannico, he has added the chronology of his 

 illustrious house; showing how his father, Severus, from a private gentleman in 

 Africa, came by degrees to be Emperor of Rome ; and indeed one of the 



