114 InscrIBED RomMAN STONES OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
4, (Fig. 1.) Same recent history as 2 and 3. 
A plain stone, 2 ft. 7 in. in height and 1 ft. 23 in. in breadth. 
The letters of the inscription are well cut. It will be observed 
that the ivy leaf is used as a point throughout. 
NVM . AVG ; G 4s 
DEO _ MERC DE OrM aC P i t 
SIGN . POSV SIGNP SV in ft 
ERVNT . CVL ERVN I¢C VI Hae 
ec ORE SeCOL ps 
DEM DEI CVR LICNIYETY S Le 
ING. RVFO DEM DEIC WR 
VSLM INGYRV FO 
iM!) 
Fig. 1. (Scale, +4.) 
The meaning of COL LIGNI must be held as determined by 
the expansion assigned to the similar letters of the preceding 
inscription.  Mumen and Numina Augusti, guardian deity or 
deities of the emperor, frequently occur on Roman monuments, 
sometimes alone, sometimes, as here, along with the name of a 
well-known divinity. The substitution of 7 for ce, which we have 
in Zignius, occurs in other words. Expanded, the inscription will 
read :—MVum(int) [or Mum(cnibus)| Aug(uste), deo Mercurio), 
sign(um) posuerunt cultores col(umnae) ligni(ae) ejusdem det, cur(ante) 
Ing(enuo) Rufo. V(otum) s(olverunt) Wibenter) m(ertto) ; 7.e., To the 
guardian deity of the Emperor (and?) the god Mercury, the 
worshippers of the wooden column of the same god have erected 
this image under the superintendence of Ingenuus Rufus. 
Willingly, deservedly, they performed their vow.” 
This stone has few of the characteristics of an altar, and 
certainly seems to have been a pedestal for the support of a wooden 
