314 NOTES ON LATIN INSCRIPTIONS 



(2) IM • SEVERVS 



AVG • ET ANTONINVS 

 CAES • DESTINATVS 

 RESTITVE^RVNT • CV 

 RANTE VIRIO LVPO 

 LEG • EORVM PR • PR • 



Imperator Severus Augustus et Antoninus Ccesar Destinattis res- 

 tituerunt curante Virio Lupo Legato eorum Pro Fmiore. 



It is not easy to determiue satisfactorily tlie dates of these inscrip- 

 tions ; indeed, the correctness of the readings seems doubtful. The 

 date suggested for the second, by Henzen, is ''A.D. 195," with a 

 query, and by the Ed. Mon. Hist. Brit., "Cir. A.D. 197;" but 

 neither of these is satisfactory. We know from Spartian, Sever., c. 10, 

 that Caracalla was appointed Csesar, with the name Antoninus, whilst 

 Severus was on his way to attack Albinus ; and this appointment is 

 proved by coins and laws to have taken place in A.D. 196, not at the 

 beginning of it, for Severus was in Mesopotamia at the commencement 

 of the year, from which he returned to Rome, previously to setting 

 out against Albinus ; and, besides, the earliest law which we have of 

 Severus and Antoninus, of this year, is dated June 30. Severus had 

 already set out, as we learn from Herodian, iii., c. 20, before Albinus 

 crossed over to Gaul. It was, as I think, at this time, about April or 

 May, 196, whilst Caracalla was yet Antoninus'^ Ccesar destinattis, 

 that Virius Lupus was sent to occupy the island vacated by Albinus j 

 and, accordingly, we may infer that shortly after his arrival he directed 

 the work commemorated by this inscription. If LEG • AVG •, in the 

 first inscription, be correct, the date must be either 196 or 197, for 

 Caracalla was ^t/^M«^M* in 198; but I suspect that the true reading 

 is AVGG. 



III. — During the third Century. 



It is not known how long Virius Lupus held the government ; 

 Lucius Al/enus Senecio, mentioned in several inscriptions found in 

 Britain, and in one found at Naples, Orelli, n. 4405, was, probably, 

 his immediate successor. The following inscription, found at Ris- 

 ingham, Northumberland, and printed, ArchcBol. Juliana, N. S. i., p. 

 230, Mon. Hist. Brit., n. 192 a., is of the date A.D. 205-207 :— 



• And yet see a fragment of the Pontifical Fasti, Gruter, p. ccc, ; Clinton, Fasti Bomani, 

 p. 200; Eckhel, vii., p. 199. 



