Roman Altar found at Qloster Hill. 87 



It is not perfect, it comprises the capital and a part of the 

 stem ; the inscription is also imperfect, and probably the com- 

 mencement of one of greater length. 



The letters are, — 



M cE S T R I 



COH I 



From a comparison with other like inscriptions, it may be 

 thus read : — 



M. O^IMPESTRII B US 

 COKOBS. I 



Or, 



MATRIBUS CAMPESTRIBUS 

 COHORS PRIMA: 



An altar dedicated to the Sylvan Mothers by the Roman 

 soldiers of the first cohort, who were at that time at the castrum 

 or camp of that place. A wood cut representation of this 

 fragment is placed at the end of this article. 



There is at the rectory at Ryton, a slab found at Benwell, 

 much ornamented on which there is the following inscription : — 

 Matribus campest[ribus] 

 et Genio alae Pri[m8e] Hispano- 

 rum Astnrum [ob virtutemj 

 [appellatse] Gordianse Titns 

 Agrippa Pr8e[fectus] templum a s[olo] 

 [res]titmt. 

 To the Camprestrial Mothers 

 and to the genius of the first wing of Span- 

 ish Astures, on account of their valour 



styled Gordian, Titus 

 Agrippa, then prefect, this Temple from the ground, 

 rebuilt. 

 These altars set up to the mothers of the plains are not very 

 clearly explained, but we find other altars dedicated to the 



Matres transmarinw^ 

 the transmarine mothers. Altars and slabs also were set up 

 to all the Heathen Deities, to Dese Matres, to nymphs, to the 

 manes of Emperors, Generals, and many other persons. 

 Those altars may have reference to the Roman mothers who 

 gave birth to children ui Britain, in contradistinction to those 

 who added strength to the empire beyond the seas. 



