1803.] Account of tivo ancient Monuments at Bourdeaux, = 135 
Tf Monander will favour me with a 
vilit, or his addrefs, I fhall be glad to 
have fome convetfation with him con- 
cerning his communication, Sc. 
I remain your’s, &c. 
Fan. v6, 1303. Jj. BRITTON, 
Wildernefs-row, Gofwell-ftreet, 
ev TEE 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
ACCOUNT of ftwvo ANCIENT MONU- 
MENTS lately found at BOURDEAUX, 
by E. BERNADAU. 
HE great number of fepulchral ftones 
‘that are found in places coniecrated 
to the inhumation of the ancients, in- 
duces a prefumption, that many, more 
were raifed in ancient. than in, modern 
times. It does not even appear that they 
were exclufively referved for perfonsdiftin- 
guifhed by their dignities or by eminent 
merit ; for few of thofe monuments bear 
the delignation of the titles of the defunct, 
or any particular mention of the caufe for 
which they were railed. . The infcription 
was commonly as fimple as the tlone 
which contained it; and the modefty of 
the latter was always united with the la- 
conifm of the former. 
In the Jait month of Floreal, in digging 
for the foundations of a houfe, to be built 
on the {cite where the ci-dewant Parlia- 
ment of Bourdeaux had their fittings 
(where formerly was the paiace of the 
Dukes of Aquitaine, named Chateau de 
LOmbriere in old deeds) two hard ftones 
were difcovered, one three feet four inches, 
in height, by two feet three inches in 
breadth; and the other, half a foot lefs in 
every dimenfion. The worked fide of 
thefe ftones exhibits a plain furface, bor- 
dered with a moulding, and crowned with 
# fort of chapiter, which terminates in an 
acute angle ; the bottom forms a kind of 
pedettal, produced by leveral flat and fa. 
‘lant mouldings. 
On one ef thefe ftones there is an in- 
fcription thus exprefled :—~ 
DEDICAV + 
*¢ To the manes of Valerius Felix, Cj- 
tizen of Aquitania, who died at the age 
of 40 years. 
** Vidtorina, his {fpoufe, has confecrated 
this monument, on its proceeding from 
the hands of the workman.” 
The form of the other ftone only differs 
Montruiy Mac. No, 98. : 
from this by acrefcent in relievo, fculp. 
tured in the upper part, and by the 
triangular points which feparate the 
words of the infcription in the place of 
the lines croffed. This infcription is 
thus conceived :—~ 
Digi’ M 
Be Pel y. M. 
WM ATS WL. C8 Te OV ied 
N, AME yy CaN VAL Quy. 
Dy iE, Bon ek NaN ig idan 
Be Lacs fy) SEN hee Miss eet tad A 
SW) dBi eee Cab Any) Dy Bary 
«¢ To the manes and to the memory of 
Valeria ViGtorina, female Citizen of Aqui- 
tania, who died atthe age of 60 years. 
‘* Her fon hasconfecrated this monument 
on its proceeding from the inftruments of 
the workman.”’ j 
 Thefe two inferiptions, yet in good pre-~ 
fervation, are engraved in beautiful Roman 
uncial letters, 20 lines in height. They 
announce a double monument, of conjugal 
tendernefs and of filial piety, appertain- 
ing to one and the fame family. The 
moft remarkable indication they contain 
is, the title of Citizen of Aquitania (Civis 
Aquitanus) given to Valerius Felix, and to 
Valeria Victorina, his fpoufe, who are 
not, in other refpects, detignated by any 
other qualification. We only know ope 
infcription of Gruter, wherein this title 
is given in a manner fo little eguivocal. 
As we judge of the age of monuments, 
by the ftyle of the infeription, and by the 
form in which it is written; we are in~ 
clined to think that. thefe latter have been 
raifed in honour of perfons of a Roman 
origin, but naturalized in Aquitania, 
about the time of the Antonines, The 
proof of this appears from the names of 
Valerius and of Vigtorina, which are 
not the ancient Gallic and which, 
being accompanied with the title or Ci- 
tizen of Aquitania, denote that thofe to 
whom it was given, had the right of ci- 
tizenfhip in that Roman province, which 
had obtained, it feems, from the Empe- 
rors the privilege of being governed by 
thei own laws; for Strabo, Piiny, and 
Aurelius Victor; inform us, that Aqui- 
tania was autonomous, that is to fay, felfs 
governed, or governed by its own laws. 
‘The manner in which the words of thefe 
two inicriptions are feparated, otherwife 
than by round points, the orthography of 
the word conjux, of the former one, and 
the connected letters 1] which terminate 
it; all this announces the lapidary tiyle of 
the fecond century. 
Laflly, 
