Northumberland Yesterday and To-dayTerry, Jean F. (Jean Finlay)
History
Northumberland Yesterday and To-day
Terry, Jean F. (Jean Finlay)
Northumberland (England) -- Guidebooks; Northumberland (England) -- History
Of carven figures there are several besides the standard bearer
already mentioned. The best is a figure of Cybele, with elaborate
draperies, but unfortunately headless; another, of Victory, holds a
palm branch in the left hand, but the right arm is missing. A
soldier is shown with spear, shield, and ornate head-piece; and a
representation of a river-god, the genius of the Tyne, is worthy of
notice. He is a bearded figure, after the style of the figures of
Nilus, or the representations in old prints of Father Thames. From
Procolitia comes an altar to the goddess Coventina, a name not met
with elsewhere, the presiding genius of the well in that station.
She is shown reclining on a water-lily leaf, holding in one hand a
water-plant, and in the other a goblet from which a stream of water
runs. An elaborate carving of three water nymphs, most probably
meant to be in attendance on the goddess, is one of the few pieces
of sculpture that are not greatly mutilated.
Centurial stones are numerous, having been put up at all parts of
the Wall to record the building of such and such parts by various
centurions and their companies. The mark >, which Dr. Hodgkin
supposes to be a representation of the vine rod, a centurion’s
symbol of authority, and the sign C or Q, are used to signify a
century. Thus a stone inscribed Q VAL. MAXI. states that the
century of Valerius Maximus built that part of the Wall. Two or
three small altars are inscribed DIBVS VETERIBVS—“To the Old Gods”;
and Mars Thingsus is well represented.
A very important relic of Roman times found at Cilurnum was a
bronze tablet of citizenship, giving this coveted privilege to a
number of soldiers who had served in twenty-five campaigns and
received honourable discharge. There have been only three specimens
of this diploma found in Britain, and all are preserved in the
British Museum. There are many memorial tablets erected by wives to
their husbands, and husbands to their wives, which leads to much
speculation as to how these ladies, high-born Roman, native Briton,
or freed-woman, liked their sojourn in a small garrison town on the
breezy heights of a Northumbrian moorland. Those ladies who dwelt
at Cilurnum, however, had not so much cause to complain, for such
natural advantages as were to be had were certainly theirs, in that
sheltered spot. The scenery round about Cilurnum is quiet, peaceful
and pastoral, altogether different from the wild beauty of Cuddy’s
Crag, Limestone Corner, or Whinshields.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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