LXXIII
MILIA PASSVVMmiles
LXXX
CASTELLAmilecastles
XVI
CASTRAforts
DCCCLXXV
AB VRBE CONDITAyear of the City (AD 122)
CASTRA
omnia castra ValliThe forts
Every fort of the Wall, in Roman dress — from Segedunum to Maia.
DI QVOS COLIMVS
arae, vota, di castrorumThe gods we keep
Mithras in his cave, Coventina of the spring, the old soldier's god.
EPISTVLAE
verba in ligno, viva adhucLetters home
A birthday invitation, beer for the lads, news from far away.
MORTVI
quos procul a domo meminimusThose we remember
Regina and her Palmyrene husband; the dead, far from home.
MENSA
panis, cervesa, garum, olivaeThe table
Bread and pork, garum and beer, olives from the warm sea.
DIES MILITIS
a prima luce ad vigilias noctisA soldier's day
Drill, fatigues, the marching load, and the pay that never lasts.
FERIAE
dies sacri et festi anniThe festivals
Saturnalia, the New Year vows, the turning of the year — and the army's Feriale.
SACRAMENTVM
ius iurandum et tesseraThe oath & the watchword
The soldier's oath, the sacred standards, the sunset password and the night watch.
DEFIXIONES
preces ad deos pro iustitiaCurses for justice
Lead tablets to the gods — return what was stolen, and punish the thief.
OMINA
signa et potestates invisaeOmens & the unseen
The lucky phallus against the evil eye, auspices, dreams, and the restless dead.