DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0157
Africa under Hadrian
107
to throw off the Roman yoke. The Moor had not long to wait,
for Hadrian removed him from command in Syria and appointed
him governor of Mauritania. Here he instigated an uprising
of the Moors with partial success, and, subsequently being
accused of conspiring to assassinate the Emperor, was put to
death by order of the Senate. This Moorish insurrection was
of long duration, but was finally quelled by the military skill of
Marcius Turbo, combined with the enthusiasm aroused in the
Roman legions by the presence of the Emperor. This was
Hadrian's first appearance in Africa, and it was natural that
the Senate should attribute the suppression of the rebellion and
the success of Roman arms to the skill of their distinguished
ruler. Festivals were ordered, and coins were struck in his
honour as Restorer of Mauritania, and in gratitude for a revival
of security for the colonists of Roman Africa.
ADVENTVI ■ AVG • MAVRETANIAE • EXERCITVS • MAVRE-
TANICVS ■ RESTITVTORI • MAVRETANIAE1
There is no town of importance in Africa which is intimately
associated with Hadrian as its founder ; but the whole colony,
even in the present day, bears numerous traces of works of
utility and adornment carried out by his instructions for the
benefit of the provinces. An inscription informs us that
Hadrian visited the camp of the third Augustan legion, which
constituted the main body of the African army, and that he put
in order the military organisation of the country. The record
of this visit has been preserved on two pedestals discovered at
Lambessa many years ago. One inscription runs thus :2
IMP CAESA Imperatori Caesari,Traia?io Hadriano
P • CASSIO SECVNDO
LEG • AVG • PR • PR
VETERANI
LEG -M AVG
QVI MILITAR
COEPERVN
On the faces of another pedestal bearing a monumental
TRAIANO
HADRIANO AVG
FORTISSIMO
LIBERALISSIMOQ
DEDICANTE
A ugusto, fortissimo liberalissimoque
dedicajite Publio Cassio Secundo
legato Augustipro pratore Veterani
legionis tertics Augusta qui mili-
tare coeperunt.
1 Eckhel, vi. 198 ; an inscription on a coin. 2 I.R.A. No. 1 ; copied by Renier.
107
to throw off the Roman yoke. The Moor had not long to wait,
for Hadrian removed him from command in Syria and appointed
him governor of Mauritania. Here he instigated an uprising
of the Moors with partial success, and, subsequently being
accused of conspiring to assassinate the Emperor, was put to
death by order of the Senate. This Moorish insurrection was
of long duration, but was finally quelled by the military skill of
Marcius Turbo, combined with the enthusiasm aroused in the
Roman legions by the presence of the Emperor. This was
Hadrian's first appearance in Africa, and it was natural that
the Senate should attribute the suppression of the rebellion and
the success of Roman arms to the skill of their distinguished
ruler. Festivals were ordered, and coins were struck in his
honour as Restorer of Mauritania, and in gratitude for a revival
of security for the colonists of Roman Africa.
ADVENTVI ■ AVG • MAVRETANIAE • EXERCITVS • MAVRE-
TANICVS ■ RESTITVTORI • MAVRETANIAE1
There is no town of importance in Africa which is intimately
associated with Hadrian as its founder ; but the whole colony,
even in the present day, bears numerous traces of works of
utility and adornment carried out by his instructions for the
benefit of the provinces. An inscription informs us that
Hadrian visited the camp of the third Augustan legion, which
constituted the main body of the African army, and that he put
in order the military organisation of the country. The record
of this visit has been preserved on two pedestals discovered at
Lambessa many years ago. One inscription runs thus :2
IMP CAESA Imperatori Caesari,Traia?io Hadriano
P • CASSIO SECVNDO
LEG • AVG • PR • PR
VETERANI
LEG -M AVG
QVI MILITAR
COEPERVN
On the faces of another pedestal bearing a monumental
TRAIANO
HADRIANO AVG
FORTISSIMO
LIBERALISSIMOQ
DEDICANTE
A ugusto, fortissimo liberalissimoque
dedicajite Publio Cassio Secundo
legato Augustipro pratore Veterani
legionis tertics Augusta qui mili-
tare coeperunt.
1 Eckhel, vi. 198 ; an inscription on a coin. 2 I.R.A. No. 1 ; copied by Renier.