DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0158
column is inscribed the Emperor's address to the legion,
covering no less than sixty-three lines. After reviewing the
troops he alludes in eulogistic terms to the excellence of their
manoeuvres and the handling of their weapons, and praises the
arrangements of the camp and the admirable construction of
the entrenchments. Among the works of utility associated
with his name, the maintenance and extension of the great
highways deserve record. Upon a milliary column found in the
neighbourhood of Carthage, we read that Hadrian ordered the
soldiers of the third legion to pave the military road between
Carthage and Theveste,1 and to construct a road from Rusicada
(Philippeville) to Cirta (Constantine).2
IMP CAESAR
DIVI NERVAE NEPOS
DIVI TRAIANA PARTHICI F
TRAIANVS HADRIANVS
AVG • PONT • MAX ■ TRIB
POT ■ VII COS • III
VIAM A CARTHAGINE
THEVESTEN STRAVIT
PER LEG • III • AVG
P METILIO SECVNDO
LEG • AVG • PR • PR
The latter inscription gives us to understand that the work
was paid for out of the imperial treasury.
The one monumental work with which the name of Hadrian
will be always associated is the great aqueduct which brought
the waters of Mount Zaghouan and Mount Djougar to the cities
of Carthage and Tunis.3 It is a question whether there is any
Roman structure now standing within the vast area of the Empire
which bears in so high a degree the impress of imperial will, or
attests so visibly the strength of Roman character, as this stately
line of piers and arches. ' The waters flow to Carthage/ says
1 Shaw's Travels in Barbarj, p. 573.
2 I.E.A. No. 2296, copied by Renier. Vide De la Mare, Explor. de PAlgerie.
Also Letronne, Journal des Savants (1847), p. 624.
3 According to Frontinus {de Aquced. Urb. Rom.), who was for some years curator
aquarum in the time of Vespasian, A. D. 74, the first aqueduct constructed by the
Romans in Italy was B.C. 231. The Aqua Trajana, which supplied the Janiculum
in the Transtiberine region, bears the dates A.D. no and 111 on coins of gold, silver,
and bronze.
The curator aquarum was an officer of great dignity and was appointed for life.
The first was Marcus Agrippa (Front. 98-99), who held the office till his death,
B.C. 12. (J. II. Middleton, Ancient Tome in 1SS5, p. 453.)
EX AVCTORITATE
IMP CAESARIS
TRAIANI HADRI
AN AVG PONTES
VIAE NOVAE RVSI
CADENSIS RP CIR
TENSIVM SVA PECV
NIA FECIT SEX IVLIO
MAIORE LEG AVG
LEG m AVG PR PR
covering no less than sixty-three lines. After reviewing the
troops he alludes in eulogistic terms to the excellence of their
manoeuvres and the handling of their weapons, and praises the
arrangements of the camp and the admirable construction of
the entrenchments. Among the works of utility associated
with his name, the maintenance and extension of the great
highways deserve record. Upon a milliary column found in the
neighbourhood of Carthage, we read that Hadrian ordered the
soldiers of the third legion to pave the military road between
Carthage and Theveste,1 and to construct a road from Rusicada
(Philippeville) to Cirta (Constantine).2
IMP CAESAR
DIVI NERVAE NEPOS
DIVI TRAIANA PARTHICI F
TRAIANVS HADRIANVS
AVG • PONT • MAX ■ TRIB
POT ■ VII COS • III
VIAM A CARTHAGINE
THEVESTEN STRAVIT
PER LEG • III • AVG
P METILIO SECVNDO
LEG • AVG • PR • PR
The latter inscription gives us to understand that the work
was paid for out of the imperial treasury.
The one monumental work with which the name of Hadrian
will be always associated is the great aqueduct which brought
the waters of Mount Zaghouan and Mount Djougar to the cities
of Carthage and Tunis.3 It is a question whether there is any
Roman structure now standing within the vast area of the Empire
which bears in so high a degree the impress of imperial will, or
attests so visibly the strength of Roman character, as this stately
line of piers and arches. ' The waters flow to Carthage/ says
1 Shaw's Travels in Barbarj, p. 573.
2 I.E.A. No. 2296, copied by Renier. Vide De la Mare, Explor. de PAlgerie.
Also Letronne, Journal des Savants (1847), p. 624.
3 According to Frontinus {de Aquced. Urb. Rom.), who was for some years curator
aquarum in the time of Vespasian, A. D. 74, the first aqueduct constructed by the
Romans in Italy was B.C. 231. The Aqua Trajana, which supplied the Janiculum
in the Transtiberine region, bears the dates A.D. no and 111 on coins of gold, silver,
and bronze.
The curator aquarum was an officer of great dignity and was appointed for life.
The first was Marcus Agrippa (Front. 98-99), who held the office till his death,
B.C. 12. (J. II. Middleton, Ancient Tome in 1SS5, p. 453.)
EX AVCTORITATE
IMP CAESARIS
TRAIANI HADRI
AN AVG PONTES
VIAE NOVAE RVSI
CADENSIS RP CIR
TENSIVM SVA PECV
NIA FECIT SEX IVLIO
MAIORE LEG AVG
LEG m AVG PR PR