Graham, Alexander: Roman Africa: an outline of the history of the Roman occupation of North Africa ; based chiefly upon inscriptions and monumental remains in that country (London [u.a.], 1902)

164 Roman Africa

drought. It was represented to the Emperor that one of the
legions had been formed at Maltha, where the population was
mostly Christian, and that, such was the power of the gods they
served, they could obtain by prayer and invocation anything
they required from heaven. By imperial command prayers
were offered by this legion on behalf of the distressed army,
and immediately the clouds gathered, the thunder pealed forth,
the lightning flashed, and the welcome rain not only gave life
and strength to the parched troops, but contributed largely to
subsequent victory and the successful termination of an anxious
campaign. This view of the story is supported by Xiphilin the.
monk, but Dion Cassius has placed on record that the appeal
was made, by order of the Emperor, to an Egyptian magician
named Arnuphius, who was serving in the Roman army.
1 Mercury and other demons that preside in the air' were invoked,
and the desired rain fell. The former version is probably the
true one, as well as a further statement by Capitolinus that the
Emperor, in gratitude for such remarkable services, issued an
edict in favour of the Christians, and bestowed on their religion
the title of Fuhninans. After the time of Caracalla legions
usually took their distinguishing names from that of the reign-
ing Emperor, thus making it easy to fix the date of their forma-
tion. Augustus was the first Emperor to raise standing armies
in Italy as well as in some of the provinces. Before his time
bodies of troops were raised for each expedition, and were
disbanded at the close of the campaign. This action by Augus-
tus gave rise to an increased taxation, which pressed heavily on
the people in the earlier days of the Empire, but the Emperor
met the annual charge by an imposition of one-twentieth on all
legacies and inheritances. This continued till the time of Trajan,
who lightened the burden and paved the way for its entire
removal in the reign of Antonine. The legion allotted for the
defence of Numidia received the title of the third Augusta, and,
after its permanent settlement at Lambaesis in the time of
Hadrian, does not appear to have quitted Africa. It became
the representative legion of the African army. As late as the
accession of Diocletian, A.D. 283, when an entirely new system
of military organisation was introduced and many of the old
legions of the Empire ceased to exist, this time-honoured body
continued undisturbed in its old headquarters. Its services