Bridgeness Slab
| The Bridgeness Slab (Replica) | |
|---|---|
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Bo'ness |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
The Bridgeness Slab was found in Bo'ness, Scotland in 1869 on a promontory close to Harbour Road. The slab is a Roman Distance slab, marking a portion of the Antonine Wall built by the Second Legion, (Legio II Augusta) and was created around 142 CE.[1] It was uncovered during excavations in 1869 on land owned by Henry Mowbray Cadell. Cadell offered it[citation needed] to The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland for display in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh if they would provide a copy for display locally. In addition to the Latin inscription the original has sculpted panels. On the left is a victorious Roman cavalryman with four naked Britons, one being trampled, one running with a spear in his back, one sitting in apparent despair and one of whom is bound and beheaded. It has been suggested that the last act was a show of contempt for Gallo-Briton head veneration.[2] On the right panel is a depiction of the ritual cleansing of the legion, with a soldier at the rear carrying the vexillium, or cavalry flag, of Legio II Augusta. The inscription records the building of 4,655 paces of the Antonine Wall.[3]
The inscription in the centre panel reads "Imp CaesTito Aelio Hadriano Antonino Aug Pio p p legII Aug per m p III DCLXVI s", which when expanded reads as "Imp(eratori) Caes(ari) Tito Aelio/ Hadriano Antonino/ Aug(usto) Pio p(atri) p(atriae) leg(io) II Aug(usta)/ per m(ilia) p(assuum) III(milia)DCLXVI s(emis)". In English this translates as "For the Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, Father of his Country, the Second Augustan Legion completed [the Wall] over a distance of 4655 paces".[4]
A replica was unveiled by Bo'ness Community Council and Falkirk Council on 7 September 2012 at 56°0′58.45″N, 3°35′1.31″W in Kinningars Park, Bridgeness, Bo'ness. The original is kept at the National Museum of Scotland.
References
- ^ http://www.bridgemanart.com/asset/3893/Roman-2nd-century-AD/The-Bridgeness-Slab-detail-from-a-sandstone-dista?search_context=%7B%22url%22%3A%22%5C%2Fsearch%5C%2Fcategory%5C%2FGreek-Roman-and-Etruscan%5C%2F1303%22%2C%22num_results%22%3A%226035%22%2C%22search_type%22%3A%22category_assets%22%2C%22category_id%22%3A%221303%22%2C%22item_index%22%3A2%7D
- ^ Aldhouse-Green, Miranda (2004). "CHAINING AND SHAMING: IMAGES OF DEFEAT, FROM LLYN CERRIG BACH TO SARMITZEGETUSA". Oxford Journal of Archaeology. 23 (3): 319–340.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Breeze, David J (1989). "The flag of legion II Augusta on the Bridgeness distance slab" (PDF). Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (119): 133–142.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ http://www.scran.ac.uk/packs/exhibitions/learning_materials/webs/56/Antonine.htm