Auxilia Cohorts and the Claudian Invasion of Britain

[D B Campbell]

The inscription from Ephesus commemorates Tiberius Claudius Tib.f. Balbillus, military tribune of leg. XX who was decorated by Claudius (d.d.in triumpho a divo Claudio [corona --- et hasta] pura et vexillo - AE.1924.78)

perhaps you could explain how you get " d(onis) d(onato) in triumpho a divo Claudio " out of "XX et prae[-] ..?

Your inscription has been causing consternation for at least one RAT member, Oleg!

Perhaps we should explain that the original publication suggested the expansion: [d.d. in triu]M[pho a divo] CLAVDIO [corona murali et vexillo et hasta] PVRA.

No other equestrian of the Julio-Claudian period received this combination of decorations, which seems slightly suspicious. In fact, Valerie Maxfield (who knows a thing or two about military decorations) suggested a different expansion: [donato ab i]M[p. divo] CLAVDIO [ob bellum Britannicum hasta] PVRA [corona aurea? ...]

Ah, the games that epigraphers play! wink: )