03-10-2019, 08:38 PM
(03-10-2019, 04:45 PM)Robert Vermaat Wrote: 'Barcarii Tigrenses' (bargemen of the Tigris), sounds either like a nickname or does indeed point to a unit that was transported from Iraq
As we know, there's one member of the forum who knows a lot about this unit, so hopefully he'll have something to add!
In the meantime - yes, the late Roman Notitia Dignitatum lists the Praefectus Numeri Barcariorum Tigrisiensium at Arbeia (presumably South Shields) - and there's a good page about the unit and some ideas about the name if you follow that link.
It seem very odd, though, now I come to think about it, that they should be named after the Tigris - only the upper reaches of the river were in Roman territory, and the lower and more navigable section only fell to the Romans a few times. Why would a military unit take its name from there? If was only a nickname, how could it have got all the way to Britain? Some connection with Julian's Persian war, maybe?
I was wondering a while ago about the names for late 'naval' units, and why several of them seem to refer to such small vessels - a barca is a boat or barge. There's also the Milites Muscularii at Marseilles, who seem to be named after a sort of rowing boat (musculus)... altogether not very effective as military vessels, one would think... Or might they have been doing something else?
Nathan Ross