Verulamium Forum inscription
The Verulamium Forum Inscription is one of the many Roman inscriptions in Britain. It is also known as the "Basilica inscription", as it is believed to have been attached to the basilica of Verulamium. The surviving fragments have been reconstructed as a large dedication slab on display at Verulamium Museum.
The fragments were found in 1955 during construction work in the yard of St Michael's Primary School, St Albans. The find-spot lay near the north-east entrance to the forum and basilica of Verulamium.
The inscription is notable because it mentions Gnaeus Julius Agricola, the Roman governor of Britain from AD 77–84, who is otherwise known from a biography written by his son-in-law Tacitus.
Text
The inscription was reconstructed by Professor Sheppard Frere to read as follows:
VESPA F VES
DESI
]
]
GRIC PR
VENATA
This version would be expanded to read:
IMP TITO CAESARI DIVI VESPASIANI F VESPASIANO AVG
P M TR P VIIII IMP XV COS VII DESIG VIII CENSORI PATRI PATRIAE
ET CAESARI DIVI VESPASIANI F DOMITIANO COS VI DESIG VII PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS ET OMNIVM COLLEGIORVM SACERDOTI
GN IVLIO AGRICOLA LEGATO AVG PRO PR
MVNICIPIVM VERVLAMIVM BASILICA ORNATA
This translates as:
For the Emperor Titus Caesar Vespasian Augustus, son of the deified Vespasian,
Pontifex Maximus, in the ninth year of tribunician power, acclaimed Imperator fifteen times, having been consul seven times, designated consul for an eighth time, censor, Father of the Fatherland,
and to Caesar Domitian, son of the deified Vespasian, having been consul six times, designated consul for a seventh term, Prince of Youth, and member of all the priestly brotherhoods,
when Gnaeus Julius Agricola was legate of the emperor with pro-praetorian power,
the Verulamium basilica was adorned.
The last line is particularly fragmentary, and the alternative reconstruction CIVITAS CATVVELLAVNORVM FORO EXORNATA has been considered, along with the less likely RESPVBLICA VERVLAMIVM LATIO DONA.
The inscription can be dated either to AD 79, the year Vespasian died and Titus had his seventh consulship, or to AD 81. The reference to his brother Domitian was defaced, as were most inscriptions referring to him, after damnatio memoriae was pronounced on him in 96.