TheVerulamium Forum Inscription (tentatively dated to AD 79, during the reign of the emperorTitus) is one of the many Romaninscriptions in Britain. It is also known as the "Basilica inscription", as it is believed to have been attached to thebasilica ofVerulamium (on the edge of modernSt Albans).[1] The surviving fragments have been reconstructed as a large dedication slab (approx. 4.3m x 1.0m) on display atVerulamium 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 theforum and basilica of Verulamium.The inscription is notable because it mentionsGnaeus Julius Agricola, theRomangovernor ofBritain from AD 77–84, who is otherwise known from abiography written by his son-in-lawTacitus.
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The inscription was reconstructed by ProfessorSheppard Frere to read as follows:
[IMP TITO CAESARI DIVI] VESPA[SIANI] F VES[PASIANO AUG]
[P M TR P VIIII IMP XV COS VII] DESI[G VIII CENSORI PATRI PATRIAE]
[ [ ET CAESARI DIVI VESPASIANI F DOMITIANO COS VI DESIG VII PRINCIPI ] ]
[ [ IVVENTVTIS ET OMNIVM COLLEGIORVM SACERDOTI ] ]
[CN IVLIO A]GRIC[OLA LEGATO AUG PRO] PR
[MVNICIPIVM] VE[RVLAMIVM BASILICA OR]NATA[2]
This version would be expanded to read:
IMP(eratori) TITO CAESARI DIVI VESPASIANI F(ilio) VESPASIANO AVG(usto)
P(ontifici) M(aximo) TR(ibuniciae) P(otestatis) VIIII IMP(eratori) XV CO(n)S(uli) VII DESIG(nato) VIII CENSORI PATRI PATRIAE
ET CAESARI DIVI VESPASIANI F(ilio) DOMITIANO CO(n)S(uli) VI DESIG(nato) VII PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS ET OMNIVM COLLEGIORVM SACERDOTI
GN(aeo) IVLIO AGRICOLA LEGATO AVG(usti) PRO PR(aetore)
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 oftribunician power, acclaimedImperator fifteen times, having beenconsul 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 waslegate 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 ("the forum of the Catuvellaunian tribal council was embellished") has been considered, along with the less likely RESPVBLICA VERVLAMIVM LATIO DONA ("... donated the funds to widen the Verulamium public-works").[3]
The inscription can be dated either to AD 79, the yearVespasian died (he would not have been referred to asdivus until after his death) and Titus had his seventh consulship, or to AD 81 (by altering the various numerals).[4] The reference to his brotherDomitian was defaced, as were most inscriptions referring to him, afterdamnatio memoriae was pronounced on him in 96.[citation needed]
The inscription has been published as: