Bu Njem Inscriptions

The following inscriptions were found in Bu Njem. They are known to scholars as AE 1988, 1102; CIL 8, 10992; AE 1979, 645. The many erasures betray the damnationes memoriae of Geta (211), Alexander Severus (222-235), and his mother Julia Mamaea, and the disgrace of the Third legion Augusta, which was disbanded in 238.

Inscription from the Ammon temple (AE 1988, 1102)

VEXILLATIO LEGionis III AVGvstae Piae Vindicis Severianae QVAE AT CASTRA GHOLaia AEDIFICanda VENIT MVCIANO ET FABIANO COnSvlibvs VIIII KALenda FEBRvarias ET REVERSA EST ANTONINO II ET GETA CAESare AVGGvstis COnSvlibvs VII KALendas IANvarias

A vexillatio of the Third Severan Legion Augusta, the Faithful Avenger, which came to build the fortress at Gholaia on 24 January when Mucianus and Fabianus were consuls, returned on 26 December when Caracalla (for the second time) and Geta caesar, our emperors, were consuls.

Dedication to SeptimiusSeverus and sons (CIL 8.10992)

IMPeratori CAESari Lvcio SEPTIMIO SEVERO PIO PERTINACI AVGvsto TRibvnicia Potestate VIIII IMPeratori COnSvli II Patri Patriae ET IMPeratori CAESari Marco AVRELIO ANTONINO AVGvsto TRibvnicia Potestate IIII ET Lvcio SEPTIMIO GETAE CAESari AVGvsto Qvinto ANICIO FAVSTO LEGato AVGGvstorvm COnSvlari LEGionis III AVGvstae Piae Vindicis

To the emperor Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus, in the ninth year of his tribunicial powers, imperator, twice consul, father of the fatherland, and to imperator caesar Caracalla, augustus, in the fourth year of his tribunicial powers and to caesar Lucius Septimius Geta augustus, [was this dedicated] by Quintus Anicius Faustus, commander with consular rank on behalf of our emperors of the Third Severan Legion Augusta, the Faithful Avenger.

Dedication to Canapphar (AE 1979, 645)

DEO MARTI CANAPPHARI AVGvsto PRO SALVTE ET INCOLVMITATE DOMINI Nostri IMPeratoris CAESaris DIVI SEPTIMI SEVERI NEPOTIS DIVI MAGNI ANTONINI FILII Marci AVRELI SEVERI ALEXANDRI IN- VICTI PII FELICIS AVGvsti PONTIFICIS MAXIMI TRIBvniciae POTESTATIS IIII COnSvlis Patris Patriae ET IVLIAE MAMAEAE AVGvstae MATRIS AVGvsti Nostri ET CASTRORVM TOTIVSQVE DOMVS DIVINAE PER VEXILLATIO- NEM LEGionis III AVGvstae Piae Vindicis SEVERIANAE CVRANTE Tito FLAVIO APRONIO centvrione LEGionis EIVSDEM PRAEPOSITOVEXILLATIONIS

To the august god Mars Canapphar, for the health and salvation of our lord the emperor caesar, grandson of the deified Septimius Severus, son of the great Antoninus (=Caracalla), Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander, the un- conquerable, pious, happy, augustus, pontifex maximus, in the fourth year of his tribunicial powers, consul, father of the fatherland, and Juliae Mamaea Augusta, mother of the our emperor, all castles and the sacred dynasty, by a vexillatio of the Third Severan Legion Augusta, the Faithful Avenger, led by the Titus Flavius Apronius, centurion in the same legion, commander of the vexillatio.