Cohors I Syrorum

The Cohors I Syrorum [sagittariorum or sagittaria] ( German 1st cohort of the Syrians [the archers] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is documented by inscriptions.

Name components

Syrorum : the Syrian. The soldiers of the cohort were recruited on the territory of the Roman province of Syria when the unit was established .

sagittariorum or sagittaria : the archer. The addition appears in some inscriptions.

Gordiana : the Gordian. A title of honor that refers to Gordian III. (238-244) refers. The addition appears in an inscription.

Since there are no references to the additions to the name milliaria (1000 men) and equitata (partially mounted), it can be assumed that it is a Cohors quingenaria peditata , a pure infantry cohort. The nominal strength of the unit was 480 men, consisting of 6 Centuries with 80 men each.

history

The cohort was probably stationed in the province of Mauretania Caesariensis in the 1st century AD . In the 3rd century it was stationed in the province of Numidia , where it is documented by inscriptions. The last evidence of unity is based on an inscription dated 244/246.

Locations

Cohort locations in Numidia Province may have been:

Auru ( Ain el-Auenia ): an inscription was found here.
Gasr Duib : an inscription was found here.

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known.

Commanders

L (ucius) Marci [us] Avit [us], a prefect ( AE 1967, 145 )
Numisius Maximus, a tribune ( AE 1950, 128 )

[Q (uintus) Bu] llatius Sabinus, a tribune ( AE 1892, 13 )

Others

C (aius) Iulius Dapnus ( CIL 8, 21038 )

Ti (berius) Iulius Selvanus ( AE 1938, 120 )

literature

John Spaul : Cohors² The evidence for and a short history of the auxiliary infantry units of the Imperial Roman Army , British Archaeological Reports 2000, BAR International Series (Book 841), ISBN 978-1-84171-046-4

Remarks

↑ ^a ^b In the inscription ( AE 1950, 128 ) the unit commanded by the Tribune Numisius Maximus is not given. David J. Mattingly suggested adding the Cohors I Syrorum sagittariorum to the inscription . He assumes that the unit was a Cohors milliaria , since Numisius Maximus had the rank of tribune and also considers it possible that it was a Cohors milliaria equitata .

Individual evidence

↑ Inscriptions with sagittariorum AE 1962, 304 , AE 1967, 145 , AE 1973, 573
^ Inscription with Gordiana AE 1973, 573
^ ^A ^b ^c John Spaul , Cohors², pp. 401-402, 416, 418
^ ^A ^b David J. Mattingly : The constructor of Gasr Duib, Numisius Maximus, Trib. (Unus cohortis I Syrorum sagittariorum) In: Antiquités africaines. 27 (1991), pp. 75-82, here pp. 80-81 ( online ).
^ Inscription AE 1950, 128
^ Inscription from Auru AE 1962, 304
↑ Inscription from Gasr Duib AE 1950, 128

[NA-3] In the inscription ( AE 1950, 128 ) the unit commanded by the Tribune Numisius Maximus is not given. David J. Mattingly suggested adding the Cohors I Syrorum sagittariorum to the inscription . He assumes that the unit was a Cohors milliaria , since Numisius Maximus had the rank of tribune and also considers it possible that it was a Cohors milliaria equitata .

[IN1-1] Inscriptions with sagittariorum AE 1962, 304 , AE 1967, 145 , AE 1973, 573

[IN2-2] Inscription with Gordiana AE 1973, 573

[jsp-4] A ^b ^c John Spaul , Cohors², pp. 401-402, 416, 418

[dm-5] A ^b David J. Mattingly : The constructor of Gasr Duib, Numisius Maximus, Trib. (Unus cohortis I Syrorum sagittariorum) In: Antiquités africaines. 27 (1991), pp. 75-82, here pp. 80-81 ( online ).

[IN3-6] Inscription AE 1950, 128

[IN4-7] Inscription from Auru AE 1962, 304

[IN5-8] Inscription from Gasr Duib AE 1950, 128