RIB 3121. Tombstone for Lucius Valerius Geminus


Type of object
Oolitic limestone
0.645 × 1.360 × 0.17 m
Decoration and iconography
This gabled tombstone is a series of panels defined by simple mouldings, which contain decorative figures formed by curving strokes. In the gable is a ‘star’ within a crescent, bounded by a ‘wheel’ and two lobate figures (perhaps ‘leaves’), the latter being repeated in the bottom corners of the inscribed panel below. Below this are three smaller panels side by side.
Find context
Found in excavation as twenty conjoining fragments re-used in the foundations of the wall of the Roman town (SP 570 203), just north of the west gate.
Find date
Modern location
Intended for the Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock, but now (2007) stored by Oxfordshire Museums Service at Standlake until it can be conserved.
Institution/acc. #
Oxfordshire Museum: OXCMS: 1999.101

Text field

Placement of text
The text is inscribed in the main panel.
Style of lettering
(not specified)
Letter heights
(not specified)


Origin of text
Document type
a.d. 60-80
Dating criteria
context, formula


Diṣ Manibus
L(ucius) Val(erius) L(uci) (filius) Pol(lia) (tribu) Gemi-
nus For(o) Germ(anorum)
vet(eranus) leg(ionis) [I]Ị Aug(ustae)
an(norum) Ḷ h(ic) s(itus) e(st)
he(res) c(uravit)
e(x) t(estamento)


To the shades of the dead. Lucius Valerius Geminus, son of Lucius, of the Pollian voting-tribe, from Forum Germanorum, veteran of the Second Legion Augusta, aged 50, lies buried here. His heir saw to this in accordance with his will.

Commentary and notes

The text and its historical setting are fully discussed by Sauer.

1.  Dis Manibus. The formula reached Britain by the early 60s, since it was used in the epitaph of Classicianus (RIB 12); but it was novel, to judge by its emphasis in this very sophisticated text. It is notably absent from the early [Claudio-Neronian] military epitaphs at Colchester, Lincoln, Gloucester and Wroxeter, from all the [early-Flavian] epitaphs of Legion II Adiutrix at Chester and even four epitaphs of the succeeding Legion XX Valeria Victrix, and from the two [Flavian] epitaphs of Legion VIIII Hispana at York. So its use at Alchester, despite Sauer (2005a, 110), is unlikely to be pre-Flavian.

2.  F for f(ili) is omitted after the father’s praenomen, which is very unusual, but see RIB 3073 for another instance.

3.  For(o) Germ(anorum). The other three examples of this place-name are likewise abbreviated, and its expansion thus not entirely certain, but probably ‘San Lorenzo di Caraglio in the foothills of the Alps in the north-west of Italy’ (Sauer 2005b).

4.  vet(eranus) leg(ionis) [I]I Aug(ustae). Sauer (2005a) notes that in Britain legionary veterans are buried where their legions are known to have served, so that it is likely that the Alchester fortress (probably founded in 43) was occupied by Legion II Augusta. This legion has been hitherto located further to the south-west, and the historical implications and problems are discussed by him.