Lucius Duccius Rufinus
Tombstone of Lucius Duccius Rufinus]
DiedEboracum
AllegianceRoman Empire
RankSignifer
UnitLegio IX Hispana

Lucius Duccius Rufinus was a standard-bearer of Legio IX Hispana.

Discovery

Rufinus is known only from his carved limestone tombstone, which was discovered in 1688 at Holy Trinity Church, Micklegate, in York.[1][2][3] The circumstances of its discovery are first described by Ralph Thoresby in a letter to the Royal Society in 1706:[4] "This monument was found in Trinity-yard in Mickelgate at York, and was happily, rescued by my Honoured Friend, Dr Bryan Fairfax, from the brutish workmen who had broke it in the middle, and were going to make use of it... but by the Gentleman's direction it was placed upright with the inscription outwards".[5]

By 1732 the tombstone had been moved to Ribston Hall near Wetherby where it was in a garden owned by Sir Henry Goodwick.[4] It was donated to the Yorkshire Museum in 1847 by Mr Joseph Dent, then owner of Ribston Hall.[6]

Description

It is believed to date from between AD 71 and around AD 125.[1][2][7]

The monument is 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 m) high by 2 feet 2 inches (0.66 m) wide, with a gabled top which is marked with an encircled cross. It depicts a male figure standing and facing forwards. The figure is depicted in military undress uniform holding a vexillum in one hand and a box of writing tablets in the other.[1][2]

Inscription

The inscription, carved in six lines, reads:

L(VCIVS) DVCCIVS; L(VCI FILIVS) VOLT(INA) TRIBV) RVFI; NVS (DOMO) VIEN(NA); SIGNIF(IER) LEG(IONIS) VIIII: AN(NORVM) XXIIX: H(IC) S(ITVS) E(ST) Lucius Duccius Rufinus, son of Lucius, of the Voltinian tribe, from Vienne, a standard-bearer of the Ninth Legion, 28 years old. He is laid here.[1][2][8]

Interpretation

The monument has been described as "of exceptional interest", particularly for its treatment of the objects that indicate Duccius Rufinus's office.[9] The inscription identifies a great deal about Rufinus' life.[10] He was from modern-day France, is named using the tria nomina of Roman citizens, and is shown with the tools of his position.[10] He holds a vexillum in one hand a box in the other. The box may refer to the role of the standard-bearer as a record-keeper and the person responsible in a centuria for the 'burial fund'. In this case the fund may have paid for his memorial.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Collection Item: Tombstone of Lucius Duccius Rufinus", York Museums Trust (retrieved 17 February 2021)
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Roman York: Inscription, Sculptures and Architectural Fragments", in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 1, Eburacum, Roman York, pp. 111–135 (Her Majesty's Stationery Office; 1962)
  3. ↑ Patrick Ottaway (2004). Roman York. Tempus/The History Press. ISBN 978-07524-29168.
  4. 1 2 Adam Parker (2015). Rufinus: Standard-bearer of the 9th legion. ISBN 9-781517-444488.
  5. ↑ Ralph Thoresby (1706). "A Letter from Mr Ralph Thoresby FRS to Dr. Hans Sloane R. S. Secr. concerning Some Roman Inscriptions Found At York, Proving that the Ninth Legion Some Time Resided There". Philosophical Transactions. 25: 2194–2196.
  6. ↑ Charles Wellbeloved (1881). Handbook to the Grounds and Antiquities of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. J. Sampson. pp. 44–45.
  7. ↑ R. P. Wright (1962). "Roman Britain in 1961: I. Sites Explored: II. Inscriptions". The Journal of Roman Studies. 52: 191. doi:10.2307/297888. JSTOR 297888. S2CID 250345796.
  8. ↑ "RIB 673. Funerary inscription for Lucius Duccius Rufinus". Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  9. ↑ John E. Price (1889). "Roman remains no. 6: Yorkshire", Archaeological Review 2:: 341 JSTOR 44243809
  10. 1 2 3 Adam Parker (2019). The Archaeology of Roman York. Amberley. pp. 25–27.


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