JULIA, the second wife of Severus, and the mother of Caracalla and Geta. Severus, who was a believer in astrology, on the death of his first wife, looked out for another whose nativity was favourable to the ambitious views which he at that time entertained. He heard of a woman in Syria whose destiny it was to marry a king, and accordingly solicited and obtained in marriage Julia Domna.
BASSIANUS, commonly called Caracalla. He was created Cæsar by his father, A.D. 196, when he took the names of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. In A.D. 198, he was invested with the dignity of Augustus. Amongst his other titles, he bore the name of Britannicus, as is shewn on the coin. The engraver of the die from which this coin was struck, has probably given a correct likeness of his subject; at least, he has represented an individual who appears capable of attempting an aged father’s life, and of imbruing his hands in the blood of a brother. Vengeance at length overtook him.
GETA, who, together with his brother Caracalla, accompanied his father to Britain. He was murdered by Caracalla A.D. 212.
The finest of the altars, standing in the garden of Walton-house, is here engraved. The thunderbolt of Jupiter adorns one side of it, the wheel of Nemesis the other. The inscription has been read by Mr. Thomas Hodgson, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the following way, after a careful and learned examination of it, and kindred inscriptions.
[Illustration: Altar to Jupiter, Coh. II. Tungr.]
I[OVI] O[PTIMO] M[AXIMO] COH[ORS] SECVNDA TVNGR[ORVM] M[ILLIARIA] EQ[ITATA] C[IVIVM] L[ATINORVM] CVI PRAEEST ALB[VS] SEVERVS PR- AEF[ECTVS] TVNG[RORVM] IN- STA[NTE] VIC[TORE] SEVRO PRINCIPI
To Jupiter, the best and greatest, The second cohort of the Tungrians, A milliary _regiment_, having a proportionate supply of horse, _and consisting of_ citizens of Latium, Commanded by Albus Severus, pre- fect of the Tungrians, _erects this_; The work being superintended by Victor Sevrus (or Severus), the princeps.[127]
The Notitia places the ‘Ala Petriana,’ under a prefect, at PETRIANA. Although two inscriptions belonging to this place mention the second cohort of the Tungri, none have been found here which name the Ala Petriana. It is possible that this cohort may have been a part of the Ala Petriana, but until this point be settled, or some further light thrown upon the subject, the occurrence of Cambeck-fort[Sidenote: CAMBECK-FORT.] next in order to AMBOGLANNA, must be regarded as the best evidence of its being the PETRIANA of the Notitia.