Tombstone of Anicius Ingenuus

Found near Housesteads Roman fort in the early 19th century and recorded as being at Stagshaw Close House in 1813. It was presented to the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1822.

The tombstone is complete although, sadly, is in two pieces with scars from a clumsy early attempt at conservation using iron and lead clamps. The inscription is in a plain frame and reads:

"To the spirits of the departed (and) to Anicius Ingenuus, medicus ordinarius. He lived twenty five years".

Above the inscription there is a relief of a hare, facing left, and crouching on a plinth under an arched wreath with a central flower. Each of the upper corners is filled with a roundel or rosette.

The name 'Ingenuus' means freeborn and Gilson (1978) has suggested that Anicius Ingenuus was the freeborn son of a Greek freedman although he also suggests that, as the hare was a symbol of Spain, the deceased could have been descended from a Spanish family.

The hare is an unusual motif on a Romano-British tombstone but does appear on a tombstone from St.Peter-im-Holz in southern Austria, which coincidentally records the death of another man called Ingenuus - Ingenuus Optatus. The hare might also have some symbolic reference to the afterlife or a personal association with the family of Anicius Ingenuus - as far as is known, the hare had no special significance for the Roman medical profession.

There has been considerable discussion about the status of the medicus ordinarius in the Roman army. The term has been found in legionary inscriptions as well as in association with auxiliary units. The post-holders always appear to have been Roman citizens and their ages range from 25 (Anicius Ingenuus is thus the youngest recorded) to 85 - Caius Papirius Aelianus who died in Lambaesis in Algeria (CIL 18314). This information suggests that the term did not indicate attachment to a particular sort of unit, nor a particular social status, nor a stage in training. It is usually agreed, following Davies's conclusions, that a medicus ordinarius was a qualified doctor with the rank of centurion, although with purely medical responsibilities. Despite his youth, Anicius Ingenus would have been fully trained although it is unknown whether he was trained by apprenticeship before joining the army or was trained by the army.

The hospital at Housesteads, where Anicus Ingenuus served, was excavated by Dorothy Charlesworth in 1969-73 and its wards, operating theatre, courtyard and lavatory suite are still visible today. The fort of Housesteads is an English Heritage guardianship site.

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