This tombstone is a remarkable piece of history, shedding light on life in Britain shortly after the Roman invasion of AD 43. As a centurion of the Twentieth Legion, Facilis was stationed in Colchester (Camulodunum), which was the first Roman capital in Britain. - ThreadSky

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colmuseums.bsky.social • 7 hours ago

This tombstone is a remarkable piece of history, shedding light on life in Britain shortly after the Roman invasion of AD 43. As a centurion of the Twentieth Legion, Facilis was stationed in Colchester (Camulodunum), which was the first Roman capital in Britain.

Reposted from Duncan Mackay

The many faces of centurion Marcus Favonius Facilis.
Tombstone and copies, Colchester. @colmuseums.bsky.social
#FindsFriday #Echolands

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colmuseums.bsky.social•7 hours ago

He was commemorated by his freedmen, Verecundus and Novicus, highlighting the strong social bonds between masters and freed slaves in Roman society. Freedmen often showed their loyalty and gratitude by honoring their former masters, which also reflected their own status and success.

colmuseums.bsky.social•7 hours ago

Facilis is depicted with his left hand resting on his sword's pommel while his right holds the "vitis" or centurion's staff. The Twentieth Legion, known later as "Valeria Victrix" for its bravery during the Boudican revolt, was a crucial force in consolidating Roman power in Britain.

colmuseums.bsky.social•7 hours ago

The tombstone was carved from Lothringer Freestone, sourced from eastern France, a material commonly used in military tombstones along the Rhineland frontier. This suggests that the stone was either imported or partially crafted on the continent by a stonemason before being completed locally.

colmuseums.bsky.social•7 hours ago

The artistic style reflects influences from the Rhineland, where the Twentieth Legion was previously based, bridging continental and provincial Roman cultures. Its good preservation is partly due to damage it suffered, likely during the Boudican revolt of AD 60/61, when it was toppled and buried.

colmuseums.bsky.social•7 hours ago

This protected the relief from weathering, allowing modern viewers to appreciate the fine details. Facilis’s cremated remains were found in a lead urn alongside grave goods, giving us rare insight into Roman funerary practices in Britain.

Learn more: https://cim-web.adlibhosting.com/ais6/Details/collect/169897

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