Longinus Sdapeze

This is the tombstone of a Thracian Auxiliary Cavalryman by the name of Longinus Sdapeze, dated around AD60 and perhaps thrown to the ground in disgust by Boudicea's forces during their rampages. There it lay for almost 2000 years, until its chance discovery in 1928 by local workmen.

This picture is of a copy of the stele, now held in the British Museum. It shows how the original item might once have looked. The inscription reads:

Longinus Sdapeze

Matygi duplicarius

ala prima T(h)racum pago

Sardi(ca!) anno(rum) XL aeror(um) XV

heredes exs(!) testam(ento) [f(aciendum)] c(uraverunt)

h(ic) s(itus) e(st)

Roughly translated as:

Longinus Sdapeze, son of Matygus,

from the town of Sardica duplicarius of the Ala I Thracum, 40 years of age, served 15 (years),

lies here. His heirs had (this tombstone) set up by testament.

Or, in other words, Longinus Sdapeze was the second in command of a Thracian cavalry unit, an auxillary soldier (not a Roman). Longinus was his Roman name, Sdapeze was his tribal name. He died in Colchester after fifteen years of service to the Roman army. It indicates that the 40 year old Longinus was born in the area of the modern day Sofia, capital city of Bulgaria. It reveals that he was a duplicarius, one of the highest paid cavalry positions. His heirs erected the tombstone, according to his will, probably funded from the contributions given by fellow soldiers to provide such a stone. Longinus died in AD49, soon after the invasion in 43, suggesting that he may have come to Britain with Claudius's invasion force, and possibly marched into Colchester in the emperor's procession. It is the oldest Roman gravestone in Britain.

The tombstone shows fine detail of his attire, in particular, detail of the scale-armored cuirass (lorica squamata), a coolus helmet, an oval shield and the elaborate bronze phalerae covering the strapping on the horse’s harness. The fallen warrior (presumably representative of a Briton) is in a foetal position being trampled underneath the horse. A powerful message, bound to anger the indigenous population. His spear has been broken in antiquity.