Roman Bronze Military Diplomas

Constituted on 22nd of August 139 under the emperor Antonius Pius, and the suffect consuls L. Minicius Natalis (Quadronius Verus) and L. Claudius Proculus, for the Praetorian fleet of Ravenna. The recipient was a veteran from the tribe of the Scordisci with the Roman name M. Sollius Gracilis. His father's name is Zura, a name known from Moesia Inferior in the lower Danube area. The Scordisci were a Celtic tribe living in lower Pannonia - Illyria between the Sava, Drava and Danube rivers. Copied and checked from the bronze tablet fixed to the wall at Rome behind the temple of the deified Augustus at the shrine of Minerva. The outside face of the reverse tablet lists the names of seven witneses. The whole comprises of two rectangular tablets each pierced twice for binding.