This page created 1 January 2003, and last modified: 31 December 2014 (Maier reference numbers added)
![]() Above: Frontpiece from the Bodleian manuscript. The stations depicted are: Otthara, Euhara, Saltatha, Latavi, Avatha, Nazala, Abira, Casama, Calamona, Betproclis, Thelsee, Adatha, Palmyra, Danaba. |
The following units or detachments of units, and prefects and their units, are listed as being under the command of the Duke of Phoenecia (the numbers in front of the names refer to Ingo Maier's numbering scheme):
63.2 Equites Mauri Illyriciani, at Otthara along with the following units from a "lesser register":
63.17 Ala prima Damascena, at Monte Iovis |
The men under the Praefectus legionis tertiae Gallicae are the old Legio III Gallica, which had been stationed in Phoenicia since the second century AD; in the Notitia, however, its base is recorded as being at Danaba (near Damascus in modern Syria).
In contrast, Legio I Illyricorum seems to have been founded by Aurelian after his reconquest of Palmyra in 273 AD, in order to garrison the area with Illyrian soldiers with no local ties. Evidently, the legion was still based there when the Notitia was first compiled. However, a joint detachment of this unit together with Legio III Gallica is recorded in Egypt in 315/6 (at Coptos, ILS 8882, in Greek) and in 321 under the same commander (at Syene; see Lenksi, 2006, The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine, at page 327).
Return to the Notitia index page.