Three milestones were found in the settlement Salodurum (Solothurn). The place of discovery of the first, a fragment, is unknown. It recorded the distance in leagues to Aventicum (Avenches VD): pr]OCO(n)S(uli) [---] AVEN[t(ico) l(eugas)] X. The second, another fragment, had been reused in the cathedral of St. Ursus, where it was found in 1763. Only the number XXVIII was preserved. It was found together with a complete milestone from 213 AD. That one records the distance to Aventicum (XXVI) and mentions the restoration by Caracalla of roads and bridges that had fallen in ruins because of old age. If XXVI stands for leagues (leugae), then the distance is 57.8 km. The distance between Solothurn and Avenches is 56.7 km. on Google Maps.
IMP(erator) [Caes(ar) M(arcus) Aur(elius)] AN
TON[inus Pius F]EL(ix) A
VG(ustus) P[arth(icus) Max(imus)] BRI(tannicus)
MA[x(imus)] PONT(ifex) MAX(imus) TRIB(unicia)
POT(estate) XVI IMP(erator) II CO(n)S(ul) IIII
PROCO(n)S(ul) PRINC(eps) IVVEN(tutis)
FORTIS(s)[i]M(us) FELICIS(s)IM
VSQ(ue) MAGN(us) PRINCEPS
PACATOR ORB(is) VIAS ET
PONT(es) VETVSTATE COL
LAPS(os) RESTITVIT
AVENT(ico)
XXVIMilestone from 213 AD.
EDCS-12400407. H. 1.60, diam. 0.45.
Photo: EDH HD081923.
Literature
Drack-Fellmann 1988, 623. The other two milestones are EDCS-12400408 and EDCS-12400409.
[8-Jan-2024]
