Iustus

In the annals of Roman Britain, the figure of Iustus (or Justus) emerges from an epigraphic fragment dating to the late 2nd century, specifically between the years 171 and 200. This individual is identified through a dedicatory inscription on a cylindrical base, discovered in 1849 within the vicinity of a Roman bath-building at Caerleon, the site of the fortress of the Legio II Augusta.

While the inscription is incomplete, it clearly denotes Iustus’ act of piety towards the god Mithras, a deity whose cult enjoyed considerable popularity within the Roman military. The epithet ’b(ene) m(erenti)’, attached to the dedication, suggests that Iustus was honoring either his own meritorious service or that of his legionary comrades. However, the absence of specific details concerning his military rank or personal background obfuscates a fuller understanding of his identity.

The physical context of the find, coupled with the Mithraic association, provides a rare glimpse into the religious life and localized practices of the Roman forces stationed in Britannia Superior, yet the individual narrative of Iustus himself remains largely enigmatic, encapsulated only by his name and his devotion to the Invincible Sun, Mithras.