M. Sattonius Iucundus
Encyclopedia
M. Sattonius Iucundus, third century
During an excavation in the Roman
Thermae
of Heerlen
a whinstone was found, pointing to M. Sattonius Iucundus (or Marcus Sattonius, possibly also Marcus Sattonius Jucundus) as restorer of the Thermae
in the 3rd century, the stone explains he did this as a debt to Fortuna
.
At that moment Marcus was decurio
in Colonia Ulpia Traiana, current Xanten
.
It is possible that he was the Marcus Sattonius who, around 253, as a centurion
of the Third Legion
in Algiers
, erected a statue of Mars
in honour of the legion
. If this is true, at least it is speculated, he might have returned home, to his birth grounds in Coriovallum (Heerlen), a rich man after his time in the legion was over. And as a rich citizen he was able to secure a place in the city council of Xanten, the capital of civitas Traianensis, the Roman district to which Coriovallum belonged, which had a council of a hundred big landowners.
Some sources state the restoration took place around 175.
During an excavation in the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
Thermae
Thermae
In ancient Rome, thermae and balnea were facilities for bathing...
of Heerlen
Heerlen
Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
a whinstone was found, pointing to M. Sattonius Iucundus (or Marcus Sattonius, possibly also Marcus Sattonius Jucundus) as restorer of the Thermae
Thermae
In ancient Rome, thermae and balnea were facilities for bathing...
in the 3rd century, the stone explains he did this as a debt to Fortuna
Fortuna
Fortuna can mean:*Fortuna, the Roman goddess of luck -Geographical:*19 Fortuna, asteroid*Fortuna, California, town located on the north coast of California*Fortuna, United States Virgin Islands...
.
At that moment Marcus was decurio
Decurio
Decurio was an official title in Ancient Rome, used in various connections:# A member of the senatorial order in the Italian towns under the administration of Rome, and later in provincial towns organized on the Italian model . The number of decuriones varied in different towns, but was usually 100...
in Colonia Ulpia Traiana, current Xanten
Xanten
Xanten is a historic town in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany, located in the district of Wesel.Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park or archaeological open air museum , its medieval picturesque city centre with Xanten Cathedral and many museums, its large man-made lake for...
.
It is possible that he was the Marcus Sattonius who, around 253, as a centurion
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
of the Third Legion
Third Legion
The Third Legion can refer any of these Roman Legions:*Legio III Augusta*Legio III Cyrenaica*Legio III Gallica*Legio III Italica*Legio III Parthica...
in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, erected a statue of Mars
Mars (mythology)
Mars was the Roman god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was second in importance only to Jupiter, and he was the most prominent of the military gods worshipped by the Roman legions...
in honour of the legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
. If this is true, at least it is speculated, he might have returned home, to his birth grounds in Coriovallum (Heerlen), a rich man after his time in the legion was over. And as a rich citizen he was able to secure a place in the city council of Xanten, the capital of civitas Traianensis, the Roman district to which Coriovallum belonged, which had a council of a hundred big landowners.
Some sources state the restoration took place around 175.