From the Roman fort at Arbeia (South Shields)
This tombstone commemorates the life of Victor, a Moor from North Africa. He was the ex-slave of Numerianus, a cavalry soldier who served with a unit raised in Spain and based in the cavalry fort at Benwell 15km away. Soldiers often owned slaves to do the repetitive work, such as collecting water and fodder, mucking out the stables, and cleaning harnesses. They probably also saddled the horses. although grooming is likely to have been done by the soldiers themselves to create a bond between man and horse. The groom would have helped his master put on his armour, handed weapons to him when he was on the horse, and may have assisted in training. The quality of this tombstone indicates an extremely close relationship between master and ex-slave.
The inscription reads:
D(IS) M(ANIBUS) VICTORIS NATIONE MAURUM [A]NNORUM XX LIBERTUS NUMERIANI [E]Q(U)ITIS ALA(E) I ASTURUM QUI PIANTISSIME PR[OSE]QU(U)TUS EST
which translates as:
To the spirits of the departed (and) of Victor, a Moorish tribesman, aged 20, freedman of Numerianus, trooper of the First Cavalry Regiment of Asturians, who most devotedly conducted him to the tomb