Antefixes of Legio II Augusta at Exeter

The Roman Army established a 42-acre (17ha) 'playing-card' shaped Legionary Fortress overlooking the banks of the River Exe around AD 55. It was the base of the 5,000+ strong Legio II Augusta for up to the next 20 years before they moved to Isca Augusta (Caerleon) in South Wales.

Buildings within the fortress, such as barrack blocks, granaries and a fabrica (workshop), were timber, and their post-hole trenches were excavated in the 1970s.

The only known building in the fortress not of timber, was a stone-built military bath house in front of where the Gothic Cathedral now stands. The water for the bathhouse was supplied by a natural spring via an aqueduct which entered the fortress through the rear gate.

The presence of Legio II Augusta at Exeter is supported by the discovery of the dolphin antefix (roof fitting) seen here at the top of the picture, which was recovered from levels within the military bathhouse dating to about AD60.

This antefix appears to have been created from the same mould as an example from the legionary fortress at Caerleon - where the legion is known to have been stationed from around AD75. Legio II Augusta was part of the Claudian invasion of Britain in AD 43, and future Emperor Vespasian was commander at the time of the Invasion.

Vespasian led campaigns against both the Durotriges in modern Dorset, and Dumnonii who occupied modern Devon and Cornwall. The Legio II Augusta was recorded as having suffered defeat by the Silures in 52. It was based in Exeter from about 55, before being transferred to other bases, leaving its buildings to be the foundations of the Roman civitas (tribal) capital of Isca Dumnoniorum.