where the Ptolemaic dominion looms large, thanks primarily to the papyri. The intricate problem of the calendar under the early Ptolemies has been reconsidered by Ernst Meyer,1 whose theory, however, does not seem likely to gain acceptance: it has been strongly criticised by Beloch. 2 The foreign element in the Egyptian population at this time is the subject of an elaborate monograph by F. Heichelheim, 3 Vol. V. of Petrie's series, that on Roman Egypt, has also been thoroughly revised, much to its advantage, by the original author. It is satisfactory, too, to note that a new edition of G. Rouillard's book on the Byzantine administration has already been called for. The Giessen papyrus (P. Giessen, I., 40), which has generally been supposed to contain the fragmentary text of the Constitutio Antoniniana, Caracalla's edict of enfranchisement, has lately become the subject of protracted discussion, chiefly in consequence of a dissertation by E. Bickermann, who contends that the papyrus represents, not the original constitution, but an extension of it to barbarian immigrants. This view finds adherents as well as critics; much depends on details of reading, about which agreement is not yet reached. A monograph by P. Viereck on the village of Philadelphia, the scene of the discovery of the Zeno papyri and of his own excavations in 1908, which unluckily failed to light on them, is of a rather popular nature. 6 7 From the jurists the papyri have perhaps received rather less attention of late; they are, however, utilised, for example, in a work by E. Levy on Roman divorce 1 Untersuch. z. Chronol. d. ersten Ptolemäer, 1925. 2 Archiv f. Papyrusf., viii. 1. 3 Die auswärtige Bevölkerung im Ptolemäerreich, 1925. By J. G. Milne, 1924. 5 L'administration civile de l. Ég. byz., 1928. 6 Das Edikt d. Kaisers Caracalla, Berlin, 1926. Morgenland, Heft 16 (1928). 8 Der Hergang d. röm Ehescheidung, 1925. 4 3 and in another on offerings to the dead, by E. F. Bruck,1 not to mention a long array of articles in periodicals on special points. A monograph by M. Schnebel upon agriculture in Graeco-Roman Egypt conveniently puts together a great deal of information. The chapters concerning Egypt in A. Segré's comprehensive study of ancient metrology and coinage will be very useful; an up-to-date treatise on this subject was much needed. Another very welcome hand-book is W. Schubart's Greek Palaeography, which is mostly occupied with papyrus scripts, a subject to which the author brings discriminating and independent judgment as well as great experience. Numerous well-produced facsimiles are provided; they might with advantage have been made more readily identifiable. E. Mayser has at length produced a further instalment of a Grammar of Ptolemaic papyri; 5 perhaps the continuation may be less tardy and also less costly. E. Kiessling, on the other hand, has been commendably expeditious in the completion of Vols. I.-II. of Preisigke's invaluable index; a third and final volume will be devoted to technical terms, such as names of officials, taxes, weights, measures, etc. A new Latin vocabulary is due to B. Meinersmann. The latest instalment of Moulton-Milligan's Vocabulary of the New Testament & reaches the end of the letter T, and another Part should complete a work of great value to the papyrologist as well as to students of the language of the New Testament. 6 ARTHUR S. HUNT. 1 Totenteil u. Seclgerät im gr. Recht, 1926. 4 In I. v. Müller's Handbuch, 1925. 5 Grammatik d. gr. Pap., ii. 1 (Satzlehre), 1926. • Wörterb. d. gr. Pap., i. 2-3, ii. 1-3, 1924-7. VIII ROMAN BRITAIN THE results of research on Roman Britain oscillate between two poles: in one year there may be a phenomenal output of literature; in another the interest may centre on the field-work. In the present report we have few publications to chronicle; on the other hand, the harvest of the excavations is perhaps the most remarkable on record. The complete excavation of a first-century amphitheatre, and its preservation for posterity-the recovery of a substantial portion of the barrack-plans of three legionary fortresses, and the determination of the defences of two of them-the discovery of a military diploma that adds one name to the list of Roman Governors of Britain, and two names to the list of Roman regiments—the opening up of new problems on the Limes and the solution of old ones—and (perhaps not less thrilling) the possibility that we are actually on the track of the invading army of A.D. 43—these are some of the triumphs of the spade in 1927 alone, one of the most trying years (as far as weather is concerned) that the excavators have ever known. Mr. Steuart Miller has been able to continue his important work on the Roman fortress at York (Eboracum), which only tends to confirm his earlier conjectures. The existence of a clay rampart of Flavian age, stone walls of the time of Trajan and of Antonine, and a fosse dating the multangular tower to the early fourth century—these are now fairly well established. The wall still stands 15 feet high in one place: this is dated to the period Commodus-Severus; and the corner-tower mentioned in our last report was found to have been built-up solid as a ballistarium at the same time. In 1927 the fourth-century reconstruction was found to extend from the multangular tower along the whole length of the north-western side, and round the northern corner but not beyond the north-eastern gate. At one point the bank behind this late wall was found to be laid over a disused barrack-building (probably constructed in Trajan's reign). The position of this building indicated that when it was in use the north-western defences had lain farther out than in the fourth century. Similarly, Professor Newstead has persevered with his work on the fortress of Deva, in the Deanery field at Chester, disclosing the barrack-blocks; and minor discoveries are reported from the vicinity. It is round the legionary fortress at Caerleon, in Monmouthshire, however, that interest in this class of site has centred. We have been privileged to see the exhaustive report on the Caerleon amphitheatre which Dr. Mortimer Wheeler has laid before the Society of Antiquaries; and a condensed account, prepared by Mrs. Wheeler, appeared in Archaeologia Cambrensis in June, 1928. Meanwhile their able lieutenant, Mr. V. Nash-Williams, Keeper in Archaeology at the National Museum of Wales, has (in spite of the weather) brought to light quite a considerable portion of the plan of the legionary fortress, disclosing barrack-blocks, whose remains compare favourably with those found at Lambaesis, Novaesium or Carnuntum. In a short paper in Archaeologia Cambrensis (December, 1927) Mr. Nash-Williams discusses the Roman name of this site, rejecting as erroneous the form Isca Silurum, which has probably been evolved by "attraction" from Venta Silurum, the name of the town a few miles away. The Roman name of the fortress was Isca, which may reasonably be derived from Usk, the name of the river |