The _Lyonoise_ think their town was particularly honoured by the
_Taurobolium_; but it was a common practice to offer that sacrifice not
only for the Emperor's health, but for the preservation of a city. There
are two of these altars in the town of _Letoure_; one consecrated for
the preservation of the Emperor _Gordian_, on which is the following
inscription:

PRO SALVTE IMP. ANTONINI GORDIANO PII FEL.
AVG. TOTIVSQVE DOMVS DIVINÆ PROQVE STATV CIVIT.
LACTOR TOROPOLIVM FECIT ORDO LACTOR D.N. GORDIANO
II ET POMPLIANO COS VI ID DEC CVRANTIS M
EROTIO ET FESTO CANINIS SACERD.

And in a little village near _Marseilles_, called _Pennes_, there is a
stone, on which is engraven,

MATRI DEVM MAGNÆ IDEÆ

And on another, in the same town,

MATRI DEVM TAVROPOLIVM.

I must not omit to give you a copy of a singular inscription on the
tomb of a mint-master which was found in _Lyons_, and is preserved
entire:

NOBILIS TIB. CÆSARIUS AVG. SER ÆQ. MONET HIC
AD QVI LOCIT JVLIA ADEPTA CONJUNX ET
PERPETUA FILIA D.S.D.