Regina (freedwoman)

Regina
The tombstone of Regina in the collection of Tyne and Wear Museums.
Bornc.AD 100-200
Diedc.AD 130-200
Arbeia (South Shields, UK)

Regina was a 2nd-century AD Romano-British freedwoman known from her tombstone at Arbeia (South Shields), UK. She has been described as ‘best-known woman from all Roman Britain.[1]

Biography

Regina was either born into slavery or entered slavery in her youth. She is identified as a member of the Catuvellauni tribe of South-West Britain. She was married to a merchant from Palmyra named Barates and died aged 30 at South Shields.[2]

Tombstone

Discovery

The tombstone was discovered in Bath Street, South Shields, in 1878. The discovery, noted by the Shields Daily gazette was reported in the magazine The Academy on 2 November 1878.[3]. A follow up on 9 November 1878 by William Wright makes the first translation of the Palmyrene inscription on the tombstone.[4][5] It was subsequently reported in the British Archaeological Association journal by Walter de Gray Birch in 1878.[6]

Iconography

The tombstone measures 1.118 metres (3.67 ft) x 0.711 metres (2.33 ft). Regina is show sitting in wicker chain within a gabled niche flanked by two pilasters. She wears a robe over her floor-length tunic. Although her face is now missing she is shown to wear a large necklace and bracelets. In her hands she holds a distaff and spindle for spinning wool. At her sides are a basket of wool and a jewellery box.[7] The carving is particularly fine for Roman Britain: Maureen Carroll said that it "stands out in the quality of its design and execution".[8]

Inscription

There are two inscriptions. The main, Latin, inscription is carved over three lines. Beneath it is a single line in Palmyrene Aramaic:[7]

DM‣REGINA‣LIBERTA‣ET‣CONIVGE‣

BARATES‣PALMYRENVS‣NATIONE‣

CATVALLAVNA‣AN‣XXX‣

𐡴𐡢𐡩𐡮𐡠 𐡡𐡶 𐡧𐡴𐡩 𐡡𐡴 𐡰𐡶𐡠 𐡧𐡡𐡫

[RGYNᵓ BT ḤRY BR ᶜTᵓ ḤBL]note 1

The Latin text translates to: "To the spirits of the departed (and to) Regina, his freedwoman and wife, a Catuvellaunian by tribe, aged 30, Barates of Palmyra (set this up)" followed by the Palmyrene section: "Regina, the freedwoman of Barates, alas". The sculptor of the Latin text may have been bilingual or less-comfortable with carving in Latin as they mis-spelled Regina’s tribal affiliation ('Catvullavna' rather than 'Catuvellauna') and tried to correct it.[8]

The use of the word 'alas' in the final line of the inscription hints at the grief felt by Barates to the loss of his wife, whom he had probably freed at some point in her life. This phrase, and the fact that he created a large commemoration stone both hints that he thought of his relationship as a happy one and that he wished to promote his own wealth and status.[2] Neither Regina nor Barates were Roman citizens based on their use of a single name, and so their marriage may not have been recognised under Roman law, but the use of the word coniunx ("wife") suggests that they considered themselves as lawfully married.[9] The name Regina translates as 'Queen' - this might have been her enslaved name or a new name taken upon her manumission.[8]

The Palmyrene inscription is known as CIS II 3901 and NE 482 d.γ5.[10]

Public display

In 2024 the tombstone was sent on loan the 'Legion' exhibition at the British Museum.[11] As of 2026 Regina's tombstone was on display in the 'Set in Stone' gallery at Arbeia Roman Fort.[12]

Reception

The tombstone has been covered and responded to in various media:

  • A copy of the tombstone is in the collection of the British Museum.[13]
  • A 2013 iPad app titled 'The Mystery of Regina's Tombstone' was released by Braunarts and promoted by Mary Beard.[14]
  • In 2018 Regina's tombstone was noted as one of the 12 "Amazing Treasures" of the 'Civilisations Stories', a series of videos in support of the BBC Civilisations programming.[15]
  • A 2026 Country Life article included the Regina tombstone as the first item in an article highlighting what tourists should see in the North-East if they "want to learn more about the artistic history of [the] country".[16]

Notes

  • ^note 1 This is the Palmyrene text transliterated into Latin lettering.

References

  1. ^ Bédoyère, de la, Guy (2001). Eagles over Britannia. The Roman Army in Britain. Tempus. p. 160.
  2. ^ a b "Regina of Arbeia". University of Warwick. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Notes on Art and Archaeology". The Academy. 2 November 1878. p. 438.
  4. ^ Wright, W. (9 November 1878). "The South Shields Inscription". The Academy. p. 481.
  5. ^ Wright, William (1878). "Note on a Bilingual Inscription, Latin and Aramaic, Recently Found at South Shields". Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology. 6: 436‑440.
  6. ^ de Gray Birch, Walter (1878). "The Palmyrene Monument Discovered at South Shields". Journal of the British Archaeological Association. 34 (4): 489–495.
  7. ^ a b "RIB 1065. Funerary inscription for Regina". Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b c Carroll, Maureen (2012). "'The Insignia of Women': Dress, Gender and Identity on the Roman Funerary Monument of Regina from Arbeia". Archaeology Journal. 169: 281–311.
  9. ^ Hemelrijk, Emily A. (2020). Women and Society in the Roman World: A Sourcebook of Inscriptions from the Roman West. Cambridge University Press.
  10. ^ Hillers, Delbert R.; Cussini, Eleonora (1996). Palmyrene Aramaic texts. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 54: PAT 0246. ISBN 978-0-8018-5278-7. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Two Key Objects from Arbeia to go on loan to the British Museum". Shields Gazette. 23 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Set in Stone gallery". North East Museums. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  13. ^ "tombstone; copy". British Museum. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  14. ^ Beard, Mary (2013). Professor Mary Beard on the Regina app. Braunarts. Retrieved 24 February 2026 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ "Civilisations Stories". BBC. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  16. ^ Mullins, Charlotte (9 January 2026). "What to see in the North of England if you want to learn more about the artistic history of our country". Country Life. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
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