The Paulinus stone is to be found immediately on the left of the porch upon entering St. Stephen’s and St. Tathan’s, Caerwent. The Silurum Stone was erected in AD 220 by members of the Silures tribal council at Caerwent, which was called Venta Silurum in Roman times.
The stone describes both the military and civil career of Roman governor Tiberius Claudius Paulinus, who commanded the Second Augustan Legion at Caerleon during the reign of Caracalla AD211-17, the Paulinus stone is considered one of the most significant of its kind discovered in Britain.
Paulinus was Roman governor of Britannia Secunda in AD 220 and was known as a just and merciful governor who improved the condition of the province during his tenure.
The Latin inscription, originally painted in red letters reads:
To [Tiberius Claudius] Paulinus, Legate of the Second Legion Augusta, proconsul of the province of Narbonensis, emperors propraetorian legate of the province of Lugdunensis, by decree of the council, the Canton of the Silurians
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