the Legion VI Victrix [....] Possible third inscription An undated, unprovenanced inscription on a stamp, supposedly discovered in Rome but recorded as being in Paris in the 19th century reads: • LVCI • • ARTORI • CASTI • As inscription shows the text is in the genitive form. In fact, the rendered expansion will be Lucii Artorii Casti which means: (It belongs to) Lucius Artorius Castus. Without further information on the inscription, we cannot say whether or not it refers to our Lucius Artorius Castus, or simply another man of the same name. Units and ranks mentioned Centurion of Legio III Gallica The first unit mentioned on Castus's inscription is the legio III Gallica – for most of the 2nd and 3rd centuries the unit was stationed in Syria. He held the rank of centurion in this legion – most Roman soldiers only achieved the rank of centurion after about 15–20 years of service, but it was not unknown for some politically connected civilians of the equestrian class to be directly commissioned as centurions upon entering the Army, though these equestrian centurions (known as "ex equite Romano") were in the minority. We cannot tell whether or not Castus had a lengthy career as a legionary soldier before attaining the centurionate, or whether he was directly commissioned at this rank, as the vast majority of career centurions' inscriptions do not mention any ranks that they might have held below the centurionate. Successful officers often omitted the record of any ranks lower than primus pilus,Keppie (2000), p. 168. as Castus did on his memorial plaque. Centurion of Legio VI Ferrata From the middle of the 2nd century until at least the early 3rd century the legio VI Ferrata was stationed in Judea. Centurion of Legio II Adiutrix From the early 2nd century onward the legio II Adiutrix were based at Aquincum (modern Budapest) and took part in several notable campaigns against the Parthians, Marcomanni, Quadi and, in the mid-3rd century, the Sassanid empire. Centurion and Primus Pilus of Legio V Macedonica The legio V Macedonica was based in Roman Dacia throughout the 2nd century and through most of the 3rd – the unit took part in battles against the Marcomanni, Sarmatians and Quadi. The legio V Macedonica after 185 CE was called Pia Fidelis or Pia Constans (shortened as P.F. or P.C.), so Castus served in this unit as centurion and primus