Alithacenon
Attested: Alithacenon (or Alitacenon) at position 164 in the Ravenna Cosmography.
Where: Redshaw Burn Roman fortlet at NT03001398.
Name origin: Pure Greek αληθης ‘unconcealed’ (literally ‘not oblivion’) plus κενος ‘empty’ (an element also seen in Iuliocenon and
Κενιωνος).
Notes: Evidently this was known to the Romans as a rather isolated place. Margary commented that as the Roman road leaves the gentle farmland of Annandale and heads away from the Solway over a watershed, whose high point is on Errickstane Hill near this fortlet, towards the Clyde, it “traverses wild moorland”. See here for a discussion of all Roman names in this area north of the Solway.
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Last edited 30 May 2023 to main Menu