Δουνιον

Attested:  (1) Ptolemy 2,3,29 Δουνιον, a πολις of the Δουροτριγες
  (2) DVN on the reverse of a coin by AM (?Amminus).

Where:  Maiden Castle, at SY669884, near Dorchester.

Name origin:  See here about dunum ‘fort’.

Notes: Kleineberg et al. (2012) chose Hod Hill fort and its Roman camp at ST85491080on the basis of their re-analysis of Ptolemy's coordinates, but their logic is not strong enough to overrule Maiden Castle, which is huge and otherwise not mentioned.  The find-spot of coin (2) is unrecorded, but Amminus is generally reckoned likely to have ruled in Kent, although a similar coin was found at Waddon Hill in Dorset, in an area that Ptolemy called Belgic.

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Last edited 2 May 2023     To main Menu