name is otherwise unattested.) Cf. perhaps E, H, H, or
Hurradios (father of Pittakos: D L 1.74).
(*)
PTK
H ⇒ (1) A; (2) I
Hyginus (Agrimensor) (ca 100 – 120 CE)
One of two writers named Hyginus in the Corpus Agrimensorum Romanorum, the compilation (ca
4th c. CE) of texts concerned with land survey and various aspects of measurement. Hyginus
refers to a recent distribution of land in Pannonia to veterans of Trajan, i.e., post 102 CE. A
professional surveyor with substantial field experience, including work at Kure ̄ne ̄ in north
Africa, and Samnium, where he investigated changes of ownership in lands allocated to
veteran soldiers by Vespasian, he also produced a collection of imperial edicts and decisions
on land. Hyginus expounds the role of limites, which, because of their specified width and
status, were the crucial elements in dividing land into units (centuriae) for distribution. He
carefully describes the erection of stones appropriately inscribed to designate each centuria. In
general, Hyginus offers practical guidance to surveyors, advising on methods for recognizing
and interpreting boundaries, and emphasizing the importance of using wide ranging evi-
dence. He notes important regional variations in expressing an area of land, such as the
uersus (8,640 square feet) in Dalmatia. In Kure ̄ne ̄ the Ptolemaic foot (25/24 Roman feet) was
in use, and in Germany the Drusian foot (9/8 Roman feet). Notably, in a wide-ranging
discussion of land-holding conditions, Hyginus insists on the relevance and importance of
local practices, and that each land-holding community should be judged on its own terms.
Thulin (1913); CAR 5 (2000); Campbell (2000) 76–101.
Brian Campbell
Hyginus Gromaticus (100 – 300 CE?)
The second of the two writers named Hyginus in the Corpus Agrimensorum Romanorum (see
H [A]), and often referred to as “Gromaticus” on the basis of the rather
confused MS headings. He refers to the poet L, but otherwise makes no datable
references. His approach is partly historical in that he discusses the foundation of colonies,
but he also describes the procedures of land survey in a way that offers guidance to other
surveyors. He is particularly informative on the establishment of limites, the dimensions of
land division units (centuriae), and their proper designation with inscribed stones so that plots
of land could be found easily and without ambiguity. Hyginus describes methods of orienta-
tion and the alignment of limites, using a sundial and the measurement of shadows, and a
more complex method based on solid geometry. He also outlines a method for measuring
parallel lines using similar right-angled triangles. Hyginus sets out the best methods of
land division starting from the principle that the two main limites, aligned north-south and
east-west, intersected in the middle of the settlement and extended through four gates.
Although this could rarely be achieved, surveyors with their professional, scientific approach
worked with the administrative bureaucracy to overcome and exploit physical terrain. In
a way, they represented the power of the Roman state to control natural resources.
Thulin (1913); CAR 4 (1996); Campbell (2000) 134–163.
Brian Campbell
HYGINUS (AGRIMENSOR)