DUROCORNOVIUM
DUROCORNOVIUM in Britain, mentioned in the 13th Itinerary.
The locality
of Duro-cornovium is that of
Ciren-chester, or the ancient
Corin-eum. [CORINEIUM.] It is 14 miles distant from Glevum (
Glo-cester), and the military road between the two
[p. 1.794]places is traced at the present time. Where this crosses the
Fosse-road,
Cirencester stands, abundant in Roman remains of all kinds.
Name for name, as well as
place for place, Duro-cornovium == Corineum, i. e.
Duro-corn-ovium is
Corin-eum in a compound form.
The root lies in the name of the present river
Churn; so that
Corin-eum is simply the
Churn, and
Duro-corn-ovium is the
Churn-water.
The fact of the Roman towns being synonymous with the rivers on which they stood has already been noticed. [DEVA; DERVENTIO.]
[
R.G.L]
