Proof of the Batavian myth?

The inscription on our brick first occurs in the work of monk Cornelius Aurelius from the 16th century. Today, we suspect that this inscription was made up by Aurelius to increase the importance of the Batavian forefathers of the former Dutch people. This Batavian myth was used to mould what is now the Netherlands into a nation proper.

Apart from Aurelius, the inscription has never actually been seen in real-life by any other author. And yet, this brick surfaces in the collection of Gerard van Papenbroek (1673-1743), fervent collector of antiquities and a rich merchant from Amsterdam. While we can’t prove it, it’s very well possible that someone made this tile in order to sell it to Van Papenbroek. He would have been overjoyed to get his hands on this tile, that so clearly emphasized the importance of the Batavian forefathers and could be seen as the most prominent proof of the privileged position of the Batavians.

Van Papenbroek bequeathed his collection to Leiden University, out of which the National Museum of Antiquities eventually developed. And so, the tile survived. Still, it helps us gain insight in the development of the Batavian myth, that turned a historical people from the Roman era into early nationalist propaganda, where, apparently, all bets were off and misleading the public was just part of the deal.