 BENE MERENTI  |
Inscriptions from the Roman Catacombs |
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 Funerary Inscriptions from the Catacombs |
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choose a funerary inscription from the list to view it:
Apuleia Crysopolis
Nicella
Acapenis
Maximinus
Asellus
Mouses
Secunda
Adeodatus
Aurelius Castus
Nereus & Achilleus
A Traditional Roman Funerary Inscription:
Aurelius Hermia & Aurelia Philematio
references to ICUR = Inscriptiones Christianae Urbis Romae
references to ILCV = Inscriptiones Latinae Christianae Veteres
translations by Cathy Gunderson |
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APVLEIA
CRYSOPOLIS
QVAE VIXIT ANNIS VII
MES II PARENTES KARISSIME
FILIAE FECERVNT
TRANSLATION: Apuleia Crysopolis, who lived for 7 years, 2 months; [her] parents made [this] for their dearest daughter.
IMAGERY: Tree of Life at left, Good Shepherd at right.
MEDIUM: marble; replica in marble.
DIMENSIONS: 41 x 85 cm; replica to scale.
DATE: c. 3rd century A.D.
PROVENANCE: catacombs of San Callisto.
REPLICA BY: Rob Assie.
DONATED BY: Robert & Lura Mae Sider.
REFERENCE: ICUR #9384.
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NICELLA VIRCO DEI OVE VI
XIT ANNOS P M XXXV DE
POSITA XV KAL MAIAS BENE
MERENTI IN PACE
TRANSLATION: Nicella, God’s virgin, who lived for more or less 35 years. She was placed [here] 15 days before the Kalends
of May [17th April]. For the well deserving one in peace.
IMAGERY: Alpha, Chi-Rho, Omega, and dove holding olive branch at top left.
MEDIUM: marble; replica in plaster.
DIMENSIONS: 37.5 x 64 cm; replica to scale.
DATE: unknown.
PROVENANCE: catacombs of San Callisto.
REPLICA BY: Carrie Allen.
REFERENCE: ICUR #11371.
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ACAPENI BENEMFRENTI
QVAE VIXIT ANNIS IIII
FECIT FRATER DOLENS
DEPOSITA XII KAL
IVNIAS ACAPE IN P
TRANSLATION: For Acapenis, well deserving, who lived for 4 years. Her grieving brother made this. She was placed [here] 12 days before the Kalends of June [21st May]. Love, in peace.
IMAGERY: dove holding olive branch at left, large fig leaf at right.
MEDIUM: marble; replica in plaster.
DIMENSIONS: 22 x 74 cm; replica to scale.
DATE: unknown.
PROVENANCE: uncertain (perhaps the catacombs of San Callisto).
REPLICA BY: Jonathan Barton.
REFERENCES: ICUR #12433; ILCV #4176 II.
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MARIA LEONTIA
FILIO MAXIMINO
BENE MERENTI
TRANSLATION: Maria Leontia [made this] for her son Maximinus,
well deserving.
IMAGERY: dove feeding from vase in centre.
MEDIUM: marble; replica in plaster.
DIMENSIONS: 26 x 82 cm; replica to scale.
DATE: unknown.
PROVENANCE: the crypt of St. Cornelius in the catacombs of San Callisto.
REPLICA BY: Kate Bens.
REFERENCE: ICUR #9418.
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A SELLV BENEMBERE
NTI QVI VICXIT ANNV
SEX MESIS OCTO DIES
XXIII
TRANSLATION: For Asellus, well deserving, who lived 6 years, 8 months and 23 days.
IMAGERY: portrait of Peter (Chi-Rho and PETRVS at right) and portrait of Paul (PAV/LVS at right) at left.
MEDIUM: marble; replica in plaster.
DIMENSIONS: 84 x 19 cm; replica to scale.
DATE: unknown.
PROVENANCE: the cemetery of Hippolytus; now in the Lateran Museum, Vatican City.
REPLICA BY: Stefan Berry.
REFERENCES: ICUR #1513; ILCV #1970a.
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MOYCHC
ZωN
EΠOIHCΕN
ATω KAI
TH ΓYNEKI
TRANSLATION: Mouses procured this for himself and for his wife while he lived.
IMAGERY: woman praying (an Orans/Orante) at left; Tree of Life, lamb, and shepherd leaning on crook at right.
MEDIUM: marble; replica in plaster.
DIMENSIONS: 88 x 117 cm; replica scaled down (67 x 90 cm).
DATE: unknown.
PROVENANCE: the lower cemetery of the catacombs of San Callisto.
REPLICA BY: Chantal de Medeiros.
REFERENCE: ICUR #10659.
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MIRAE BONITATIS SECVNDE
QVAE VIXIT PVRA FIDE ANNOS
VIGINTI PVDICA CESSAVIT
IN PACE ID VIRGO FIDELIS
BENE MERENTI QVIESCET ID IVL
PALVMBO SINE FELLE M ET N
TRANSLATION: For Secunda, well deserving, of marvelous goodness, who lived pure in her faith [or “in pure faith”] for twenty years, and died chaste. She will rest in peace, a faithful virgin. On the Ides of July [15th July]. [She was] a dove without gall. [In the consulship of] Mamertinus and Nevitta.
IMAGERY: fig leaf at bottom left.
MEDIUM: marble; replica in plaster.
DIMENSIONS: 25 x 44 cm; replica to scale.
DATE: A.D. 362.
PROVENANCE: the lower cemetery of the catacombs of San Callisto.
REPLICA BY: Laura Termes.
REFERENCES: ICUR #9558; ILCV #1563.
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DEPOSITVS ADEODATVS IN PACE VIIII KALENDAS
SEPTEMBRES QVI VIXIT ANNVS XXII MENSIS TRES
DIES NOBE CONSVLATVS ANICIIS OLYBRIO ET
PROBINO VV CC HIC REQVIESCET FELICITAS SE VIVA
FECIT
TRANSLATION: Adeodatus [was] placed [here] in peace 9 days before the Kalends of September [24th August]. He lived for 22 years, 3 months, 9 days. In the consulship of the Anicii, Olybrius and Probinus, most illustrious men. Here he will rest. Felicitas made this in her own lifetime.
IMAGERY: none.
MEDIUM: marble; replica in plaster.
DIMENSIONS: 36.5 x 148 cm; replica scaled down (25 x 89.5 cm).
DATE: A.D. 395.
PROVENANCE: found along the Via Appia; now in the Lateran Museum, Vatican City.
REPLICA BY: Whitney Turple.
REFERENCES: ICUR #15354; ILCV #4146E.
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AVRELIVS CASTVS
M VIII FECIT FILIO
SVO ANTONIA
SPERANTIA
TRANSLATION: Aurelius Castus [who lived] 8 months. Antonia Sperantia made [this] for her son.
IMAGERY: two Trees of Life, two sheep, and a Good Shepherd between them in bottom centre.
MEDIUM: marble; replica in plaster.
DIMENSIONS: 34 x 83 cm; replica to scale.
DATE: 4th century A.D.
PROVENANCE: catacombs of San Callisto or of Pretestato; now in the Lateran Museum, Vatican City.
REPLICA BY: Kara Wolfe.
REFERENCES: ICUR #12572; ILCV #4121D.
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NEREVS ET ACHILLEVS MARTYRES
MILITIAE NOMEN DEDERANT SAEVMQ[VE] GEREBANT
OFFICIVM PARITER SPECTANTES IVSSA TYRANNI
PRAECEPTIS PVLSANTE METV SERVIRE PARATI
MIRA FIDES RERVM SVBITO POSVERE FVRORE[M]
CONVERSI FVGIVNT DVCIS INPIA CASTRA RELIQVVNT
PROICIVNT CLIPEOS FALERAS TELAQ[VE] CRVENTA
CONFESSI GAVDENT XPI PORTARE TRIVMFOS
CREDITE PER DAMASVM POSSIT QVID GLORIA CHRISTI
TRANSLATION: Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs: they bore the name soldiers and were given over to violent deeds, together observing their duty under orders of a tyrant, prepared to serve his commands with quaking fear; suddenly they placed their faith of things in a miracle; converted, they fled the madness, left the impious camps of their leader, flung away their shields, breastplates, and bloody spears; having confessed they rejoiced to carry the banner of Christ. Believe what the glory of Christ can be through Damasus.
IMAGERY: none.
MEDIUM: marble; replica, ink on parchment (reconstructed and reduced in scale).
DATE: 4th century A.D.
PROVENANCE: catacombs of Domitilla.
REPLICA BY: Cathy Gunderson & Kate Bens.
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A Traditional Roman Funerary Inscription:
Aurelius Hermia & Aurelia Philematio
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[AV]RELIVS L L
[H]ERMIA
[...] NIVS DECOLLE
[...] VIMINALE
[...] AEC QVAE ME FAATO
PRAECESSIT CORPORE
CASTO
[C]ONIVNXS VNA MEO
PRAEDITA AMANS
ANIMO
[....] DO FIDA VIRO VEIXSII
[...] STVDIO PARILIQVM
[...] VLLA INAVARITIE
CESSIT AB OFFICIO
[A]VRELIA L L |
AVRELIA L L
PHILEMATIO
VIVA PHILEMATIVM SVN [...]
AVRELIA NOMINITATA [...]
CASTA PVDENS VOLGEI
NESCIA FEIDA VIRO
VIR CONLEIBERTVS FVII [...]
EIDEM QVO CAREO
EHEV
REE FVIT EEVERO PLVS
SVPERAQVE PAREIVS
SEPTEM ME NAATAM
ANNORVM GREMIO
IPSE RECEPIT XXXX
ANNOS NATA NECIS POT
ILLE MEO OFFICIO EO [...]
AD SIDVO FLOREBAT ADO [...]
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TRANSLATION (ABBREVIATIONS AND LACUNAE RESTORED): |
Aurelius Hermia, freedman of Lucius, butcher of the Viminal
Hill. This woman, who has preceded me in death, chaste of
body, loving of spirit, my only wife, lived faithful to her
faithful husband with equal devotion since she failed in her
duty out of no avarice: Aurelia, freedwoman of Lucius. |
Aurelia Philematio, freedwoman of Lucius. While I lived, I was named Aurelia Philematium, chaste, modest, ignorant of the
rabble, faithful to my husband. My husband, whom I am
without, alas, was freedman to this same Lucius. He was to
me in fact and in truth more than and beyond a parent. He took
me to his bosom at the age of seven years. At the age of
forty years I am stronger than death. He flourished in the
eyes of all due to my constant dutifulness. |
IMAGERY: Aurelius Hermia and Aurelia Philematio in traditional attire and posture, carved in relief in centre.
MEDIUM: Tiburtine stone; replica in plaster.
DIMENSIONS: 58.5 x 104 cm.
DATE: 1st century B.C.
PROVENANCE: a tomb near the Via Nomentana; now in the British Museum, London.
REPLICA BY: the atelier of the British Museum.
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