Election Graffiti of Pompeii

Oro Vos Faciatis

A Wall of Pompeii

“Rogant”

M. Marium aed. faci. oro vosI ask you to make Marcus Marius aedile.N.B.:

Name: Accusativeaed. faci. = aedilem faciatis

M. Mari. v.b.o.c.I ask you colonists to elect Marcus Marius, a

good man.N.B.:

v.b. = virum bonumo.c. = oro, coloni

P. Carpin. IIv v.b.o.v.f.I ask you to make Publius Carpinius duovir,

a good man.N.B.:

IIv: duumvirumv.b.: virum bonumo.v.f.: oro vos faciatis

P. Fur. IIv. v.b.o.v.f.ELECT Publius Furius duovir, a good man.N.B.:

IIv: duumvirumv.b.: virum bonumo.v.f.: oro vos faciatis

N. Veium IIv v.b.o.v col.Colonists, ELECT Numerius Veius duovir, a

good man.N.B.:

IIv: duumvirumv.b.: virum bonumo.v. col.: oro vos, coloni

L. Aqutium d.v.v.b.o.v.c.Colonists, ELECT Lucius Aqutius duovir, a

good man.N.B.:

d.v.: duumvirum v.b.: virum bonumo.v.c.: oro vos, coloni

C. Iulium Polybium aedilem o.v. panem bonum fert.

(I ask you to make) Gaius Iulius Polybius aedile; he offers good bread.

N.B.:o.v. = oro vos [faciatis]

Bruttium Balbum IIvirum Genialis rog.

Hic aerarium conservabit.Genialis asks you to make Bruttius Balbus

Duovir. He will maintain the treasury. N.B.:

IIvirum = duumvirumrog. = rogat [ut vos faciatis]

Ti. Claudium verum IIvir. vicini rogant.

The neighbors ask you to make Tiberius Claudius Verus duovir.

N.B.:IIvir.= duumvirum

Postumium Proculum aed. offectores rog.

The dyers ask you to make Postumius Proculus aedile.

N.B.:aed. = aedilemrog. = rogant

Trebium aed. tonsores.The barbers [ask you to make] Trebium

aedile.N.B.:

aed. = aedilem

Trebium aed. o.v.f. clibinari rog.

The jar-makers ask you to make Trebius aedile.

N.B.:aed. = aedilemo.v.f. = oro vos faciatisrog. = rogant

C. Gavium Rufum IIvir. o.v.f. utilem r.p.

Vesonius Primus rogat.I ask you to make Gaius Gavius Rufus

duovir, he is useful to the republic. Vesonius Primus asks this.

N.B.:IIvir. = duumvirumo.v.f. = oro vos faciatisutilem r.p. = utilem rei publicae

M. Holconium Priscum, C Gavium Rufum IIvir.

Phoebus cum emptoribus suis rogat.

Marcus Holconius Priscus and Gaius Gavius Rufus for duoviri. Phoebus and his customers ask this.

N.B.:IIvir. = duumvirum

C. Cuspium Pansa aed. aurifices universi rog.

All the goldsmiths ask you to make Gaius Cuspius Pansa aedile.

N.B.:aed. = aedilemrog. = rogant

Cn. Helvium Sabinum isiaci rog.

The worshipers of Isis ask [you to elect] Gnaeus Helvius Sabinus.

N.B.:rog. = rogant

M. Holconium Priscum i.d. pomari universi cum Helvio

Vestale rog.All fruit-sellers with Helvius Vestalis ask you

to elect Marcus Holconius Priscus for interpreting the law.

N.B.:i.d. = iure dicendorog. = rogant

Sallustium Capitonem aed o.v.f. caupones facite.

I ask you to elect Sallustius Capito aedile. Do it, innkeepers!

N.B.:aed = aedilemo.v.f. = oro vos faciatis

Verum aed. o.v.f. unguentari facite rog.

I ask you to make Verus aedile. I ask you to do it, ointment-sellers!

N.B.:aed = aedilemo.v.f. = oro vos faciatisrog. = rogo

M. Cerrinium Vatia aed. o.v.f. seribibi universi rogant. Scripsit Florus Fructo.

I ask you to elect Marcus Cerrinius Vatia aedile; all the alcoholics ask this. Florus wrote this for Fructus.

N.B.:aed = aedilemo.v.f. = oro vos faciatis

Vatiam aed. furunculi rogant. Claudium IIvir. animula facit.

The pickpockets ask you to elect Vatia aedile. The small-mind will make Claudius duovir.

N.B.:aed = aedilemIIvir = duumvirumfacit = translate as if “faciet”