Memento: Remembering Roman Lives · Memento: Remembering Roman Lives Nicholson Museum, Sydney...

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Published in conjunction with the exhibition

Memento: Remembering Roman Lives

Nicholson Museum, Sydney University Museums

26 October 2015 – ongoing

Exhibition curated by Candace Richards and Michael Turner.

Graphic design and app development by Candace Richards.

Object photography by Tim Harland, Dizzy View Photography (with the exceptions: NMR.1066,

NMR.1070, NMR.1091 by Rowan Conroy; NMR.1080, NMR.1087, NMR.1116 by Sydney University

Museums).

Published by Sydney University Museums, 2016.

1

About the exhibition The intention of the exhibition Memento: Remembering Roman Lives is exactly that—to remember the people named on these funeral inscriptions. The memorials name sailors from Egypt, Dalmatia and Thrace serving in the Imperial Fleet based at Misenum on the Bay of Naples and their wives; a slave from the Imperial household in Rome; a wrestler from Amastris on the Black Sea; freedmen, freedwomen and their patrons; husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, as well as foster children (their age at death given with precision down to the last hour). Their stories can only be guessed at. In 1857 and again in 1858, Sir Charles Nicholson, Chancellor of the University of Sydney, travelled to Italy where he bought nearly seven hundred Greek, Roman, South Italian and Etruscan antiquities. On his return in 1859, these, along with the four hundred artefacts he had acquired in Egypt, were donated to the University to become the genesis of what is now the Nicholson Museum collection. Among the objects acquired in Italy were 68 Roman marble funerary inscriptions. Of these, 14 come from Rome and 36 from the Bay of Naples. The reliefs were set up in a variety of places: the outside walls of tombs, alongside roads, in columbaria and in Christian catacombs. They all date from between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, a period that saw a change in Roman funerary practice from cremation to inhumation with the coming of Christianity. Five of the inscriptions are Christian, often indicated at the end by the phrase In Pace, while the rest are pagan, introduced with the letters D M, short for Dis Manibus which translates as To the guardian spirits of the Underworld.

2

Common Latin words and phrases

Funerary invocations

D M

an abbreviation for DIS MANIBUS

To the guardian spirits of the

Underworld.

NOTE: There is no easy translation of these two

formulaic words that appear at the top of nearly all

non-Christian Roman funerary monuments. The Di

Manes were the spirits of the underworld, whether

deceased or protective is uncertain, although their

intent was clear.

IN PACE In Peace i.e. may the deceased rest in peace

B M F

an abbreviation for BENE MERENTI FECIT

'x' made this for the well deserving

(deceased person)

3

Common Latin words and phrases

Funerary invocations

D M

an abbreviation for DIS MANIBUS

To the guardian spirits of the

Underworld.

NOTE: There is no easy translation of these two

formulaic words that appear at the top of nearly all

non-Christian Roman funerary monuments. The Di

Manes were the spirits of the underworld, whether

deceased or protective is uncertain, although their

intent was clear.

IN PACE In Peace i.e. may the deceased rest in peace

B M F

an abbreviation for BENE MERENTI FECIT

'x' made this for the well deserving

(deceased person)

Relationships

PATER a father MATER a mother

PARENS a parent CONIUNX a husband or wife

FILIUS a son FILIA a daughter

ALUMNUS/A a foster son or daughter FRATER a brother

PRIMIGENUS/A the first born (child) HERES an heir or heiress

POSTERUS/A a descendent PATRONUS/A a patron (i.e. slave owner)

LIBERTUS/A a freedman or woman (i.e. an ex slave) ANCILLUS/A a slave

NATUS/A a native of, born in

Emotions

INNOCENTISSIMUS/A the most innocent

DULCISSIMUS/A the sweetest

PIENTISSIMUS/A the most dutiful or righteous

CARISSIMUS/A the dearest

AMATUS/A beloved

CUPITUS/A beloved

4

Time

ANNUS a year

MENSIS a month

DIES a day

KALENDAE the first day of the month

IDUS the 15th day of the months March, May, July and October or the 13th day of the other months

VIXIT he or she lived (for X years, months, days)

The Military

MILES a soldier or sailor on a naval ship

MILITAVIT he served as a soldier/sailor (for X years)

MANIPULARIS a sailor

III a trireme

IIII a quadrireme

LIBURNA a small fast ship

5

Funerary Inscriptions

6

D[IS] M[ANIBUS]

PERELIAE TYCHE

P[UBLIUS] ANTEIEVS QUADREIUS

MATRI A[MATAE] M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]

TO THE GUARDIAN SPIRITS OF THE

UNDERWORLD FOR

PERELIA TYCHE

PUBLIUS ANTEIUS QUADREIUS

HAS MADE THIS FOR HIS BELOVED AND

WELL DESERVING MOTHER

Roman funerary urn for a woman named Perelia Tyche.

1st - 4th century AD

Unknown provenance.

NMR.1013

Acquired by Sir Charles Nicholson in Italy, 1856-58.

7

http://sydney.edu.au/museums/collections_search/index.php?record=34674

D[IS] M[ANIBUS] P[UBLIO]

AEL[IO] CLERVCHO

AUG[USTI] LIB[ERTO] FL[AVIA] R[H]ODO PE

CONIUGI BENE

MERENTI FECIT


UNDERWORLD

FOR PUBLIUS AELIUS CLERUCHUS

A FREEDMAN OF THE EMPEROR

FLAVIA RHODOPE MADE THIS FOR HER WELL

DESERVING HUSBAND

Roman funerary urn for a man named Publius Aelius Cleruchus.

2nd century AD

Found at San Vito, Palestrina (ancient Praeneste), Italy.

NMR.1015


8


DIIS MANIBUS

Q[UINTI] MVCI

PRIMIGENI

TO THE SPIRITS OF THE UNDERWORLD

FOR QUINTUS MUCUS

THE FIRST BORNRoman funerary urn for a boy named Quintus Marcus.

2nd - 4th century AD

Unknown provenance.

NMR.1016


9


DIS MANIB[US]

LVCCELAE TYCHE


UNDERWORLD

FOR LUCELLA TYCHERoman funerary monument for a named woman Lucella Tyche.

1st to 4th century AD

Found at Pozzuoli (anceint Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1063

Formerly in the collections of Barone at Naples.

Acquired by Sir Charles Nicholson in Italy, 1856-58

10


CAELIA ASELLA INNOCENT[ISSIMA]

QVE VIXIT ANN[IS] XII M[ENSIBVS]

DEPOSITA VII [DIE ANTE] K[A]L[ENDAS]

SETTEM[BRIAS]

IN PACE

[THIS IS] CAELIA ASELLA,

THE MOST INNOCENT OF GIRLS, WHO LIVED

FOR 12 YEARS AND (?) MONTHS. LAID TO

REST 7 DAYS BEFORE THE CALENDS OF

SEPTEMBER [IE. 25 AUGUST]

[REST] IN PEACE

Roman funerary monument for a girl named Caelia Asella

Late 4th century to 5th century

Found on the Via Latina, Rome.

NMR.1064

Formerly in the collection of Giambattista Guidi.


11


DESCISSIT

LEO VX KAL[ENDAS] IVL[IAS] D

IE BE[NE]RIS ANNORUM

XXSII

[HERE LIES] LEO

[WHO] DEPARTED [THIS LIFE] ON THE DAY

OF VENUS [FRIDAY],

15 DAYS BEFORE THE CALENDS OF JULY [IE.

17 JUNE]

AGED 27

Roman funerary monument for a man named Leo.


Found in the Molinari vineyard on the Via Appia, Rome.

NMR.1065



12


DEPOSSIO HILARES QV[A]E

VIXIT ANNVS VII M[ENSE] VNO D[IEBUS]

XIII DEPOSITA DIAE VII IDVS

(SE)PT[EMBRES] RICOMEDE ET CLYARC[H]O

CONS[ULIBUS]

HERE LIES HILARA WHO

LIVED 7 YEARS 1 MONTH 13 DAYS

LAID TO REST ON THE 7TH DAY BEFORE

THE IDES OF SEPTEMBER

[IE. 7 SEPTEMBER]

RICOMEDES AND CLEARCHUS WERE

CONSULS [IE. 384 AD]

Roman funerary monument for a girl named Hilara.

384 AD

Unknown provenance.

NMR.1066



13


EYFROSYNETI

CO[N]IUGI DULCISSIMAE

Q[UAE] V[IXIT] ANN[IS] XXVII M[ENSIBVS] III

D[IEBVS] XIII H[IC] DEP[OSITA]

DIE V [ANTE] KAL[ENDAS]

IANVARIAS

FOR EUFROSYNE

THE SWEETEST OF WIVES

WHO LIVED FOR 27 YEARS 3 MONTHS

13 DAYS. LAID TO REST 5 DAYS BEFORE THE

CALENDS

OF JANUARY [IE. 27 DECEMBER]

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Eufrosyne.

4th century AD

Said to be from a Hypogaea (underground Christian tomb) in Rome.

NMR.1067


14


PRIMIO

PUBLICUS V[IXIT] A[NNIS] VIIII

MENS[IBVS] III

FOR PRIMIUS

WHO LIVED FOR 9 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS

PUBLICUS [MADE THIS]Roman funerary monument for a boy named Primius.


Found at Cumae, Italy.

NMR.1068

Formerly in the collection of Giuseppe de Criscio.


15


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

L[UCIO] AELIO HETAERO ET

AELIAE CAPITOLINAE

PATRONIS

AELIA CHRYSOTHOE

LIBERTA. B[ENE] M[ERENTIBVS] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR LUCIUS AELIUS HETAERUS AND

AELIA CAPITOLINA

HER WELL DESERVING PATRONS,

AELIA CHRYSOTHOE

A FREEDWOMAN MADE THIS

Roman funerary monument for a man named Lucius Aelius and his wife

Aelia Capitolina.

150-200 AD

Found at Cumae, Italy.

NMR.1069



16


DIS MANIB[US]

EVHEMERIAE


UNDERWORLD

FOR EUHEMERIARoman funerary monument for a woman named Euhemeria.


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1070


17


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

S[E]NTIAE SERAPIADIS

VIXIT ANNIS XVII C[AIUS]

SENTIUS MAXIMVS MA

NI[P]ULAR[IS] III MARTE


UNDERWORLD

FOR SENTIA SERAPIAS

WHO LIVED 17 YEARS

[HER HUSBAND] GAIUS SENTIUS MAXIMUS

A SAILOR ON THE TRIREME MARS

[MADE THIS]

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Sentia Serapias

250-300 AD

Found near Pozzuoli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1071


18


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

A[VLVS] FRAVCIVS CARPVS SIBI

ET FRAVCIAE CYRILIAE

CONIVGI

LIBERTIS LIBERTABVSQ[VE]

POSTERISQ[VE]

EORVM


UNDERWORLD

AULUS FRAUCIUS CARPUS [SET THIS UP]

FOR HIMSELF

AND FOR FRAUCIA CYRILIA HIS WIFE

AND FOR HIS FREEDMEN AND FREEDWOMEN

AND FOR THEIR DESCENDANTS

Roman funerary monument for a man named Aulus Fraucius Carpus and

his wife Fraucia Cyrilia.

150-200 AD

Found on the Via Campana, Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1072



19


D[IS] M[ANIBVS] S[ACRVM]

Q[VINTUS] MARIVS BASSVS ET MARCIA

AELIANA SE VIVOS FECERUNT SIBI

POSTERISQUE EORVM

SACRED TO THE GUARDIAN SPIRITS OF THE

UNDERWORLD

QUINTUS MARIUS BASSUS AND

MARCIA AELIANA STILL LIVING

MADE THIS FOR THEMSELVES

AND FOR THEIR DESCENDANTS

Roman funerary monument for a man named Quintus Marius Bassus and

his wife Marcia Aeliana.


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1073


20


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

M[ARCO] VALERIO HY MNO VALERIA

M[ARCI] F[ILIA] SABINA PA[T]RI

PIENTISSIMO


UNDERWORLD

FOR MARCUS VALERIUS HYMNUS,

VALERIA SABINA THE DAUGHTER OF

MARCUS [MADE THIS]

FOR HER MOST AFFECTIONATE FATHER

Roman funerary monument for a man named Marcus Valerius Hymnus.

200-250 AD


NMR.1074



21


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

IVNIAE THEODOTE

P[UBLIUS] RVFINVS SERENVS

CO[N]IVGI SVAE FECIT


UNDERWORLD

FOR HIS WIFE JUNIA THEODOTE

PUBLIUS RUFINUS SERENUS MADE THIS

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Junia Theodote.

3rd century AD

Found at Pendio Sant'Elmo, Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1076



22


D[IS] M[ANIBUS]

IULIVS ALEXANDE[R]

PR[INCIPALIS?]

HIC POSITVS

EST III [DIE ANTE] KAL[ENDAS] IVN[IAS]


UNDERWORLD

JULIUS ALEXANDER

A SAILOR(?)

SET UP THIS STONE

THREE DAYS BEFORE THE CALENDS OF JUNE

[IE. 29 MAY]

Roman funerary monument for a man named Julius Alexander


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1077


23


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

HERMES ET

LAVDICIA PARENTES CARIS

SIMI FECERVNT

LAUDICIAE FILIAE

SVAE DVLCISSIMAE

Q[VAE] V[IXIT] A[NNIS] V M[ENSIBVS] VI

D[IEBVS] II


UNDERWORLD

HERMES AND LAUDICIA

[HER] MOST LOVING PARENTS MADE THIS

FOR LAUDICIA

THEIR SWEETEST DAUGHTER

WHO LIVED 5 YEARS 6 MONTHS 2 DAYS

Roman funerary monument for a girl named Laudicia.

125-175 AD

Unknown provenance

NMR.1078


24


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

FLAVIAE MAXIMIL

LAE VIX[IT] AN[NIS] XIX

VALERIVS VALENS

CONIVGI M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR FLAVIA MAXIMILLA

WHO LIVED 19 YEARS VALERIUS VALENS

MADE THIS FOR HIS DESERVING WIFE

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Flavia Maximilla.


Found at Miseno (ancient Misenum), Italy.

NMR.1079



25


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

C[AIO] RVTILIO RVFO

VIXIT ANNIS XIIII

MENS[IBVS] III DIEB[VS] XII

C[AIVS] RVTILIVS RVFVS

PATER FILIO FECIT


UNDERWORLD

FOR GAIUS RUTILIUS RUFUS

WHO LIVED 14 YEARS

3 MONTHS 12 DAYS

GAIUS RUTILIUS RUFUS

HIS FATHER MADE THIS FOR HIS SON

Roman funerary monument for a boy named Gaius Rutilius Rufus.

275-325 AD

Found at Baia (ancient Baiae), Italy.

NMR.1080



26


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

M[ARCVS] LOLLIVS PRIMITIVS

NAT[VS] ITALICVS VIXIT A[NNIS]

XXXV MILIT[AVIT] A[NNIS] VII D[IEBVS] X

VALERIA PRIMILIA

CO[N]IVGI B[ENE] M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

MARCUS LOLLIUS PRIMITIUS

A NATIVE ITALIAN WHO LIVED

35 YEARS AND SERVED AS A SAILOR

FOR 7 YEARS 10 DAYS

VALERIA PRIMILIA MADE THIS

FOR HER WELL DESERVING HUSBAND

Roman funerary monument for a man named Marcus Lollius Primitius.



NMR.1081


27


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

MARGARI

DI CONIV

GI MEREN

TI C[AIUS] IVL[IVS]

HERMEROS


UNDERWORLD

FOR MARGARIS

HIS DESERVING WIFE,

GAIUS JULIUS

HERMEROS [MADE THIS]

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Margaris.

150-200 AD


NMR.1082



28


D[IS] M[ANIBVS] C[AIUO]

IVLI[O] PETRONIANI EX

LIB[URNA] ARMATA

NAT[O] AEGYPT[O] VIX[IT] AN[NIS]

XLV MIL[ITAVIT] AN[NIS] XXII

C[AIUS] LONGINVS CLEMENS III

FORTVNA H[ERES] B[ENE] M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR GAIUS JULIUS PETRONIANUS

OF THE LIBURNA ‘ARMATA’

A NATIVE OF EGYPT WHO LIVED

45 YEARS AND SERVED FOR 22 YEARS

HIS HEIR GAIUS LONGINUS CLEMENS

OF THE TRIREME FORTUNA

MADE THIS FOR HIM WELL DESERVING

Roman funerary monument for a man named Gaius Julius Petronianus.


Found near Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1083


29


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

C[AIO] IVLIO RESO MANIP[VLARI]

EX III FIDE NAT[O] BESS[I]

BIXIT AN[NIS] LV MILIT[AVIT] AN[NIS] XII

M[ARCVS] RUFINVS AVCTVS

HERES B[ENE] M[ERTENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR GAIUS JULIUS RESUS

A SAILOR ON THE TRIREME ‘FIDES’

A NATIVE OF THE BESSI [A THRACIAN]

WHO LIVED 55 YEARS

AND SERVED 12 YEARS

MARCUS RUFINUS AUCTUS

HIS HEIR MADE THIS FOR HIM

WELL DESERVING

Roman funerary monument for a man named Gaius Julius Resus.


Provenance unknown.

NMR.1084


30


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

M[ARCVS] QVINCTIVS C[AIUS?] F[ECIT]

[SIBI?] ET

FLAVIAE VRBANAE

ET

LIB[ERTI]S ET LIBERTABVSQ[VE]

SVIS


UNDERWORLD

MARCUS QUINCTIUS GAIUS MADE THIS

[FOR HIMSELF?] AND

FOR FLAVIA URBANA

AND

FOR HIS FREEDMEN AND FREEDWOMEN

Roman funeary monument for a man named Marcus Quinctius Gauis, his

wife Flavia Urbana and their unnamed freedmen and women.


Unknown provenance

NMR.1085


31


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

IVLIAE EUTYCHI

DI ANN[IS] XVII

IVLIVS IVLIANVS

PATRONVS ET VLPIVS

ARPOCRATION

CONIVGI B[ENE] M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR JULIA EUTYCHIS

[WHO LIVED] 17 YEARS

JULIUS JULIANUS

HER PATRON AND ULPIUS

ARPOCRATION

MADE THIS FOR HIS WELL DESERVING WIFE

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Julia Eutychis.


Found at Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1086


32


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

A[VLIO] TERENTIO AVGV

RINO QVI VIXIT

ANN[IS] XVII M[ENSIBVS] VIII

AVGVR FRATRI

RARISSIMO


UNDERWORLD

FOR AULUS TERENTIUS AUGURINUS

WHO LIVED 17 YEARS 8 MONTHS

AUGUR [MADE THIS]

FOR HIS MOST WONDERFUL BROTHER

Roman funerary monument for a man named Aulus Terentius Augrinus.

150-250 AD


NMR.1087



33


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

PLVTIALAE

PROCVLAE


UNDERWORLD

FOR PLUTIALA

PROCULARoman funerary monument for a woman named Plutiala Procula.


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1088


34


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

L[UCIVS] TREB[IVS] ATEMIDORVS

SIBI ET IVL[IAE] EPHESIAE

SVAE CONIVGI


UNDERWORLD

LUCIUS TREBIUS ATEMIDORUS

[MADE THIS] FOR HIMSELF

AND FOR JULIA EPHESIA HIS WIFE

Roman funerary monument for a man named Lucius Trebius Atemidorus.


Unknown provenance

NMR.1089


35


[ENTHADE KEI]MAI

ZESA[S EN THNETOISI] KYKLOUS PI

SYRO[N LYK]ABANTON

KAI MENES HIER[E]S HEX EPI

TOISI KYKLOUS

ALL ETI NEPIACHON ME TYCHE

KATETHEKATO METER

TOID ENI LAINEOI TUMBOI ME

GA PENTHOS ECHOUSA

HERE I LIE

HAVING LIVED AMONG MEN DURING THE

CYCLES OF FOUR YEARS

AND IN ADDITION TO THEM SIX

CYCLES OF THE HOLY MOON

BUT WHILE I WAS STILL A CHILD

MY MOTHER TYCHE LAID ME

IN THIS STONE TOMB

SUFFERING GREAT GRIEF

Roman funerary monument for the unnamed son of Tyche


Found on the Via Latina, near Rome, Italy.

NMR.1090



36


TH[EOIS] K[ATACHTHONIOIS]

PHELIKI PAIDI GLUKUTATO[I]

THREPSAS M[NEIAS] CH[ARIN]


UNDERWORLD

FOR FELIX

THE SWEETEST CHILD

HIS NURSE [MADE THIS]

FOR THE SAKE OF HIS MEMORY

*The (theta) at the beginning of the last line, its roots

in the word thanatos, has probably been added at a later

date to signify that felix is now dead.

Roman funerary monument for a boy named Felix.

Written in Ancient Greek.


Found by the Tor Marancio in Rome, Italy.

NMR.1091



37


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

SETONIAE OMFALE

PIENTISSIMAE F[ILIAE]

BENE MERENTI

ENCOLPVS

PATER F[ECIT]

VIXIT

ANNIS VXI MENSIBVS XI

DIEBVS V


UNDERWORLD

FOR SETONIA OMFALE

HIS MOST AFFECTIONATE

AND WELL DESERVING DAUGHTER,

ENCOLPUS

HER FATHER MADE THIS

SHE LIVED

16 YEARS 11 MONTHS

5 DAYS

Roman funerary stele for a girl named Setonia Omfale.


Provenance unknown.

NMR.1092



38


D[IS] M[ANIBUS]

GELLIAE IADI

VIXIT ANNIS XXVI

GELLIVS CRESCE[N]S

LIBERTAE BENE

MERENTI FECIT


UNDERWORLD

FOR GELLIA IAS

WHO LIVED 26 YEARS,

GELLIUS CRESCENS

MADE THIS

FOR HIS WELL DESERVING FREED-WOMAN

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Gellia Ias.

2nd to 3rd centuries AD


NMR.1093



39


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

PRIMI VIX[IT] A[NNIS] XI

PHLEGON ET FELIX

B[ENE] M[ERENTI] F[ECERVNT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR PRIMUS WHO LIVED 11 YEARS

PHLEGON AND FELIX

MADE THIS FOR THE WELL DESERVING

[CHILD]

Roman funerary monument for a boy named Primus.


Found near on the Via Domitiana near Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1094



40


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

M[ARCO] CAECILIO PRIMIONI

ET AIVTRICI COIVGI VIV[I]S

F[ACIENDUM] C[URAVERVNT]

CAECILIA TRIPHONA

FRATRI PRO PIAETATI

CONSACRATV


UNDERWORLD

FOR MARCUS CAECILIUS PRIMION

AND FOR HIS WIFE AIUTRIX. IN THEIR

LIFETIME

CAECILIA TRIPHONA

OUT OF AFFECTION FOR HER BROTHER

HAD THIS MADE

Roman funerary monument for a man named Marcus Caecilius Primion

and his wife Aiutrix.


Found on the Via Campana near Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1095



41


CINERIBVS

ALEXANDRI

FOR THE ASHES

OF ALEXANDERRoman funerary monument for a man named Alexander.


Found in the Villa of the Quintili, Italy.

NMR.1096



42


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

M[ARCO] MARIO CEL

SO MAN[IPULARI EX] III ATHE NONICE

NAT[O] BESS[I]

VIX[IT] ANN[IS] XLV MIL[ITAVIT] ANN[IS]

XXVII L[VCIVS] VAL

EPIVS BVCCI

MEREN[TI] FECIT

TO THE SPIRITS OF THE UNDERWORLD

FOR MARCUS MARIUS CELSUS

A SAILOR ON THE TRIREME ATHENONICE

A NATIVE OF THE BESSI (A THRACIAN)

WHO LIVED 45 YEARS AND SERVED

27 YEARS

LUCIUS VALERIUS BUCCI

MADE THIS [FOR HIM] DESERVEDLY

Roman funearary monument for a man named Marcus Marius Celsus.



NMR.1097



43


D[IS] M[ANIBUS] HERMETI

VERNAE VIXIT AN

NIS XVIIII VALERIVS

CLEME[N]S ARMOR

VM CVSTOS III

MERCVRI B[ENE] M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR HERMES

A SLAVE WHO LIVED 19 YEARS

VALERIUS CLEMENS KEEPER OF ARMS

ON THE TRIREME MERCURY

MADE THIS [FOR HIM BEING]

WELL-DESERVING

Roman funerary monument for a man named Hermes.

2nd to 4th century AD

Found near Naples, Italy.

NMR.1098


44


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

ANICIO

HERMETI ET

POMPEIAE CY

THERIDI


UNDERWORLD

FOR ANICIUS HERMES AND

POMPEIA CYTHERIDES

Roman funerary monument for a man named Anicius Hermes and a

woman named Pompeia Cytherides.

1st to 4th century AD.


NMR.1099



45


D[IS] M[ANIBVS] ARIO ROM

MANO VIX[IT] AN[NOS] I M[ENSES] VI

ARRIVS FRONTINVS

FILIO PIENTISSIMO

FECIT


UNDERWORLD

FOR ARRIUS ROMANUS

WHO LIVED 1 YEAR 6 MONTHS

[HIS FATHER] ARRIUS FRONTINUS

MADE THIS

FOR [HIS] MOST RIGHTEOUS SON

Roman funerary monument for a baby boy named Arrius Romanus.



NMR.1100



46


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

HERBULAE PROTIAE

VIXIT ANN[IS] XXI M[ENSIBVS] V

PATER


UNDERWORLD

FOR HERBULA PROTIA


[HER] FATHER [MADE THIS]

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Herbula Protia.


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1101


47


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

AELI[VS] AGRIPPA

BERIOLAE QVAE VI[XIT]

ANN[IS] XVII BENE

M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

AELIUS AGRIPPA

MADE THIS FOR BERIOLA

WHO LIVED 17 YEARS AND WAS WELL

DESERVING

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Beriola.


Found at Baia (ancient Baiae), Italy.

NMR.1102



48


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

M[ARCVS] IVNIVS ...

ENTINVS ET IVN[IA]

FELICITAS FECERV[NT]

IVNIAE SECVNDAE

PATRONAE BENE

(MERE)NTI ET SIBI

(POSTER)ISQV[E]


UNDERWORLD

MARCUS JUNIUS (FLOR)ENTINUS

AND JUNIA

FELICITAS MADE THIS

FOR JUNIA SECUNDA

THEIR WELL DESERVING PATRON

AND FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR

DESCENDENTS

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Junia Secunda.


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1103


49


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

A[VLVS] AMMONIVS

VIX[I]T AN[NIS] XXV


UNDERWORLD

AULUS AMMONIUS

WHO LIVED 25 YEARSRoman funerary monument for a man named Aulus Ammonius


Unknown provenance

NMR.1104


50


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

DOMITIVS HERACLIA

NVS DOMITI HERACLIA

NI FIL[IO] VIXIT ANNO I M[ENSIBVS] II

B[ENE] M[ERENTI] FECIT


UNDERWORLD

DOMITIUS HERACLIANUS MADE THIS

FOR HIS SON DOMTIUS HERACLIANUS

WHO LIVED FOR 1 YEAR 2 MONTHS

[AND WAS] WELL DESERVING

Roman funerary monument for a baby boy named

Domitus Heraclianus.



NMR.1105



51


D[IS] (M)[ANIBVS]

ASCLEPIOD... ERM

ODORI FILIAE NICOME

DESSE VIX[IT] AN[NIS] XXX

FRAT ER BENE M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR ASCLEPIOD(?)

THE DAUGHTER OF ERMIDORUS FROM

NICOMEDIA(?)

WHO LIVED 30 YEARS

HER BROTHER MADE THIS [FOR HER BEING]

WELL DESERVING

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Asclepiod...


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1106


52


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

VRSENAE CRIS

TE VIX[IT] ANN[IS]

XXVII AELIVS

APOLLONIDES

B[ENE] M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR URSENA CRESTE

WHO LIVED 27 YEARS

AELIUS APOLLONIDES

MADE THIS [FOR HER

BEING] WELL DESERVING

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Ursena Creste

175-225 AD

Found near Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1107


53


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

PHLEGOSTENI

FILIAE B[ENE] M[ERENTI]

FECIT


UNDERWORLD

FOR PHLEGOSTE

A WELL DESERVING DAUGHTER

THIS WAS MADE

Roman funerary monument for a girl named Phlegoste.


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1108


54


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

A[ULO] TERENTIO ET

M[ARCO] L[UCIO] FLAVIANI


UNDERWORLD

FOR AULUS TERENTIUS AND

MARCUS LUCIUS FLAVIANUS

Roman funerary monument for two men named Aulus Terentius and

Marcus Lucis Flavianus.


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1109


55


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

VITELLIAE FELICITATI

VIXIT ANN[IS] VIII M[EN]S[IBVS] V

VITELLIA HELPIS FILIAE

B[ENE] M[ERENTI] F[ECIT]


UNDERWORLD

FOR VITELLIA FELICITAS


VITELLIA HELPIS MADE THIS

FOR HER WELL DESERVING DAUGHTER

Roman funerary monument for a girl named Vitellia Felicitas

300-400 AD.

Found at Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1110



56


EPAPHRODIUS

ONESIMO FRATR[I]

VIXIT ANN[IS] XXXV

EPAPHRODIUS

FOR HIS BROTHER ONESIMUS

WHO LIVED 35 YEARSRoman funerary monument for a man named Onesimus.


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1111


57


M OCT

EVS GEM

FOR MARCUS OCTAVIUS EUSEBIUS

GEMELLUSRoman funerary monument for a man named Marcus Octavius Eusebius

Gemellus.


Found on the Via Domitiana near Solfatara, Italy.

NMR.1112


58


LAELIA M[ARCI] F[ILIA]

PRISCILLA VIXIT

ANN[IS] XXIII

LAELIA PRISCILLA

THE DAUGHTER OF MARCUS

WHO LIVED 23 YEARSRoman funerary monument for a woman named Laelia Priscilla.

200-225 AD

Found in a tomb on the Via Cumana, Pozzouli (ancient Puteoli), Italy.

NMR.1113



59


HALEAE

AGRIPPINAE

ANCILLAE

VIXIT A[NNIS] XXV

FOR HALEA

AGRIPPINA

A SLAVE

WHO LIVED 25 YEARS

Roman funerary monument for a woman named Heleae Agrippinae.



NMR.1115



60


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

Q[UINTO] AEMILIO TROPHI

MO VAL PRIMITIVA

CONIVGI BENE

MERENTI


UNDERWORLD

FOR QUINTUS AEMILIUS TROPHIMUS

VALERIA PRIMITIVA [MADE THIS]

FOR HER WELL DESERVING HUSBAND

Roman funerary monumet for a man named Quintus Aemilius Trophimus.


Unknown provenance.

NMR.1116


61

TI[BERIO] CLAUDIO A(UG)[USTI) (L)[IBERTO]

AMIANTHO S(T...)

VIXIT ANN[IS] XX(?)

EROS ET NATALIS FRA(TRES)

FRATRI FECERU(NT0)

FOR TIBERIUS CLAUDIUS AMIANTHUS

A FREEDMAN OF AUGUSTUS

[IE. THE CURRENT EMPEROR]

WHO LIVED 20(?) YEARS

THE BROTHERS EROS AND NATALIS

MADE THIS FOR THEIR BROTHER

Roman funerary monument for a man named Tiberius Claudius

Amianthus.

50 - 100 AD

Found near a monument in the Vigna Codini (columbarium), between the

Via Appia and the Via Latina near Rome, Italy.

NMR.1118

Excavated by J.P. Campana in 1840.

Acquired by Giambattista Guidi after 1840.


62


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

FELICITATI ALVMNAE DVL

CISSIMAE QUAE VIX[IT] ANN[IS]

III MENS[IBVS] VII D[IEBVS] XXII HOR[IS] VIII

PROCESSVS ET DAPHNE

B[ENE] M[ERENTI] FECERVNT


UNDERWORLD

FOR THE FOSTER CHILD FELICITAS

THE SWEETEST GIRL WHO LIVED

3 YEARS 7 MONTHS 22 DAYS 8 HOURS

PROCESSUS AND DAPHNE

MADE THIS FOR THEIR WELL DESERVING

[FOSTER DAUGHTER]

Roman funerary monument for a girl named Felicitas.


From Miseno (ancient Misenum), Italy.

NMR.1120


63


DIOGENES

MARKOU AM[A]

STRIANOS PA

LAISTES EN

THADE KEIMAI

Z[ESAS] ET[E] LE CHERETE PARODEITAI

DIOGENES, SON OF MARCUS

A WRESTLER

FROM AMASTRIS

HERE I LIE

HAVING LIVED FOR 38 YEARS GREETINGS

PASSERS-BY

Roman funerary monument for a man named Diogenes.

Written in ancient Greek.

200-250 AD


NMR.1121

Purchased by Sir Charles Nicholson in Naples, 1858.

64


D[IS] M[ANIBVS] S[ACRVM]

C[AIVS] IVLIVS PETRONIA

NVS VIX[IT] ANNO I

MENSIB[US] III PETRO

NIANVS P FILIO DVLCIS

SIMO H[OC] C[VRAVIT] F[ACIENDVM]


UNDERWORLD

GAIUS JULIUS PETRONIANUS

LIVED FOR 1 YEAR

3 MONTHS. HIS FATHER PETRONIANUS

HAD THIS STONE MADE FOR HIS MOST

SWEET SON

Roman funerary stele for a boy named Gaius Julius Petronuanus



NMR.1122


65


D[IS] M[ANIBVS]

FELICITATI QVAE

VIXIT ANNIS V

MENSIBVS VII

DIEBVS XXI HOR[IS] III

BALERIA SPES FECIT

B[ENE] M[ERENTI] ALVMNAE


UNDERWORLD

FOR FELICITAS WHO

LIVED 5 YEARS

7 MONTHS

21 DAYS 3 HOURS

VALERIA SPES MADE THIS

FOR HER WELL DESERVING FOSTER-CHILD

Roman funerary monument for a girl named Felicitas.



NMR.1123


66


M[ARCO] IVL[IO] APVLE

IVM QVEM ET

EVPORIVM QVI

VIXIT ANN[IS] XXVI M[ENSIBVS]

VAEL[IA] AVGVRINA MAT[ER]

FILIO DVLCISS[IMO] B[ENE] M[ERENTI]

F[ECIT]

FOR MARCUS JULIUS APULEIUS

ALSO KNOWN AS EUPORIUS WHO

LIVED 26 YEARS 5 MONTHS

[HIS] MOTHER VAELIA AUGURINA

MADE THIS FOR WELL DESERVING

SWEETEST OF SONS

Roman funerary monument for a man named Marcus Julius Apuleius.



NMR.1124


67


DIS MANIBUS

C[AIO] GENTIO VALENTI MILITI

EX CLASSE PRAETORIA[NA] MISE

NENSE EX IIII MINER[VA] NATION[E]

DALM[ATICA] VIX[IT] ANN[IS] XL IN HIS

MIL[ITAVIT] ANN[IS]

XIX HEREDES BENE MERITO

TONATIUS SEVER[US] ET METTIUS

SEVE[RUS]


UNDERWORLD

FOR GAIUS GENTIUS VALENS A SAILOR IN

THE PRAETORIAN FLEET AT MISENUM ON

THE QUADRIREME ‘MINERVA’.

FROM DALMATIA HE LIVED 40 YEARS AND

SERVED ON THIS [SHIP] 19 YEARS.

WELL DESERVING HIS HEIRS

TONATIUS SEVERUS AND METTIUS SEVERUS

[MADE THIS]

Roman funerary monument for a man named Gaius Gentius Valens.

98-117 AD


NMR.1125



68


Appendix: A statement from the curators. The aim of Memento: Remembering Roman Lives is to do exactly that, to remember the lives of the individuals named on the Nicholson Museum’s collection of 68 Roman funerary inscriptions.1 The inscriptions themselves date from the first to fourth centuries AD and record brief glimpses of the relationships, social status, occupations, gender, and ages of a disparate group of people from this period in history.

Two curatorial approaches to the stone inscriptions were necessary in order to achieve this goal.

Firstly, each inscription needed to be transliterated and translated in line with modern standards of Classical Latin and Classical Greek.2 Prior to this exhibition, the Roman inscriptions were last examined as part of the second edition of the Handbook of the Nicholson Museum, published in 1948.3 Since then there have been new ways of thinking about Latin in funerary contexts, which have been incorporated into the translations for this exhibition, as well as different interpretations or errors in the original publication corrected.4 These new translations are also reflective of the need to modernise elements of the language for the modern museum visitor, highlighting the emotional elements in each inscription to instill a personal and immediate connection between the visitor and the ancient person memorialised.

Secondly, a new way of providing access to the content and engaging audiences with the exhibition needed to be developed. To provide the visitor with the essential information for each object, including transliteration, translation and museum label information (name date, provenance, number, credit line) via traditional museum wall paneling was impractical due to the volume of textual information, the scale necessary for legibility, and the desire for direct engagement. To

1 The 68 inscriptions are counted as the complete set of inscriptions collected by Sir Charles Nicholson. This includes 66 physical stones, two of which have inscriptions on either side. Only 62 are represented in the catalogue as throughout the research process it was determined that one inscription was a fake and two others were too fragmentary to warrant inclusion. One further urn was not included as it was on display in the Nicholson Museum exhibition 50 Objects 50 stories and included in the exhibition catalogue, published 2012. Due to the physical limitations of the museum, only 51 of the inscriptions were installed in the final exhibition. 2 Three of the inscriptions are written in Classical Greek and the rest are in Latin. 3 A.D Trendall, 1948, Handbook to the Nicholson Museum. Second Edition. Sydney: The University of Sydney. Other publications include: NMR.1121 was published in R. De Vita, 2015, “Un Lottatore Di Amastri Sul Ponto in Campania” Epigraphica LXXVII, 1-2. pp.229-239. NMR.1091, NMR.1118 and NMR.1070 were published in Janette McWilliam, et.al. 2014, A Study in Stone. Brisbane: Rd Milns Museum, University of Queensland. pp. 33-36; NMR.1125 was published in M. Turner, 2012, 50 Objects 50 Stories: Extraordinary curiosities from the Nicholson Museum. Sydney: The University of Sydney. pp. 24-25; NMR.1098, NMR.1125, NMR.1081 and NMR.1071 Published in L.F. Fitzhardinge, 1951, 'Naval Epitaphs from Museum in the Nicholson Museum, Sydney’ Journal of Roman Studies Vol XLI. pp. 17-21; Complete collection were published in E. Reeve. 1870. Catalogue of the Museum of Antiquities of the Sydney University. Sydney: The University of Sydney. pp. 79-87. 4 One particular change between the 1948 publication and this exhibition is in the interpretation of inscription numbered NMR.1091 (p.37 of this catalogue). Examination of the lettering suggests that the ɵ ‘theta’ at the beginning of the last line of the inscription was not a part of the original inscription, rather it stands for the word thanatos, meaning death, which would have been added after the individual named became deceased.

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resolve this issue an exhibition reflective kiosk was designed with touch screen accessibility.5 Each page of this catalogue represents an individual page within the kiosk. Navigation between these pages is provided in a visual representation of the exhibition, where users can simply touch on the exhibition section they are interested in and then touch on each individual stone to discover the translation. There is no curatorial narrative directing a visitor to engage with the inscriptions in any particular order. Rather each visitor curates their own experience, by engaging with as many inscriptions and stories as they wish in any order. This approach enables the visitor to develop a more personal connection with the ancient individual memorialised.

Memento: Remembering Roman Lives connects us to the lives of 107 husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons, daughters and foster children, naval officers, wrestlers, nurses, patrons, freedwomen, freedmen and slaves.

Michael Turner and Candace Richards

Further reading

Publications

Fitzhardinge, L.F. 1951, 'Naval Epitaphs from Museum in the Nicholson Museum, Sydney’ Journal of Roman Studies Vol XLI. pp. 17-21.

Manton, G.R. & L.F. Fitzhardinge, ‘Sepulchral Inscriptions’, in A.D. Trendall. 1948. Handbook to the Nicholson Museum. The University of Sydney. Pp. 423-451.

Marty, P. F. and K. Jones (eds). 2008. Museum Informatics: People, Information and Technology in Museums. New York: Routledge.

Richards, C. 2016. “Grave Secrets” MUSE Vol. 13. pp.28-30.

Tuck, S. 2005. “De Criscio Collection: History and Acquisition” Latin Inscriptions in the Kelsey Museum, The Dennison and De Criscio Collections. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. pp. 4-7.

Online resources

Campbell, E. “Latin Funerary Inscriptions” Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum. http://archaeologicalmuseum.jhu.edu/the-collection/object-stories/latin-funerary-inscriptions

Sydney University Museums. Collections Search. http://sydney.edu.au/museums/collections_search/

5 A kiosk in the museum environment is a digital interface installed in the gallery which is primarily used to convey information to a visitor, usually about the museum or gallery itself, directional information such as floor maps, or exhibition content.

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http://archaeologicalmuseum.jhu.edu/the-collection/object-stories/latin-funerary-inscriptions

http://sydney.edu.au/museums/collections_search/

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