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CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS 
 
 31 
 
 7 
 
 f 
 
 OF TOE 
 
 FIRST SIX CENTURIES, 
 
 BY THE 
 
 EEY. JOIIX ]\FCAUL, LL.D., 
 
 PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY COLLEQE, TORONTO, ETC. 
 
 01 vexpo) iyspOrjffovrai atpOaprot. 
 
 TORONTO: 
 W. C. CHEWETT A CO., KING STREET EAST. 
 
 LONDON: 
 BELL «t DALDY. 
 
 MDCCCLXIX. 
 
 'r 
 
Entered aoconling to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in tlie year one thousand 
 eight liundrod and sixty-nine, by W. C. Chewett & Co., of Toronto, in thu Office 
 of the Minister of Agriculture. 
 
 Ik- I 
 
 i. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I' 
 
 in 
 
 The following scloction of Epitaphs, with the expansions, translations, 
 and notes, originally appeared as a scries of articles in the Canadian 
 Journal. The epitaphs have l)e3n both selected and treated without any 
 controversial aim ; my object has been to provide a manual suited to the 
 wants of those, who may desire to enter on the study of the sepulchral 
 inscriptions of the early ages of Christianity as a branch of Epigraphy. 
 
 I have limited myself to the first six centuries P.O., not merely because 
 the Consular /asti extend to about this period, but also because there are 
 scarcely any subsequent epitaphs worthy of being ranked with specimens 
 of ancient Roman Epigraphy. By adopting this limitation, also, I have 
 had the important advantage, throughout my examination of the Roman 
 epitaphs, of the valuable aid supplied by the Cavaliere I)e Rossi's learned 
 labors, in his ^^ Inacriptiones urhis Hotnm Septimo Sceciilo Antiqiiioret.''^ 
 In selecting only those inscriptions that bear dates, I have been influenced 
 by the desire to leave as little ground as possible for questioning the age. 
 No example has been given without '''examination of competent evidence 
 
 ff 
 
 * No one, but those conversant with epigraphy, can fully appreciate the 
 necessity for such examination. There are whole claases of inscriptions so 
 justly suspected, that no scholar would accept one of them without the greatest 
 caution ; such, for example, are the Spanish, given under the name of Cyriac 
 of Ancona, or on the authority of Morales or Occo, or the Italian, vouched 
 for by Ligorio, a name of itself sufficient to excite the strongest suspicion, 
 Ligorio, a Neapolitan, was a practised forger of iLscriptions, wliich he sold to 
 collectors, and many of his impostures have been exposed by scholars. Ilia 
 work, however, was confined to imitation of the Iljathen iitnli. But there were 
 others who took up the manufacture of Christian inscriptions. The celebrated 
 epitaph on Daciana Diaconism, who was " the daughter of Palmatus the Consul, 
 and the sister of Victorinus the Presbyter, and prophesied many things," although 
 it passed the ordeal of Maffei's fastidious scrutiny, is now known to have been 
 forgeil, and has been traced to Ferrar >. See De Poesii, p. xxx. And yet Ackner 
 and Midler, in "Die Rumischea Inecriftea in Dacieu," published at Vienna ixx 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 for its genuineness and correctness ; and I have invariably stated the place 
 
 18G5, cite this inscription jis genuine. Bosio's great work in Italian, on the 
 catacombs of Rome, is chii'fly Icnown by the edition in Latin of IV"' Aringhi, 
 who published what jirofesacd to be Roma subterranea noviasinut post Antonitim 
 Bosium el Joannein Scveranum, in two volumes, thftt have a reputation far beyond 
 their merits. There is no doubt that a second Ligorio imposed on both Seve- 
 rano and Aringhi. See Do Rossi, p. zxvi. Again, Boldetti, who publislied what 
 may be regarded as a oupi)loment to Bosio, was so deficient in scholarship and 
 critical acutenoss, and so regardless of accuracy, that no reliance can be placed 
 on his copies, even of inscriptions that he himself saw. As this may appear to 
 some to be too harsh a censure on a writer whose authority was once held in 
 high estimation, I subjoin one of the many adverse opinions pronounced on him 
 by De Rossi, who was thoroughly acquainted with his work in all its details; 
 Hujus {»cil. Boldetti) i?i id genus apographis excipiendit imptritiam et incuriam non 
 etntena, sed millena exempla Ustantur. See p. 24. 
 
 In p. 82, 2nd edii;. of "The Chiirch in the Catacombs," Dr. Maitlond remarks: 
 " A curious epitaph found at Verona, probably not older than the seventh cen- 
 tury, states why Felicianus wished a tomb reserved for himself a'one: (Gruter.) 
 
 D. M. 
 
 FELICIANI • VERONEN 
 
 MiniMET • FELICIANVS • VERONEN • 
 
 • SACRVM • CONST ■ 
 
 QVI INQVIETVS VIXI 
 
 NVNC TANDEM MORTVVS 
 
 NON LVBENE? QVIESCO 
 
 SOLVS CVR SLM QVAE&ERIS [sic] 
 
 VT • IN • DIE • CENSORIO • SINE 
 
 IMPEDIMENTO • FACILIVS 
 
 RESVRGAM 
 
 To the Divine Manes of Felicianus of Verona. I, Felicianus, of Verona, have 
 consecrated this tomb for myself. I, who lived restless, being now at length 
 dead, rest unwillingly. Do you ask why I am alone? Thot in the day of judg- 
 ment I may more readily arise, without impediment." 
 
 There are, I think, but few epigraphists whose suspicion as to the antiquity 
 of this epitaph would not be excited by its stylo and language, and their suspi- 
 cions would, unquestionably, be just, for this Felicianus of Verona, the author 
 of it, lived about the middle of the 15th century. Ho was a collector of inscrip- 
 tions, medals and curiosities, and wasted much time and money on the applica- 
 tion of chemistry to the production of gold. Ho is also known by his edition, 
 in conjunction with Ziletti, of Petrarch's Degli uomini famoti, Verona, 1476. 
 Maitland's mistake regarding this inscription is the more remarkoble, as Fleet- 
 wood, in 1694 {Sgcloge, p. 198), warned his readers not to accept this epitaph as 
 ancient, and stated that its author flourished about 1463 a.d. ; and similar infor- 
 mation is given by Gudius, in the edition of Gruter'a Thesaurus, Amsterdam, 1 101. 
 
PREPACE. ▼ 
 
 (when known) where each was found, with the authority both for this 
 statement and for the text that I have adopted. 
 
 The figures in the * lithographic plates arc t fac-similes of the originals, 
 as they are represented in Do Rossi's work ; the other inscriptions are 
 given, according to common usage, in ordinary type. In these, conse- 
 quently, there are omissions of various particulars, such as leaf-points, 
 monograms, symbols, and other pictorial characteristics, but the significa- 
 tion of the words is in no wise affected, and the copies are printed with as 
 much accuracy as I could attain. 
 
 The notes that I have given are few and generally brief, as many of the 
 difiiculties are explained in the expansions and translations. In the pro- 
 sent publication, I have prefixed an Introduction, which will, I venture to 
 believe, be regarded as a useful addition, especially as some of the topics 
 that are treated in it have never before, I so far as I am aware, been dis- 
 
 Other authors might be mentioned in illustrntion of the neceasity for exam- 
 ining the authority for each inscription, but, probably, enough haa been said on 
 the subject. It ia a more agreeable duty to bear my testimony to the remark- 
 able merits of the Cavaliere Do Rossi's claborato volume, a work which iaf<xcile 
 priuceps of all that have been publislicd on tlie subject, and to which I om lorgely 
 indebted for assistance. 
 
 * I liave added to tiiose that appeared in the Journal a, frontispiece, in which 
 are given three inscriptions t.lmt Iiave special interest, one on account of the 
 symbols, another on acount of the unexplained letters, and the third as present- 
 ing the earliest example of a cross in a dated inscription. They, also, are copied 
 from De Rossi's work, but the first and second do not exactly represent the 
 forms of the stones, as the lithographer, in order to get tlie figures into the 
 page, was obliged to make one lap over tlie otlier, and to omit the lower line of 
 the second. In every other respect, however, they are faithful copies. 
 
 •j- I iiave examined Perret's splendid volumes, but have not taken any extract 
 from tliem. Their accuracj', even pictorially, cani.ot be relied on. Cardinal 
 Wiseman notices them with the mild censure " jicrhaps somcwliat overdone ;" 
 but Burgon does not hesitate to call them " sinjpiy a roinnnce." I)e Rossi lian- 
 dlcs with tenderness " la grandioza edizione," tliat " malgrado i suoi difetti" has 
 assisted in spreading a taste for the study of the Catacombs, and wliicli has cost 
 the French nation "duecento([uarnntami1a franclii." Tlie plates subjoined to his 
 own "Roma Sotterranea Cristiana," Roma, 1864, 1607, 4 vol., 2 of text (Italian), 
 and 2 of plates, will bear close inspection. 
 
 I Wiiile these sheets containing the Preface and Introduction are in progress 
 through the press, I have hod my attention called to tlie Edinburgh Jicview, No. 
 CCXLV, containing a paper on De Rossi's and other works relating to Ciiristian 
 and Jewish inscriptions. If I had seen it at an earlier period, I should have 
 referred in more than one place in my notes on tlie Epitaphs to this very 
 interesting article. 
 
Tt PREFACE. 
 
 cussed in EDglish. For further information on many of these, tlie reader is 
 referred to Do Rossi's Prolegomena. In order that requisite facilities for 
 reference may be afforded to students, I have also subjoined an Index. 
 
 Although I have endeavored to make this little work as complete as 
 possible with a view to the purpose for which it is intended, yet I am 
 sensible that I have not accomplished all that I desired. A sufBcicnt 
 apology will, I trust, be found in the difficulties and disadvantages under 
 which, in young communities, the rarer subjects of investigation are studied 
 and tho results of such study are published. I gladly acknowledge the 
 benefits that I have derived from tho use of the fine collection of epigraphic 
 works belonging to our University, but I have often had occasion to regret 
 my inability to consult other books, such as can be found only in Libraries 
 that are the growth of centuries. 
 
 J. M'O. 
 
 Univ. Coll., Toronto, 
 
 December, 31, 1868. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CLASSES. 
 
 P.AOEH. 
 
 I. Those in wiiicn only the Name and Date are stated — 
 
 1 to 4 
 II. TnosE IN wuicn only the Name, Aoe and Date, are stated — 
 
 4 to 8 
 
 III. Tuose im waicu some Cuaracteristic or tde Deceased is 
 
 stated — 
 
 8 to 12 
 
 IV. Those in which the Relationship or the Deceased is stated — 
 
 12 to 28 
 (a) Father, p. 12. (6) Mother, p. 13. (c) Husband, pp. 
 
 13 to 16. {(i) Wife, pp. 16 to 20. (e) Son, pp. 20, 21. 
 
 (/) Daughter, pp. 21 to 24. (ff) Brother, p. 24. (A) Sister, 
 
 p. 24. (i) Foster-father, pp. 25 to 28. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Those in which the Occupation or Position in Life or the 
 Deceased is stated — 
 
 Secular: (a) Member of tho Imperial household, pp. 28, 
 29, 30. (6) Lawyer, p. 30. (c) rrnefect of the City, p. 81. 
 
 (d) Physician, pp. 31, 32. (e) Baker, pp. 82, 33. (/) Gar- 
 dener, p. 33. (g) Exqufcstor, pp. 33, 34. (A) Soldier, p. 34. 
 (t) Prffifect of the Market, p. 85. (k) Keeper of a publio 
 granary, p. 35. {t) Book-keeper, p. 36. 
 
 Ecclesiastical: (a) Bishop, pp. 36, 37. {!>) Presbyter, 
 p. 87. (c) Wife of Presbyter, pp. 87, 38. (d) Deacon, p. 38. 
 
 (e) Deacon's wife and children, pp. 38, 38. (/) Sub-Deacon, 
 pp. 39, 40. (g) Acolyte, pp. 40, 41. (/t) Exorcist, p. 41. 
 (i) Reader, p. 42. (A) Custodian, pp. 42, 43. (/) Deaconess, 
 p. 43. (w) Sacred Virgin, pp. 43, 44. 
 
 Those in which there is mention of or reference to the 
 Place of Burial — 
 
 28 to 44 
 
 (a) Locus /actus, pp. 44, 45, 46. 
 (c) Locxis dono* «, pp. 47, 48. 
 (<) Locus triso./iua, pp. 48, 49. 
 49, 60. (g) UviJUHov, p. 50. 
 
 (6) Locus emphis, pp. 46, 47. 
 
 {d) Imci/8 hinomus, p. 48. 
 
 (/) Locus quadrUomus, pp. 
 
 (A) In Basilica, pp. 50, 51. 
 
 44 to 53 
 
 (»■) SepiUerum, pp. 61, 52. {k) Sarcophag^is, pp. 62, 58. 
 
Till 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 VII. TnosB wiiicn contain *CycLic Marks op Time— 
 
 (a) Day of tlio month, day of the week, and dny of the 
 moon, witliout the year, pp. 63, 54. (6) Hour, day of tlie 
 montli, and diiy of the moon, with year, pp. 04, 66. (c) Day 
 of tlie mouth, octave of Easter, and year, pp. 66 to 68. 
 
 Till. Miscellaneous — 
 
 (a) The most ancient dated epitaph, p. 68. (b) Unexplained 
 numerals, pp. 69, 60. (c) Specimen of palfcography, p. 00. 
 ((/) Use of D. M. by Christians, pp. CO to 63. («) Specimen of 
 pttlteography, p. 63. (/) Use ofjjuer as applied to persons of 
 mature age, pp. 03, 64. {<;) Mention of time of sickness before 
 death, p. C4. (A) Domini nostri applied to consuls not 
 Augmti, p. 05. (t) Opisthographa, pp. 06, 06. (i) Specimen 
 of palieojjraphy, p. 66. (/) Posture in prayer, pp. 66, 67. 
 (m) Interval between death and burial, p. 68. 
 
 63 to 68 
 
 68 to 68 
 
 t 
 
 DATES. 
 CONSCLB — 
 
 First Cbntcht — Pios, 
 
 Vtspasiano III. 71 a.d. 68 
 
 Seconu Centuut — 
 
 SuraetSenec 107 " 69 
 
 Pis.etBol. Ill " 4 
 
 Third Ckntiry — 
 
 PrcetetUc et Extricato 11. 217 " 29 
 
 Max. et Urb 234 " 21 
 
 Albino II. et Maximo 263 " 6 
 
 Claiidio et Paterno 269 " 22 
 
 Die. nil et Max 290 " 1 
 
 Ilannibaliano et Ascltpiodoto 292 " 2 
 
 Liorl q 296 " 60 
 
 Anicio Fausio et Virio Gal. 298 " 8, 60 
 
 Fourth Cbnturt — 
 
 827 " 63 
 
 Nepotia7io et Famndo f336 " 17 
 
 Urio et Polemio 338 42, 63, 64 
 
 ♦ Depouding on the revolutions of tho earth and moon, to which may bo added the cycles 
 of ludictions. Such tnnrka, then, include days of the week, of the month, of the moon, Ea.ster 
 day, &c. The tenn Ilinntic (from ^iraroQ = coiisuO is upidied to tho modo of marking the 
 year by stating the Cousuhi or Consul. 
 
 t Printed by mistake, in p. 17, as 335. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 IZ 
 
 Fol'HTH CbNTCRT — 
 
 Vonttnntio Aug. III. tt *Co$lanli Aug 339 A.n. 
 
 JIarctUino tt Probino 341 " 
 
 Vonttnntio III. tt Cottate II. 312 " 
 
 I'UMOVAl 313 •' 
 
 Am— 34ft " 
 
 I'ost Conts. Amanti ft Alhlni 346 " 
 
 Flavio Filijipo et Flavio Snllta 348 " 
 
 lAinenio tt CatuUno 349 " 
 
 Niijrininno 3f)0 " 
 
 A rbitiont et I^lliano f 3ft5 " 
 
 Conttantio VIII et Juliano Caa 356 " 
 
 Datiano et Cereale 368 " 
 
 Eutehio et Ypatio 369 " 
 
 TO I KAI TO T SCO " 
 
 Ihuro et Flortntio 3C1 " 
 
 Mumertino et Ntvita Stili •' 
 
 Divo Joviario Aug. et Varroniiino 304 " 
 
 / . t 806 " 
 
 (Sub Damato Epitco < „.h 
 
 Valentiniano N. P. et Vidori 369 " 
 
 Poa Coniulittu Victoria et Vakntiniani Nobi — 870 " 
 
 Oratiano Aug. II. et Probo 871 " 
 
 Poat Cons. Gnitiani ct Equilii 376 " 
 
 Gratiano IIII et Mcrobaudt 377 " 
 
 Qralano V et Todosio ijaSO " 
 
 Fl. Syagrio et Eucerio 381 " 
 
 Mcrobaude 383 " 
 
 Claearco el liicomede 384 " 
 
 386 " 
 
 Teudosio Aug. II. ct ( 388 " 
 
 Mcrobaude V. C. III. ] 
 
 Ma Maximo Aug. II. ( 
 
 'Jimasio ft Promote 389 " 
 
 Fl. Tatiano et Quinto 301 " 
 
 Arcadio II. et Fl. Rujino 392 " 
 
 Tendoaio III et Eugenia 393 " 
 
 Cotmtlal Probino 395 " 
 
 Arcadio Aug. quater ct Ilonori Aug. tfr 390 " 
 
 Flavio C'cEsario li Nonio Attico 397 " 
 
 Coa.Slil 400 " 
 
 PAOI . 
 
 ». 17 
 
 14 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 31 
 
 U 
 
 23,8 
 
 21 
 
 13 
 
 62 
 
 81 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 18,21 
 
 64 
 
 19) 
 
 16 
 46 
 
 6 
 16,67 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 37 
 24 
 66 
 
 7 
 10 
 
 83 
 60 
 29 
 13 
 48 
 11 
 44, 66 
 49 
 
 ♦ Printed by mistake, in p. 3, as Constanti. t I'rinted by mistake, in p. 21, as 354. 
 
 . J Printed by mistake, in p. 3, as 379. 
 
X CONTENTS. 
 
 Fifth Ckntubt — p^gj_ 
 
 Fl. Vivccniii 401 a.d, 32, 44 
 
 CoHsulatu — ivi Aug 404 " 50, 66 
 
 Ilonorio Aug. VII. 407 " 19, 45 
 
 ANIKIQ BACCOY KAl *IAinnor 408 " *11, 24 
 
 411 " 63 
 
 422 " 40 
 
 Thcodosio e( Valent'niano II. 4aiJ '• 47 
 
 Aetio , 432 " 7 
 
 ? 484 " 7 
 
 Theodosio XV. et Fid. Valentiniano IIII. 435 " 38 
 
 Valentiniajio Aug. VI. 445 " 61 
 
 Callepio 447 « 44 
 
 Foslumiani 448 " 39 
 
 Adeljlo 451 " 61 
 
 Fost Cons Joa7ini,t et Varana ( 457 '• 4,68 
 
 Fl. CoriHtanthw el Rufo ( 
 
 {Era D 462 " 12) 
 
 Fl. Basilio 4G3 " 66 
 
 Fcsd et M— 472 25, 34, 39 
 
 {Provnc. CCCCXXX. et sexta 475 " 37) 
 
 — enanto 484 " 89 
 
 Symmacho 48o " 89 
 
 I>cci .... 486 " 33, 34 
 
 Frobino 489 " 39 
 
 Asterio et Frasidio 494 " 42 
 
 'Sixth Cknturt — 
 
 {Era Fni DXLVIII. 510 " 12) 
 
 Fl. Felice 611 " 41 
 
 *AB[OV MAFNOT 518 " 84 
 
 Fl. Eutharico Cilliga 519 " 30 
 
 S;imm. ct Boetio 522 " 85, 48 
 
 Deci— 629 " 33 
 
 Lampadi et Orestis 530 " 86 
 
 Vilisari 535 ? " 36 
 
 IT. PC Bilisari 538 " 20 
 
 FC Faulini Jun 539 " 43 
 
 El iter FC Basili 544 " 43 
 
 {rov trove vc j/. 644 " 60) 
 
 FC Basili V. C. ann. XXII. 5G3 " 40 
 
 The number of dated Roman epitaph3 of the first six centuries, including frag- 
 ments, ia 1374. Of these only 34 are older than 312 a.d., the year in which 
 Maxentius was defeated by Constantine. There is but one of the first century, 
 two are of the second, and twenty-four of the third, 
 
 ♦ Cut on the stone by mistake l^AIIIIIOr. 
 
INTEODUCTION. 
 
 Of the travellers, who have visited the Vatican, there are but few 
 who have failed to notice the contrast between the Christian and Pagan 
 inscriptions ranged on either side of the Lapidarian Gallery. Some of 
 them have, doubtless, inferred that there are marked differences which 
 uniformly distinguish the two classes, and that the peculiar charac- 
 teristics of the Christian are simplicity and humility. For these in- 
 ferences there are, undoubtedly, some grounds, but they are far from 
 being universally true. Investigation will show that there are epitaphs, 
 regarding which it is extremely difficult to decide to which of the two 
 classes they belong; and that there are Pagan inscriptions, which are as 
 little liable to the charges of ostentation or pride as any Christian titulus. 
 In both classes we have examples of the omission of the names of 
 the deceased, or of the simple mention of the names, with or without 
 the age, and with or without the date (see p. xxi.) — many of the 
 characteristics that are stated are identical (see p. xv.) — the epithets 
 that are applied indicate equal tenderness of affection (see p. xv.) — 
 there are similar evidences of domestic happiness (see p. 15) — in both^ 
 distinguished rank or position in life is occasionally mentioned (see pp. 
 XV. 30, 31,33) — in both are found extravagant laudations (see p. xvii.) 
 — in both we have examples of that conciseness, which omits details 
 such as the cause of death, a particular rarely noticed in Pagan epitaphs, 
 and still more *rarely in Christian — in both, we meet with- uncouth prose 
 and verse (see pp. 25, 30), disfigured by solecisms and inelegancies (as 
 
 * Thia is especially remarkable with reference to martyrdom, the notices of 
 which— in original — not commemorative epitaphs, may be regarded as about 
 the proportion of 1 in 2000. This peculiarity did not escape the observation 
 of Muratori, who remarks on the epitaph of a girl of '.lie age of two years 
 and twenty days, 1958, 8 : — " Ibi Vasculum Martyrii Signum. In sacrU Us Cocme- 
 teriis duo potissimum mirei-is, Nempe quum tot Vasa vitrea aut fic/ulina occurrant 
 nullam tamcn in ipm in»criptionihu$ mortis pro Christo toleratce mentionem habert, 
 et prcdcrea Infantes ob Fidtm Christi morti datos fuisse." 
 
zii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 
 compared with classical usage), that may he attributed to the ignorance 
 of the authors or of the masons, or, rather, to the declining Latinity of 
 the age, especially marked in colloquial forms. And yet, with all these 
 points of resemblance — and others might be added to those that I 
 have noticed — there are strongly marked differences, that must attract 
 the attention of any careful reader. In the Christian epitaphs we find 
 no fretful impatience under visitation, or angry questioning of the 
 propriety of the bereavement, but, on the contrary, submiseion and 
 resignation — no giving way to despair, but the calmness of hope — *no 
 uncertain speculations or dim anticipations of future existence, but a 
 confident belief in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world 
 to come. But let us examine the subject more minutely, and with this 
 view consider it under the heads, Language, Names and Dates ; f not 
 that this is an exhaustive division, but that it seems well adapted to 
 the wants of those entering on the study of Christian epigraphy. 
 
 I. Language. 
 A student, who is accustomed merely to classical Greek and Latin, 
 as they were written by authors melioris noise, will find many startling 
 novelties in Christian epitaphs, some Jpeculiar to them and some 
 common to them and Heathen inscriptions. The novelties that will 
 first attract his attention are probably those in grammar. Here we find, 
 in orthography, such forms asjilie iorfiUx, que or qae for quse, hac for 
 ac, ic for hie, pride for pridie, mesis for mensis, michi for miki, exibit 
 for exivit, opsequia for obsequia, vicxit, visit, bissit, or visse for vixit, 
 adque for atque, quesquenti for quiescenti, depossio for depositio, &c. 
 The lapse of Latin into Italian h marked by such changes as prefixing 
 i, as ispiriio for spiritui, or aflSxing e, aspositete for jwstiit. 
 
 * Thia is not universally true, for some Chriatians retained some Pagan super- 
 stitions. See p. 63. The latest example of the use of D. M. in a Christian 
 dated epitaph, of which I am aware, is in Steiner's Cod. Inserip. Rom. Rhen. i. 
 p. 289, 609, of the date, according to his restoration, 440 a. d. I have strong 
 donbts of the authenticity of this inscription, and cannot recognize Steiner's 
 authority as sufficient for accepting it. 
 
 \ A similar remark may be made relative to my division into eight classes 
 iu the Selection of epitaphs. 
 
 \ The student should beware of regarding what may be new to him in Chris- 
 tian epitaphs as peculiar to them. Very many of the variations from classical 
 usage are to be found in Pagan inscriptions, and some of them in authors that 
 are not commonly read. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xiU 
 
 There are also varieties in inflexion, such as spirita sancta for tpiritu 
 $ancto, pauper orum iotpauperurrif Agapeni for Agapae, Ireneti for Irense* 
 Victoriaes for Vtctorise, vocitus for vocaitts, requieacent for requiescunt, &o. 
 
 Of the ordinary rules of syntax we have such violations, as in ssecu- 
 lum for in saeculo, cum maritum for cum marito, pro sobolem for pro 
 aobole, hoc tumulum for hunc tumulum ; time " how long," commonly 
 *> .pressed by the ablative instead of the accusative, even annua for 
 annoa, &c. 
 
 There are also new or unusual terms, or familiar words in new or 
 unusual meanings, such as pauaavit, dveTravo-aro, rested, lisomua, tri- 
 lomua, quadrisom.ua, holding two, three, four bodies, compar and conpar, 
 husband or wife, *cotta, rib = wife, jugalis, yoke-fellow, f Virginia, 
 wife married when a maiden, '\ fecit for egit, passed, titulua, parochial 
 church, percepitf received scil. baptism, as also consecutua eat in the 
 same sense, &o. 
 
 Sometimes Latin is written in Greek characters, of which there are 
 examples in Epitaphs 18 and 42. See Plates II. 4, I. 1. Sometimes 
 Greek in Latin, as zeses=^r](Tri<i^=vivaa. Neither of these usages is 
 peculiar to Christian inscriptions. 
 
 The phraseology, also, deserves attentive consideration. The terms 
 and expressions for our " Here lies " are hie jacet (not often), 
 tV^ciSc Kctrai (often), hie situs est, hie positua, \depositua, dormiti 
 
 * la Epitaph n. 35. Can there have been here some omission by mistake ? 
 and is coiia by error for casKe f See Orelli, n. 4648. 
 
 f Thus also virginius ^ maritus. See p. 14. There is a surprising mistake 
 relative to this use in " Bie Romischen Inschriften in Dacien von Michael I. 
 Ackner and Friedrich Miiller," Wien, 1865. In n. 715, we have the following 
 epitaph: — D. M. Valeriut Locinus Vei. N. Campettror viz. ann. XXXXVIII 
 Atirel. Piruai Virginia b. m. p. m. This is expanded as follows : — " Diis Manibut, 
 Valerius Locimtt Veteranm Numero Cambestrorum, vixit annii XXXXVIII Aure- 
 Hut Pintsiui Virginia (/) bene merenti posuit monunentum." It is plain that 
 Aurel. Piruti are the names of the wife of Valerius Locinus and that Virginia is 
 = Marito. 
 
 In n. 856 of the same work the sense oifeeii is mistaken. The words arei fecit 
 in Dacia an. v., which are expanded ; — feliciter in Daeia annos V, as if fecit was 
 given by mistake. The meaning is — " she passed five years in Dacia." 
 
 J In " Fabiola ; or the Church of the Catacombs," p. 148, Cardinal Wiseman 
 states his views relative to the terms depositus and deposiiio. "This lying in 
 wait for the resfirrection," he remarks, " was the second thought that guided 
 the formation of these cemeteries. Every expression connected with them 
 
XIT 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 * qu!e$cU, &c. For death we have the tense forms de/undut est, 
 
 alluded to the rising again. The word to buri^ is unknown in Christian inscrip- 
 tions, " Depotited in peace," " the depotUion of ," are the expressions used ; 
 
 that is, the dead are but lofl there for a time, till called for again, as a pledge, 
 or precious thing, intrusted to faithful, but temporary, keeping. The very name 
 of cemetery suggests that it is only a place where many lie, as in a dormitory, 
 slumbering for a while ; till dawn come, and the trumpet's sound awake them. 
 Uence the g^ave is only called " the place" {lociui), or more technically " the 
 small home (loeulus) of the dead in Christ," As these observations may convey 
 a very erroneous impression, it seems necessary to state that there are numerous 
 Christian epitaphs in which there is no notice, in any form, of the deceased 
 having been committed to the grave, and that, where there is such a notice, 
 neither depositiu nor depotitio is invariably used. We have positut est, hie jaeet, 
 hie titit* ett, tumulatu$ e»t, and, on stones not found in the catacombs, humatus ett. 
 In one example, De Rossi's n. 1192, wo have the usual Pagan terra referring to 
 the funeral, elatui ett. Even the term depositm cannot with certainty be claimed 
 as exclusively used by Christians. Ilenzen, n, 6694, gives a Pagan epitaph, 
 found at Koppach, in Austria, in which D P seems to stand for depoiito. 
 Mommsea remarks — Vide ne tit DeFuncto. The suggestion is a good one, but 
 scarcely satisfactory, for in the preceding part of this same inscription we have 
 O for 9, the ordinary nota for OavovTi = de/uncto. In addition to this, I have 
 noticed the word depoaitua in full in another Pagan epitaph, given by Orelli, n, 
 4566. If the true reading here be, as it is given by Gruter and Orelli, depoaitua 
 in . :aceUo, the use is at variance with the idea relative to corpua integrum, as 
 stated by me in my note in Epitaph 1, I have seen nothing, however, to shake 
 the opinion there expressed, that our word " buried" is the equivalent of depo- 
 aitua. Morcelli, de Stilo, ii. 18, evidently regarded the word in the same sense, 
 and in the Lexicon attached to his work, tepellito is given as the Italian equiva- 
 lent. It is proper, however, that I should add that I do not recollect having 
 seen aepultua in any Christian epitaph of the first six centuries ; it very rarely 
 occurs in Pagan inscriptions. The learned Cardinal's views relative to " slum- 
 bering for a while" are inconsistent with the fact that the same metaphor for 
 death was used by the Pagans. See Raoul Rochette, " Memoire sur les autiquites 
 Chretiennes des Catacombes," and Morcelli, de Stilo, ii, 79. His stotements, also, 
 regarding the peculiar sense of locua or loculua, are contradicted by a similar uso 
 of the first of these terms in Pagan epitaphs, and of the latter in classical authors, 
 * The use of quieacit or requieaeit is not peculiar to Christian epitaphs. They 
 are found in Pagan. See Gruter, 446, 8; Orelli, n. 4493; Muratori, 1154,7, 
 1044, 8, 2080, 11. Hie requievit is found in Orelli's n. 4494. The Virgilian 
 placida compoatua pace quiescit, and placida morte quieacit resemble the Christian 
 formnlce. The use of in pace was derived bj' Christians from the usage of the 
 Jews, from whom they borrowed, as might be expected, some of their sepulchral 
 emblems, such as the seven-branched candlestick, the dove with the branch, and' 
 perhaps, even the palm-branch, for this was certainly used by the Jews as well 
 as by the Pagans. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XV 
 
 *dec€8sit, rece$sity de saeculo recessit, de sseculo exivit, reddidit sc. 
 animam, reddidit debitum, Deo reddidit spiritum sanctum, pausavit, 
 reguievit, ivit ad Deum, migravit de hoc $aeculo, recessit de hac luce, 
 prsecesait, tcXcut^, cTcAcirn/o-cv, dveTrauo-aro, ^tcXciw^t/, and tho partici- 
 pial forms de/unctus, alsolutus de corpore, evocatus a Domino, farces- 
 situs ah angelis, receplus ad Deum, accepta apud Deum, ohita, l^tXBiiv 
 
 €K TOW /3l0V, &0. 
 
 The age ia expressed by vixit, or vixit in srectdo, annos (or annis or 
 annus) — , menses (or mensihus') dies (or diebus) — , with the number 
 of hours sometimes stated. Sometimes qui fnit stand for vixit, some- 
 times neither is expressed, and we have the form in the genitive, scil. 
 annorum^ &c. When the exact number of years was not known, the 
 phrase plus minus, ttXcov eXarrovj more or less, was used. Frequently 
 the time passed in married life is mentioned, and we find such phrases 
 as vixit mecum, duravit mecum, vixit in covjugio, fecit mecum, fecit in 
 conj agio, fecit cum compare, with a precise statement of the number of 
 years, &c., and often with some expression marking the happiness of 
 the couple's married life, such as sine Isesione animi, sine querela, sine 
 jurgio, &c. 
 
 The epithets applied to the deceased indicate strong affection, and 
 the eulogies are sometimes extravagant. Thus we have dulcissimus, 
 carissi7nus, yXvKvraros — Trar^p tckvo) yXvjcvTepu) ^wtos Koi ^uirj^ — inno- 
 centissima, piissimus, castissima, pudicissima, incomparahilis, amator 
 or amatrix pauperum, mirse industrise atque honitatis, mirse inno- 
 centiae ac sapientise (applied to a boy not five years of age), infantiae 
 aetas, virginitatis integritas, morum gravitas, fdei et reverentias disci' 
 plina (the four phrases applied to one female), totius piidicidas Veritas, 
 &nd forma pudoris applied to others, &c. 
 
 The ^occupation or position in life is stated, with the proper titles, in 
 
 * The use of eedo, decedo, excedo, and recedo, in the sense " die," is classical, 
 but I do not recollect an example of any of these in Pagan epitaphs except 
 decedo,wh\ht prmcedo is characteristically Christian, but abscedo is, I think, found 
 only and very rarely in Heathen sepulchral inscriptions, 
 
 f The Pagan forms were raptus a Diibus, and inter Deos recephis. 
 
 :}: There are some remarkable peculiarities in Christian epitaphs as to such 
 statements. They scarcely ever mention tho positions of liberti or servi, so 
 frequently noticed on Pagan grave-stones. In De Rossi's " Roma Sotterranea," 
 Tav. XX. 3, we have^tho following, found in the crypt of Lucina: D. M. Marc'e 
 Jiufine digne patrone Secundus libertua fecit, on which see his remarks, p. 343. 
 
I I 
 
 XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 maDj dated Christian epitaphs, but they are all, I think, later than the 
 
 Another rarity in these sepulchral inscriptions is the mention of soldiers. Le 
 Blant has instituted a comparison of the number found in Christian and in Pagan 
 epitaphs, and finds that in 4,700 of the former the ratio is 0.67 per cent., and in 
 10,000 of the latter 6.42 per cent. There are, also, extremely few examples in 
 which the designation — " Catechumen" — is used. It is very difficult to assign 
 satisfactory reasons for these omissions and for that noticed in note p. zi. 
 
 There can, I think, be no reasonable doubt that many of the early Christians 
 were slaves or freedmen. In Epitaph, n. 49, we have an example of a state 
 of things, which must have often occurred — a Christian libertua in a Heathen 
 household. As to the notices of Christian slaves in the New Testament, see St. 
 Paul's Epiat. Ephea. vi. 6 ; Col. iii. 22 ; Tit. ii. 9 ; and St. Peter's Epiit. I. ii. 18. 
 This remarkable silence relative to slaves and freedmen is by some supposed to 
 be sufficiently explained by reference to St. Paul's Epist. Galat. iii. 28, where the 
 Apostle states — "There is neither bond nor free." But if this reference bo 
 accepted, we should not have had any distinction between men and women in 
 Christian epitaphs, for the Apostle adds — " there is neither male nor female." 
 
 Again, with reference to the rarity of mention of soldiers, it cannot be denied 
 that we have sufficient evidence that a considerable number of Christians served 
 in the army. In Epitaph, n. 67, we have an example of one of the Prottctores, 
 and both Naaariua and Nahor, mentioned in Epitaph n. 88, are said to have been 
 soldiers. The legend of the Legio tonana seems to assume that the fact that 
 Christians served in the army, in considerable numbers, was well known. But 
 we have positive evidence on this point in Tertullian, even though he sa 
 strongly objected to the taking of the military oath by Christians. In his 
 Apology, c. 37, he observes: Omnia vestra implevimus — urbes, insulaa, caatella, 
 municipia, conciliahula, castra ipsa ; and in c. 42 — Navigamia et noa vobiacrtm et 
 militamus. Although it may be regarded as pushing these statements too far to 
 infer from them that "the army was full of Christians," yet I doubt not that 
 there were many Christian soldiers in the early sges, and am persuaded that 
 some of them served in the Uohortes Praetorioe, Urbtnce or Vigilum, whose graves 
 might be expected to be in the Catacombs. 
 
 The rarity of notices of Catechumens, even though the ncmber of deaths in 
 such circumstances must have been large, seems to bo more easily explicable, for 
 it may have seemed in many cases unnecessary to mention the position cf those 
 who were only in preparation for baptism, but had not been admitted into the 
 church. Moreover, relatives may have been reluctant to record a designation 
 which proved that the deceased were not baptized. But the silence regarding 
 martyrdom presents extreme difficulty. The solution that would first suggest 
 Itself is, that a notice of this kind would expose the remains to outrage from such 
 Pagan persecutors aa might enter the Catacombs, But if we accept this, how 
 shoU we explain — as Muratori seems to put the question — the placing of such 
 visible indications outside their graves as vasa cruoria plena i I have seen no 
 explanation of the nbsence of the record of martyrdom, or of either the presence 
 
 ' i 'i >»* n i««< W l r ^BM<WW>— wmit-i 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XTii 
 
 Le 
 
 ♦time of Constantine. Epitaph n. 49 is not an exception, for it is really 
 a Pagan tUulus, with the addition of two lines by a Christian lihertus. 
 
 The same designations of the place of burial and of the tomb are 
 found in both Christian and Pagan epitaphs, such as tumulus, sepul- 
 crum, locus, locus /actus, locus emptus, locus concessus, locus donaius, 
 memoria, sarcophagus, &c., even to the use of domus astcrna. See 
 p. 53. 
 
 In Pagan epitaphs we often find provision made for the interment of 
 the survivors of the family, frequently for Uherti and libertx ; often, 
 too, some statement relative to the heir, such as II. M. H. N. S., Hoc 
 monumentum keredem non seguitur, Il.F. C., Her es faciendum curavit; 
 often, also, the dimensions of the piece of land stated, as I. F. P. XV". 
 I. A. P. XV. i. e. infronte pedes XV: in agro pedes XV. There are, 
 I believe, no examples of such in Christian dated epitaphs. In De 
 Kossi's n. 84, the words on the back seem to belong to a Heathen 
 epitaph. In undated epitaphs examples must be extremely rare. I 
 have noticed only one. Muratori gives it in 19G0, 9. There are there, 
 apparently, two readings of the inscription. I suspect that they are 
 both inacjcurate. 
 
 In the acclamationes there are many points of resemblance, and some 
 marked differences. Under this head — acclamationes — I class expres- 
 sions of good wishes or prayers to or for the deceased, or to or for the 
 living. Of the forms of acclamation, addressed by the living to or for 
 the deceased, we find among the Heathen such as Sit tihi terra levis, 
 Ossa tua bene quiescant, Ave, Vale, Di tibi bene/aciant, fXatpe, EuTrXoei, 
 EvSpo/xEi, S(i)r) (Toi "Ocrtpis to ij/v)(pbv vSiop ; among the Christian such as 
 Refrhjera, Deus tibi refrigeret, vivas inter sanctos, vivas in Deo, 
 
 of the vcsf'^ls or of their contents that I can consider as satisfactory, even though 
 I am acquainted with the theories relative to the latter proposed by Bosio, 
 Rostell, and Maitland. And I must make a similar statement relative to the 
 rarity of notices of slaves or freedmen and soldiers. Nor can I myself offer any 
 solution that satisfies me. 
 
 * There is a strongly marked difference between the tone and language of 
 Christian epitaphs before and after the time of Constantine, i. e. before and after 
 the imperial recognition of Christianity. The 8epulchr.al inscriptions of the 
 later period retained but little of the primitive simplicitj' or expressive terseness 
 that characterized the humble records of a persecuted or tolerated community. 
 See De Rossi, p. ex. 
 
 f On these^nd similar Greek acclamationes, some of which are used in Chris- 
 tian epitaphs, see Marini'a " Iscriz. Albane," Roma, 1785, p. 98. 
 2 
 

 — i.- 
 
 BBSS 
 
 ZVIU 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 II 
 
 I I 
 
 lElpyirq <Toi, Ev Otto fi/trj/?, yprfyopu, 'O ^cos dfaTravoi; t^v ^v)(r]v Iv 
 CKiyvais ayioJi'. 
 
 Another of such forms is a prayer to the deities of the unseen world 
 for the welfare of the deceased, e. gr. COrelli, n. 4775), Peto voa Manes 
 sanctissimce {sic) comniendatum habeatis meum conjugem et velitis 
 huic indulgentissimi esse horis nocturnis ut eum videam. 
 
 This prayer is common in Christian epitaphs in Greek, e. gr. lunjuOy^Ti, 
 Kvpie, T^s Koi/tijo-tcos T^s SovXtjs ctov, avdiravtrov tt/v yj/v\r]v tov 8ov\ov (tov 
 iv Tw (fxoTivta iv toI dvaxj/v^coi^ cts koXttov *A/?paa/i. In Latin, we meet 
 occasionally with such as (Northcote, Catacombs of Rome, p. 148) — 
 Domine ve quando adumhretur spiritus, &c. 
 
 Another form of such requests or prayers is addressed to the deceased 
 to intercede for the surviving friends, or to do something for their 
 welfare. Among the Pagan we have (Henzen, n. 7382) — Msevia Sophe 
 impdra si quse sunt Manes ne tarn scelestum discidium experiscar 
 dnUiu% and (Zoll, Delect, n. 660) Puree matrem tuam et sororem tuam 
 Mariuam. Among the Christian we have '*pete, ^roga, ora pro nobis, 
 &c., *(.v)(ov vw\p T//i,(Jv, *ip<x)Ta vTrep ^p-wv. 
 
 Of the forms T)f acclamation represented as addressed by the deceased 
 to or for the living, we find among the Heathen such as — Valete, 
 Viatores salvete, Bene sit filiabus meis ; among the Christian such as 
 •^IpT^vrjv «X^TC, a8€\(l>0L, Eip^vr; vpiv iracnv iv 0€<3. I recollect but two 
 ■examples, in Christian epitaphs of the first six centuries, of the 
 -address to the reader for his prayers, so common in media3val times. 
 Taut there is no doubt that this form was used by the .Tews. See 
 " Cimitcro degli antichi Ebrei, &c., illustrato da RaflPaele Garrucci," 
 Koma, 18G2. Among the Pagans, a similar request was — Te rogo, 
 j}rceteriens, divas sit tibi terra levis. Another form of such acclama- 
 tions is that of conjuration or imprecation, such as, among the Heathen 
 — rogo per deos superos in/erosque ne velitis ossa mea violare, qui 
 
 * The remark that I have seen in sotne controversial books, that there is but 
 one example of these forms in the Christian epitaphs of Rome, is certainly not 
 in accordance with facts, if the remark be applied, as it was, to all such inscrip- 
 tions. It is true that there are comparatively few among the thousands that 
 have no dates, and to this I may add that instances of the mention in such forms 
 of others than the members of the family of the deceased are extremely rare. 
 With reference to dated epitaphs of the first six centuries, I have not observed 
 «ny example except pro hunc unum ora auholem, which occurs in De Rossi's n. 
 288, of the year 380 a. d. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 kix 
 
 qui 
 
 violaverit deos teniiat iratos, or, among Cljristians — conjuro vos per 
 tremendum diem judicii ut hanc sepuUuram nulli violent, mm Juda 
 habeat partem si quis sepulcrum hunc violaverit. 
 
 II Names. 
 
 The names that are ^usually found in Heathen epitaphs in Latin 
 are, of men, three, uiz., the prcenomen — nomen, and cognomen — e. gr. 
 C' VIBIO'FIIIMO', or, of both men and women, two, viz., the nomen 
 and cognovien — e. gr. SEMPRONIO • DONATO , CALPVRNIA 
 RESTITVTA. 
 
 A common arrangement of the f full style, especially in the case of 
 soldiers, is — preenomen, nomen, nomen jiatris, tribus, cognomen, and 
 patria — e. gr. M • ANTONIO • M • F • POM • AVRELIANO 
 PALANTIA, »'. e. to Marcus Antonius Aurelianus, son of Marcus, of 
 the Pomptine tribe, a native of Palantia. 
 
 In the Christian epitaphs of the first six centuries, the occurrence of 
 the three names is very uncommon ; there is not a single example of 
 Jthis after the third century. See Epitaph n. 41, and notes. During 
 
 * Information on the usual and rarer forms of names may be found in many 
 treatises on the subject. Of these it will be sufficient to mention for the use of 
 students, — Orelli, N^ominum ratio apud Romanos, i. p. 472, with Henzen's addi- 
 tions, iii. p. 237, where further references will be found to discussions of onoma- 
 tological questions, by Cannegetier, Zaccaria, Borghesi, Mommsen, Iliibner, Ac. 
 
 f I have not observed an example of this in a Christian epitaph. The father 
 is sometimes mentioned, but not, so far as I recollect, in this form. Nor can I 
 recall a single instance of the mention of the tribe. The birth-place, however, 
 is occasionally noticed in Greek, but very rarely in Latin. See Epitaphs, nn. 
 45, 82. The absence of mention of the birth-place, in the case of those who were 
 born in the same town in which they werg buried, does not seem remarkable ; 
 such a notice is usually recorded in the epitaphs of those who were the natives of 
 other places, as may be seen in Pagan military and naval funereal inscriptions. 
 Similarly also the usage of mentioning the birth-place in Great Britain or Ireland 
 is common among us (in Canada). 
 
 \ Of the use of the preenomen, nomen and cognomen. Aurelim Fronto Titianus, 
 named in De Rossi's n. 37, of a, d. 330, is not an exception, for Aurelius was 
 never a preenomen. Flaviw, although a nomen, was in later times used as a 
 preenomen. 
 
 On this subject there is an astonishing statement in the critique on De Rossi's 
 work in the Edinburgh Review, No. CCXLV. The author remarks : " M. de 
 Rossi has printed twenty-three inscriptions with the names complete, prior to 
 Constantine. Of thege no fewer than seventeen have praenomens." There is 
 only one of them that has a prsenomen, viz., Tiberius Claudiua Marcianui, The 
 
in 
 
 ! 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 XX 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 this century aloo even im> names fell into disuse, and from the close 
 of it, antiua, entiua, ontiut, and osut, and their fcminincs, wore 
 common endings of sole names, e. gr. Am mtius, Vinctintius, Gauden- 
 tia, Leontius, Bonosua, Gaudiosa. Many of them were of a religious 
 character, such as Adeodatus, Adeodata, Deuadedit, QuodvuUdeus ind 
 similar compounds resembling our Puritan a{){)ellations, Anaatanut, 
 Anaataaia, Paachaaiua, Martyriua, Joannea, Petrtia, Thotr.aa, Befrige- 
 riua, Renatua, Sedempta, Bonifaciua, &o. Some are )>Glieved to have 
 been chosen as indicating humility, as Fimua, Stercoriua, Slercoria, 
 Projectua, Contumelioaua, &c. See Epitaph n. 1, and notes. 
 
 There are many names common to both Christians and Pagans ; 
 among them the designations of animals, such as Ursua, Ursa, Leo- 
 pardua, Aper, Tigria, Agnella, Musculo, &c>, the names of months, 
 such as Januarius, Aprills, December, &c. ; and even the appella- 
 tions of Heathen deities, or derivatives from them, such as Mercuriua, 
 Apollinaria, &c. See Epitaphs nn. 1 and 2G, and notes. 
 
 The number of names taken from the Holy Scriptures is small. Some 
 
 previous statement of the Reviewer — " Of the ante Constantininn inscriptions, 
 there are but two in which tlio three names occur, Marcus Aurclius I'rosenea" 
 (see Epitn])li, n. 49) " and Tibtrins Claudius Marcianits" (see Epitaph n. 4 1 ), is cor- 
 rect. De Rossi does not include the first of these in the twenlj'-threo, because 
 tlie name occurs in an epitaph inscribed by Pagans. A reninrli of the Reviewei , 
 however, relative to the rapid disappearance of the three names is, in my judg- 
 ment, well worthy of consideration. Ho doubts whether this characteristic is 
 BufBciently explained by " the small proportion of patrician families among the 
 early Christians." In this doubt I concur. I cannot but think that a consider- 
 able number of persons entitled to this and other marks of rank were laid to 
 rest in the catacombs, with no other distinction than a single name. This name, 
 I am inclined to think, was the appellation given before or at baptism, by which 
 members of the church were known among their community, and which accord- 
 ingly marked their graves amidst their fellow Christians. 
 
 This use of single names, although certainly not universal, largely prevailed. 
 Up to the time of Constantine, such names seem to have been generally not dis- 
 tinguishable from the Pagan appellations, but in and after his time, when there 
 was no danger in the public profession of Christianity, names of a religious 
 character, such as were but rarely given in the third century, became common. 
 As I have adverted to these names, I avail myself of the opportunity to express 
 my doubts as to the name of the parent of Severa, in Epitaph, n. 42. Following 
 Orelli, ond, as I now see, Muratori in his Index, I have taken it as Leuct for the 
 mother. It may be that the name was Leuces for the father. I do not recollect 
 having ever met with an example of either of these names. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xzt 
 
 have boen already noticed, and it has b.!en suggested to m« that Mala, 
 in n. 14, may bo Mahlah, of Numbers xzvi. 33. lleinesius, oiTonded 
 with tho name, proposes to read Maia or Maea. 
 
 Wo sometimes find persons having two names, one of which may 
 have be.n the Heathen, the other the Christian name. See Epitaphs 
 d:i. 11, 10. In the latter I have followed, with some hesitation, 
 Montfaucon, Kirchoff, and De Rossi, in regarding KaXton'/ios as an ad- 
 jective, but have inadvertently retained tho expansion 1) koX KaXwmj/ios 
 instead of t; koI KaXwwfio^, " tho also rightly-named." My hesitation 
 arises from doubts whether the use uf koX is consistent with tho view 
 that the word is an adjective. 
 
 There are some examples of pet names, such as Pitzinnina, i. e. 
 
 "piccinina" and " pizzinina," /jwinnw* and^i/smna being also used for 
 
 pusillua and pusilla. See notes Plpitaph n. 11. "We also find, but very 
 
 rarely, Gothic names, such as Mreda (Freda?), Brinca or Bringa, 
 
 Uviliaric, Trataric, SedaignucJius. 
 
 In Greek epitaphs some are ordinary Greek names, such as St/joto- 
 v€tK7/, ^r)ixr)Tf)La, 'AvaroXtov, &c. ; others arc indicative of the character 
 — such aa'AycWr], E'W/3io5; or have a religious reference, such as 
 ©€o8ojpos, KvpidKij ', or are drawn from Scripture, as 'Iwavvrji, Mapia, 
 iSreV/mvos, &c. ; or are Latin names Groecised, or written in Greek 
 characters, as <t>opTowaToi's, BiKTwpta, &c. Greek names are often writ- 
 ten in Latin characters, such as Nice, Efpis, Elrene, Euphrosymts, &c. 
 
 In some epitaphs tho names of the deceased are not stated, in some 
 cases, perhaps, for the reason suggested by Fabretti, p. 545, " quia 
 solum in lihro vitcp, descrihi avchant," but this omission of names is 
 not peculiar to Christian epitaphs; it has been noticed in Heathen also. 
 See Fabretti, p. 21. Some, perhaps, may cite as an example of the 
 omission of the name in a dated epitaph, De Rossi's n, 148 : Flaviis 
 Tauro et Florentio Gonss. VIII. Kah Septe. dep. in pace Q. vix. M. 
 XL D. XXIIIL i. e. "In the Consulship of Flavins Taurus and 
 Flavins Florentius (i. e. 3G1 a.d), on the eighth day before the 
 Calends of September, buried in peace, who lived eleven months, 
 twenty-four days." See also his n. 220. In both cases, however, it 
 may be that the name has been obliterated, or lost. 
 
 III. Dates. 
 
 Even the shortest epitaph, in our time, usually contains the dates of 
 the birth and death- of the deceased, but the usage was different in 
 
ZXIl 
 
 INTRODUOTIOX. 
 
 ancient sepulchral inscriptions, whether Heathen or Christian. A 
 marked distinction of both, as contrasted with modern custom, is their 
 usual omission of the ♦dates of birth and diiath, especially of the former, 
 mention of which is very rare ; and a peculiarity of Christian as com- 
 pared with Heathen epitaphs is that the former often give the yean 
 with the date not of death fbut of interment. See Epitap' s nn. 
 2, 6, 7, 11, 12, &c. 
 
 * Sometimes, but seldom, wo find very minute pnHiouIars mentioned, mich ns 
 the dny nnd hour of birtli and deiith (nnd in l'a<fiui tliu oircumstnnceH of the 
 funernl) nnd yet unnceompanied by nny notice of tlic yenr Tiio term for funornl 
 la elatui est, of which I do not remember linving seen nny example in n Cliristian 
 epitaph, except in Do Rossi's n, 1102. 
 
 f On tliis subject. Cardinal Wiaemrn makes the following remnrknblo obser 
 vntions. in his tulo "Fabiola; or the Church of tiio Catacombs," p. MO: — "In 
 England, if want of space prevented the full date of n person's death being 
 given, we should prefer chronicling the year, to tho dny of the month, wiien it 
 occurred. It is more historical. No one cares about remembering the day on 
 which a person died, without tho year ; but the year, without the daj', is nu 
 important recollection. Yet wliilo so few Christian inscriptions supply the year 
 of people's deaths, thousands give us the very day of it, on whicii thej' died* 
 whether in tho hopefulness of believers, or in tiie assurance of martyrs. This is 
 easily explained Of both classes annual commemoration had to bo mode, on 
 tho very day of tboir departure; and occurate knowledge of this was necessary. 
 Therefore it alono was recorded." 
 
 With regard to the number of Christian inscriptions in which the yeor of 
 death is recorded, ho had previously stated: " Altliougb inscriptions with dates 
 are rare, yet out of ten thousand collected, and about to bo published, b}' the 
 learned and sagacious Cavalier do Rossi, about three hundred are found bearing 
 consular dates, through every period, from the early emperors to the middle of 
 tho fourth century (a.d. 350)." 
 
 Even if wo accept the Cardinal's explanation of the necessity for an accurate 
 knowledge of the dny of departure with a view to annual commemoration, I can 
 not understand what difference it would have made, if both tlie day iv)d the year 
 of departure had been recoided. But, independently of this, I cannot receive 
 his statements as correct. Tiie assertion, that " out of ten thousand, ttc, about 
 tliree hundred are found bearing consular dates, through every period, from the 
 early emperors to tho middle of tho fourth century (a. d. 360)," is wholly at 
 variance with facts. There are ten thousand witiiout dates, and exclusively of 
 these there are between thirteen and fourteen hundred timt bear consular dates. 
 Nor are tliese " through every period :" there are none known between a.d. 
 Ill and A.D. 204. Neither are tliey"from tlie early emperors:" of the first 
 twelve Ca'sars there is only one, and tliat of the time of Vespasian. Moreover, 
 they do not close at tho middle of the fourth century : the great majority aro 
 
INTUODUOTION. 
 
 ■ • • 
 
 XXUI 
 
 Consular Teart. — Tho year is usually indicated by tho nnmos of the 
 Consuls ; and horo tlioro aro some diMtinctions that are worthy of notice. 
 The ordinary division of OousuIh, ns ia well known, was into Contulea 
 Ordinarii, who began thoir consulihip on the Ist of January, and 
 Consnha Suffecti^ who took tlic places of those Consumes Ordinarii 
 who retired before tho completion of their yenr. De Rossi, who has 
 thoroughly examined tho subject, states that tho latter (Consulaa Sitf" 
 fect'x) aro not named in Christian epitaphs 
 
 In ordor that wo may more clearly understand tho changes that were 
 made in consular indications of tho year, it will bo advantageous to 
 take an exauipio of a complete formula. Tho full expression for tho 
 year 929 of tho City, or 176 A.D., would be — suh Tito Vt-trasio Vol- 
 Hone iferum et Marco Flavio Apro itrrnm, ConsuUbna. Now this 
 might be contracted by tho omission of auh, tho substitution (»f nume- 
 rals (II) fur itcnim, and the uso of COS for Conaulibiis. This again 
 might bo abbreviated by tho omission of tho prccnomina ; and this still 
 further shortened by giving merely tho coffnomina, so that the form in 
 inscriptions might be POLLIONE • II • KT • APllO • II • COS. But 
 even this might bo cut down to POL • II • ET • APR • IE • COS, or 
 POL • ET • APR • 11 • COS ; or even, finally, ET and COS might be 
 omitted, or only one might be named. 
 
 Such abbreviations are found in both Heathen and Christian in- 
 
 after that period: and instead of "about tlireo hundred" up to a.d. 350, their 
 number does not reach one hundred and fifty. 
 
 It should bo borne in mind, liowever, tlmt the learned Cnrdinnl, when he rando 
 these statements, had not the advantage of referring to De Rossi's work, for it 
 was not published until some years after tho appearonce of " Fabioln." The 
 latter was written in 1854, and the former was in the press from 1857 to 1862. 
 The true explanation of his mistakes seems to be that ho derived his infor- 
 mation from a person who was unacquainted with some of the facts that were 
 then known, whilst others have been ascertained since that time. A similar 
 explanation, however, cannot bo given of his error relative to the record of tho 
 day of death. I have reason to believe that tho notice of tho day of burial is 
 more frequent than that of the day of death ; and not merely is the day of death 
 not mentioned in the majority of cases, but the absence of all dates, whether of 
 day, month or year, is characteristic of the more ancient Christian epitaphs. It 
 should also bo recollected that tho Christians derived their custom of stating tho 
 day of death or burial, and marking tho year, from the Pagans, although from 
 about tho close of tho third century this usage became so frequent among the 
 former, that it may b& regarded as characteristic. Seo Borghesi, Bullet. dtW h- 
 di Corre.ip. Arch. p. 150, Rome, 1845. 
 
XXIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It 
 
 flcriptions of the first three centuries. Thus we have, in the hitter, 
 L • FAB • CIL • M • ANN • LIB • COS for Lucio Fahio Cilone, Marco 
 dnnio Libone Consulibus (i. e. 204 a.d.) ; DIG • IIII • ET • iM AX • COS 
 fur Diocletiano quartum et Maximiano (tertium) Consulibus (i. e. 
 290 A.D.); PRAESENTE • ET ■ EXTRICATO • II (_i. e. 270 a.d.), 
 where II belongs to each and COS is omitted, &c. 
 
 The following characteristics of this period should be observed : — 
 The omission of the name of one of the consuls is very rare ; the names 
 are almost always *contracted ; the order of the names is not changed 
 (which is true of Pagan inscriptions of the third century) ; the et, be- 
 tween the names of the Consuls, is almost without exception expressed. 
 In the example of the Consuls of 204 a. d., which I have above given 
 (the only example in Christian epitaphs of the use of the three namea 
 of the Consuls), its omission accords with the law, noticed by f Marini, 
 that when the three names are given, the usage was to omit the copula- 
 The omission of the numerals, to mark second or third consulships, is 
 not uncommon (see Epitaph n. 90) ; but they are never omitted in 
 cases where such omission would render the date doubtful. Where the 
 name of uuly one Consul is given, and the number of his consulship is 
 not expressed, we should understand his first. The word consulibus 
 and its abbreviations are gometimes omitted, as in the example above 
 given ; of this there is no example after the fourth century. 
 
 The abbreviation COS for consulibus was in use up to the middle of 
 the third century, when COSS, CONS, and CONSS, began to be 
 adopted ; COS is very seldom found during the fourth century, and 
 almost never in the fifth or sixth ; COSS fell into disuse about the first 
 quarter of the fifth century, and after that CONS was used, in the time 
 of Diocletian with S for one Consul and SS for two. At the same 
 time, CC- SS- and CS* were introduced; but they were very rarely used 
 in the fifth, and there is scarcely an example of them in the sixth. 
 
 Another abbreviation was the mention merely of the number of the 
 Consulships, without stating the names, e.ffr., the form TER • ET • 
 SEMEL • COSS is used to indicate the year 202 a.d., in which Severus 
 was Consul for the third time, and Caracalla for the first. Thus also 
 the words AVG VIII ET CAESARIS mark the year 35G a, d., in 
 
 * Tliia contraction was continued occasionally in the fourth century, e. gr. 
 NEP • ET • FAG • CONS, viz., Nepotiano et Facuiido Conmlibns, i. e. 336 a.d, 
 
 f See De Rossi, p. XX., and Marini's "Atti de frat. Arvali," Roma, 1795, 
 p. 143. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXV 
 
 which Constantius was Consul for the eighth time, with Julian as his 
 colleague. This abbreviation, however, is very rarely employed in 
 Christian inscriptions See Epitaph n. 20, and Mommsen, Inscrip. 
 Neapol. n. 7232. 
 
 From about the middle of the fourth century, CONS began to be 
 placed before instead of after the names, and this usage, frequently 
 adopted towards the close of that century, became the prevalent custom 
 in the fifth and sixth. Sometimes, where considatu is expressed, we 
 find a barbarous mixture of the two forms, e. gr., consulatu Modesto et 
 Jryntlieo. See Epitaphs nn. 58, 79, In Grreek, from about the middle 
 of the fourth century, the ancient term tiTrarois ceases, and viraTeia 
 becomes the recognised form. In the fourth century, also, the terms 
 Viri Clarissimi — * VC or VVCC — began to be applied to private Con, 
 suls, i. e. Consuls who were not Augusti or Csesares. This usage became 
 so prevalent that we have examples of their use without mention of 
 consule or considihus or their contractions. 
 
 The addition of the terms Senior or Junior, for the purpose of 
 distinguishing persons of the same family, was used in the time of the 
 Antonines, and we have examples of the latter applied to Valentinian 
 in the close of tho fourth century, but it was not until the fifth and 
 6th that it became Common. The usage of defining the year by but 
 one Consul rendered this addition necessary to distinguish persons of 
 the same name. 
 
 The number of the consulship is stated in Christian inscriptions of 
 the fourth and fifth centuries, where it is necessary to define the year, 
 but is often omitted where it is not so required. At the close of the 
 fourth century, and afterwards, his and secundo are used for iterum, 
 and at that time either words or numerals were used indiscriminately. 
 In the fourth century, the use of ^primum marking the first consulship 
 is found, and there are similar examples in the fifth, but it never 
 became common. 
 
 * We have examples of VVCC applied to one consul (see Epitaph n. 54), and 
 of VC applied to two (see Epitaph, n. 74.) Cardinal Wiseman exjjands VC" 
 COXSS in the latter ("Fabiola", p. 191), Viro Consulari, "a consular man," but 
 this is not correct. 
 
 f De Rossi remarks : " lUud a vetcre stilo toto ccelo distans, ut qnisquam primum 
 consul diceretur." The coins of the Emperor Severus of his first consulship have 
 the numeral I after COS, to which, perhaps, there may be reference in tlie 
 expression ier et semel Coss. 
 
 HI 
 
r^ 
 
 ZXTl 
 
 INTRODtrOTION. 
 
 In addition to the modes already mentioned of defining the year by 
 the Consuls or Consulships of that year, there was another, which came 
 into use in the beginning of the 4th century, of which De Rossi finds 
 the first Roman example in 307 A.D. This form was Post consulatum 
 with the names of the Consuls of the preceding year. This was used 
 when it was not known who were the Consuls of the year, or when the 
 name of but one was known, or when it was necessary or expedient not 
 to mention them. This form was expressed by the abridgments — 
 POST CONS, POSTJOONSS, or even POST or POS. In the middle 
 of the fifth century PC came into use, and soon became the regular 
 contraction. This form — -post consulatum — was sometimes used, not 
 merely of the year after the specified Consuls, but of several others 
 in succession, e. p'. iterum post consulatum, of the second year; et 
 iteruin (or iterum atque iterum) post consulatum, of the third year. See 
 Epitaph n. 72. The years post consulatum Basilii extend to XXIV, 
 or, rather, this form seems to have been used even up to XXIX. 
 
 There was also another form, when there was one Consul for the 
 Western Empire and the other for the Eastern, according to which the 
 name of one Consul was given, with the addition et qui de Oriente 
 (or Occidente) fuerit nuntiatus (in Greek, koI tov SrjXoidrjcrofiivov), or 
 Orientalis is expressed, e. gr. Fl. JoTianne Orieniale, i, e. 538 A. d. 
 
 The term Imperatore — IMP — in Heathen inscriptions, commonly 
 prefixed to the name of an Augustus, does not appear in Christian 
 epitaphs before the close of the sixth century, except in one example 
 of the year 279, where it occurs twice. De Rossi is of opinion, that in 
 monuments of a later age than that in which the use of IMP was 
 revived, we should read imperante or imperio rather than imperatore. 
 In these later times the year of the reign of the Emperor is stated, and 
 PP for perpetuo precede AVG for Augustus, e. gr. Imp D iV Justino 
 J?P Aug An 9 lud F= i. e. Imperante Domino Nbstro Justino 
 perpetuo (not Patre Patriss) Augusta, anno sexto, Indictione quinta= 
 671 A.D. At the end of the fourth century and the beginning of the 
 fifth, instead of AVGG we find AAGG and AAVVGG. 
 
 The letters DD • NN • — Dominis Nostris — began to be used in the 
 beginning of the third century, and continued in use to the close of 
 the fifth. DOM • N and DOMNO were not used until a later age* 
 There are examples of the application of these letters DDNN to private 
 Consuls, but this seems to have arisen from inadvertence or ignoran'"^. 
 See De Rossi, p. xxiv. and Epitaphs nn. 76, 97. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXVll 
 
 The term NohiUssimi, applied to the Caesara from the time of Cora- 
 modus and Severus, does not appear in Christian inscriptions before the 
 fourth century, and then is not limited to those who were Caesars. In 
 consequence of this extended application of the term the Caesars were 
 styled Florentissimi and Beatissimi. 
 
 2. uEras^ dec. Another mode of marking the date was by giving the 
 year of the oara, e. gr., of Spain, of Antioch, of Mauretania, &c. Of the 
 few examples of this mode in epitaphs, there is not one in any of those 
 found at Rome. See Epitaphs, nn. 24, 25, 61, 81. There are two 
 examples in epitaphs, in which the date is indicated by mentioning the 
 existing Bishop of Rone, scil. sub Liberia Episcopo, and sub Damas^ 
 Episcopo, in both cases marking preference for them in opposition to 
 their rivals. See De Rossi, n. 139, and Epitaph n. 36, The first of 
 the Indictions, or recurring periods of fifteen years, began in A.D. 312, 
 on September 1st, and this mode of marking time was first employed 
 in Egypt. In a later age, from about the middle of the sixth century, 
 examples are found indicating that January 1st was taken as the day 
 from which the Indictions were counted. The most ancient examples 
 of Indictions in Roman inscriptions are of the dates A.D. 517 and 522, 
 See De Rossi's nn. 9G5, 984, and p. 21. For examples of Indictions, 
 see Epitaphs nn. 38, 67, 73. In a few, not older than about the mid- 
 dle of the sixth century, the year of the Indiction is given, but of these it 
 is unnecessary to speak, as no inference as to the year a.d. can be drawn 
 from them, unless when accompanied by other mar'^is of a definite cha- 
 racter. See Epitaph under n. 68. In some epitaphs the date is given 
 so fully that the day of the month, the day of the week, and the day of 
 the moon, and sometimes even the * hour, are stated. iSee Epitaphs nn. 
 86, 87, 88. In Latin, the day of the month is, with very few exceptions., 
 stated in the ordinary way with reference to the divisions of Calends, 
 Nones, and Ides. For exceptions, see Epitaphs nn. 12, 49. In Greek 
 there is, sometimes, the peculiarity of using names of the months diffe- 
 rent from the Latin designations, e. (jr., the "j" Macedonian terras, viz . 
 
 * Both in Christian and Pagan epitaphs we have examples of half hours, such 
 ne VIS, t. e. six and a half — ^even scrupuli (g'f) c. gr. Bene merenti in pace Silvana 
 quae hie dormU. Vixit ann. XXI. mens. HI hor. IV. scrupulos VI. In the state- 
 ment of the period of married life there is sometimes similar minuteness, e gr., 
 Silvana Niciati marito bene merenti cum quo vixit minis trihus mensibus duobua oris 
 undecim. See Fabretti, pp. 96, 18G. 
 
 f On the Macedonian months, see Clinton's Fasti Iltllenici, iii. 347. 
 
m 
 
 ZZTUl 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 i! 
 
 rerifins, Panemus, &c. The days of the month are expressed, not by 
 decades, but according to the Latin forms. It should be noticed, how- 
 ever, that aTTo KoXavhwv does not signify before, but after the Calends. 
 See Corsini, Not. Oraso, p. 67. 
 
 The days of the week are given in the ordinary designations, scil. 
 Dies Soils (Dies Dominica) Sunday, Dies Lima; IMonday, Dies JUartis, 
 Tuesday, Dies Mercurii, "Wednesday, Dies Jovis, Thursday, Dies 
 Veneris (Parasceue), Friday, Dies Saturni (Dies Sabbat i) Saturday. 
 
 The investigations regarding the Cyclic marks of time, i.e. i\\e day of 
 the month, day of the week, and day of the moon, as compared with 
 each other and with the year, are very intricate. This difficult subject, 
 which had engaged the attention of Sismondi, Bimard, and Antonio and 
 Mario Lupi, was most successfully treated by Marini. Cardinal! and 
 Visconti have contributed additional information, but by far the most 
 satisfactory discussion of the subject is by De Rossi, in his Prolegomena 
 and Notes, to which I must refer my readers, as it would be impossible 
 to compress within my limits any satisfactory treatment of its details. 
 
 In addition to the Language, Names and Dates, the Symbols also 
 deserve attention, I have given incidental notices of them in pp. xiv- 
 22, 45, G7, but I have not treated them under a separate head, partly 
 because their discussion would occupy too much space, and would 
 require additional i'lustrations, and partly because they seemed to 
 belong rather to the artistic than to the scholastic treatment of the 
 epitaphs. The character of Christian art, as displayed in the Cata- 
 combs, has a^fracted much interest, especially since the publication of 
 Lord Lindsay's Sketches, Padre Marchi's *' Monumenti delle Arti 
 Cristiane," and M. Ferret's "Les Catacombes de Rome." The subject 
 does not lie within my present province, and I have, consequently, 
 refrained from offering any remarks on it. For the same reason, I 
 have omitted reference to the Geological and Architectural features of 
 the Catacombs : M. Michele Stefano De Kossi has contributed an able 
 dissertation on them to his brother's " Roma Sotterranea Cristiana." 
 
 ^1 
 
f 
 
^s 
 
 i.U 
 
i V 
 
 CHRISTIAF EPITAPHS 
 
 
 OP THE 
 
 FJTIST SIX CENTURIEC. 
 
 I. Those in which only the Name and Date are Stated. 
 
 1. 
 
 VIBIV • FIMVS • R • VII KA • SEP 
 DIG • nil • ET • MAX • COS 
 
 (E *coemeterio Callisli; De Rossi, n. 16.) 
 
 Vibiu (Vibius) Fimus recessit, VII Kalendas Sepfembres, Dicle- 
 tiano (Diocletiano) IV ct Maximiano Considlbus. 
 
 " Vibius Fimus retired (from this world), ou the seventh day before 
 the Calends of September, in the Consulship of Diocletian for the fourth 
 time, and Maximian [for the third time]," i.e. August 26th, 290, a.d. 
 
 De Rossi compares Fimus (dung) with the name Stercorius, com- 
 monly used by Christians. Thus, also, we find Stercoria applied to 
 females. It is believed that such appellations were chosen by Chris- 
 tians in humility and self-abasement. I am inclined to think that, 
 
 • Coemeterium is used to denote a "Catacomb," and the inscriptions, 
 that have been found in the Catacombs, are distinguished by the term 
 ccefiieteriales, although the words do not necessarily imply "subterranean." 
 
 1 ■ ■ , 
 
! 
 
 I 
 
 
 2 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 at least, some of them were not selected by those, who bore them,, 
 or by their relatives, but were applied by the heathen in contempt, 
 and then adopted. We often meet with names common to both 
 Christians and Pagans, and sometimes find the former strangely 
 called after heathen deities, e.g. Mcrcurius. 
 
 I have followed De Rossi in reading R as rcccssit ; others prefer 
 reqiiicscit, or reduldit, sc. animam. We should have had III after 
 MAX, for Maximian was consul for the third time in the same 
 year (290) in which Diocletian was consul for the fourth time. 
 
 IGNATIVS • SEM 
 
 NVS 
 
 XVKAL FEB 
 
 HANNIBALIANO 
 
 ETASCLEPIODO 
 
 TO COSS 
 
 (In vinea supra coemeterium Petri et Marcellhii ; De Rossi, n. 19.) 
 
 Ignatius Sem7ins, 2CV Kalendas Februarias, Hannihaliano ct 
 Asclepiodoto ConsuUhxis. 
 
 " Ignatius Semnus, on the fifteenth day before the Calends of Febru- 
 ary, in the Consulship of Hannibalianus and Asclepiodotus," i.e. January 
 18th, 292, A.D. 
 
 There is an ellipsis of a word between Ignatius Semnus and XV. 
 Kal. Feb. Either decessit or depositns — "died," or "was buried," — 
 may be supplied ; of the two, the latter is the more probable in 
 Christian epitaphs. A similar ellipsis is found in heathen sepulchral 
 inscriptions. Thus, in the collection given by Lanzi, Saggio, i., p. 
 162, we have. COIILIA A • D • X • KAL • DIIC, i.e. Coelia ante 
 diem X Kalendas Decem,lres, soil. " Coelia, on November 22nd," 
 whereby we should understand, that her bones were collected on that 
 day. See Mommsen, Inscrip, Latin. Antiq., p. 210. In his n. 887, 
 we have P for Positus, and in n. 957, ossiva, i.e. ossa, 
 
 3. 
 
 (See Plate I, 2.) • 
 
 (-£■ coemet. Theodora; De Rossi, n. 55.) 
 
 Constantio Aug. II et Constanti (Constante) Axtg. (Co7iss.) Nbnis 
 Decemh. Clau(dx)anus dormit in (pace.^ 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES 3 
 
 "In the Consulship of Constantius Augustus, for the second time, and 
 Constans Augustus, on the Nones of December (i.e. December 6th, 339, 
 
 A.D.), Claudianus sleeps in peace." 
 
 4. 
 
 (Sec Plate IT, 2.) 
 
 (fn Jfim. Vdt.; De Rossi, n. 69.) 
 
 KATA0ECIC • 
 
 0KTA15IAAHC 
 
 nPO0KAACET 
 
 PfiMOYAI 
 
 Kara^ecris '0KTa(3i\Xr)<; irpo 6 Ka\(av^wv) 2eT(€/;tyS^}t(uv) 'Pw/i,ovAi. 
 
 " The burial of Octavilla (took i)liuo) on the ninth day before the 
 Calends of September [in the Consulship] of IJomulus,'' i.e. August 24th, 
 343, A.D. 
 
 'FwfiovXi, with the Latin ending of the genitive, stands for 'Pw/aov- 
 Xow, i.e. {'Trareiu Pw/aoi'Aov. 
 
 ft. 
 
 GAVDENTIVS • DTE • TIT • KAL 
 AVG • SEIWIO • ET • NIGRTNIANO ■ 
 COSS 
 
 (E cocmcterio ITiiifiohjli ; Bo Rossi, n. 109.) 
 
 Gaudentins, die IIJ K(dend'i.<i Aifgustds, Sergio et Nigriniano 
 Consxdihus. 
 
 "Gaudentins, on the third day before the Calends of August, in the- 
 Coniulship of Sergius and Nigrinianus," i.e. July 30th, 350, a.d. 
 
 6. 
 
 DEPOSTIO SEDATI XTI KAL 
 DECEMBRES • GRAT ANOV 
 ET TODOSIO CONSS 
 
 (/« coem. Theodorse ; Do Rossi, n. 291.) 
 
 Depostio (depositio) Sedati, XII Kahndxis Decemhres, Gratiano 
 V ct Todosio (Theodosio) Consulihis. 
 
 " The burial of Sedatus (tooli place) on the twelfth day before the- 
 Calends of December, in the Consulship of Gratianus, for the fifth time, 
 and Theodosius," i.e. November 20th, 379, a.d. 
 
 I have regarded depositio as "burial." There are examples of 
 
4 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 its use, ia which it might bo considered tus standing for the place, 
 or for the body itself. 
 
 7. 
 BE POSIT VS LEONEDES IN PACE 
 D nil NONAS APllIL POST CONS 
 lOANNIS ET VARANA 
 
 {III S. Ar/nelis extra Muros ; Do Bossi, u. T99.) 
 
 Dcpositiis LconcdiH (Leonidcs) in ^:)aoc, die IV Nonas Apriha, 
 post consulutum Jotinuis ct Varmia (Vuranac or Varanis). ■ 
 
 " Loonidas was Imried in peace on the fourth day before the Nones 
 of April, (in tlie year) after the Cousulbhip of John and Varaiics," i.e. 
 April 2nd, 457, a.d. 
 
 I have uniformly translated dipositus by our ordinary word, 
 "buried." There are some, who think that it is used witli a special 
 reference to the resurrection. Thus Northcoto, " The Roman Cata- 
 combs," p. 143, remarks: "Each body, as it was laid in its grave, 
 was said to be depositinn there; deposited, that is, only for a while, 
 to be reclaimed again in that day when the sea and the earth shall 
 give up their dead." This is a pleasing, but, in my judgment, incor- 
 rect interpretation. The word dipositus, meaning "laid down," ia 
 used by Classical authors in the sense " despaired of," and " dead." 
 See Virgil, jEn., xii., 395 ; Ovid, Trist., iii., 3, 40 ; Ex Pont., ii., 47. 
 
 In Christian inscriptions, I regard it as signifying no more than 
 "laid down," i.e. that the body (^cwpiis integrum) — not merely por- 
 tions of it, as was common among the heathen — was "buried." 
 
 II. Those in which only the Name, Age, and Date are Stated. 
 
 8. 
 
 SERVILIA • ANNORVM • XIII • 
 PIS • ET • BOL • COSS • 
 
 {E coemeterio Lucinse; De Rossi, n. 3.) 
 
 Servilia, annorum XIII, Pisone et Bolano Consulihus, 
 
 " Servilia, of thirteen years (of age), iu the Consulship of Piso and 
 Bolanus," i.e. Ill, a.d. 
 
 This inscription has no distinctive mark of a Christian epitaph; and 
 yet the circumstances, under which it was found in the Catacombs, 
 seem to warrant its being placed among them. See De Rossi, n. 3. 
 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 3.) 
 
 aud 
 
 9. 
 
 EPMEIACOKAI 
 AITOPIOMHMrE 
 HIAMIAS QVIET 
 LITORiyS M VTTT 
 DIERXV JEXCESSIT 
 ALBINO II ETMAXI 
 MO COS XIIII KAPBH 
 {Smyrna; Boeckh, Corp. Intcrip. Ortee., n. 3309.) 
 
 'EpjiAC^a; 6 Ktti A/Vopis fi(r]vu)v)^ [^]/^('P'^'')[0** He^'mias, qui cf 
 Litorius, mensium VIII, dierum XV, excessit, Albino II ct Maximo 
 Contulihus, XIV Kalendas Aprilea. 
 
 " Hermias, who was also called Litorius, of eight months, fifteen days (of 
 age), departed in the Consulship of Albinus for the second time, and Maxiraus, 
 on the fourteenth day before the Calends of April," i.e. March 19th, 263, a.d. 
 
 If thia be a Christian epitaph, as it probably is, it is more ancient 
 than any of those, not found in Rome, that bear dates. We must read 
 in line 3, HERMIAS; and in line 7, K- APRIL. See De Rossi, p. 15. 
 
 i(r. 
 
 (See Plate II, 3.) 
 
 {E coemet. via Ardeatina; Do Ilossi, n. 13.) 
 
 (Av)pr)\ia JlavXa .... a lytwrjOi) ^.{ypiqXiavi^) (to /8) koX 
 KairiTtoXeiVb) (vTrarots) rcXei/ra 7rp6 xj KaXavSulv . . . . w tt,r)<Tf.v 
 irrj 8vo (^/xepas) Scko ttcVtc. 
 
 "Aurelia Paula .... was born, in the Consulship of Aurelian for 
 the second time, and Capitolinus (i.e. 274, a.d.) She dies on the eighth 
 day before the Calends of ... . She lived two years fifteen days." 
 
 The date of her death was 277, a.d. 
 
 11. 
 HIC • lACET • MVSCVLA • QUAE ET • GALATEA 
 QVAE VIX • ANN • DVOB • MENS • DVOB • ET DXVII 
 DEP • XV • KAL • AVG • GRATIANO AVG • II ET 
 PROBO CONSSIN PACE 
 
 (E coemelerio Lucinm ; De Rossi, n. 224.) 
 
 Hie jacet Muscula, qua et Galatea, qucB vixit annis diiohiis, men- 
 sibus duobus, ct diehus XVII. Dcposita XV Kalendas Avgnstas,^ 
 Gratiano Augnsto II tt Probo Consulibns, in pace. 
 
 
if 
 
 .6 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 "Horo llo8 Miisciilii, wlio wm ulso ciillod Galatea, who livod two yc»r«, 
 two luonthH, and Hcventuuii dayw. Buried on tho Hftet-ntli day beforo tho 
 CalciuU of AuKUHt, in tlie CoiiHulsliip of (JratianuH Aiin'istUH for the 
 Hocond time, and rrobun {i.e. July 18th, 371, a.u.), in peace." 
 
 It has been suggested that Galatea may have been tho Heathen, 
 and Muscula the Christian, name of tiio deceased. Thus we find in 
 Reineahts, n. 452 : Jccia vel Maria eat nomen niihi Tulliana, i.e. 
 her heathen name was Accia, but her Christian, Maria. This notice, 
 however, of two names is not rare in heathen epigraphy. Perhaps 
 Muacida was her pet name. In the text, I have adopted, in tho 
 third line, Do Rossi's reading of ET for IT. The use of the abla- 
 tive for timo "how long," is common in inscriptions. Sometimes we 
 have tho two constructions in tho samo sentence, as in n. 34. 
 
 12. 
 'TIBVRTIVS QVI VIXIT ANN • XXVI • ET MENS • 
 Villi • PXI • DEP • VII • NON • DEC • DN • GRATI 
 ANO IIIIET MEROBAVDE COSS • IN PACE 
 
 (^Ad S. Agnetis; Dc Rossi, n. 268.) 
 
 Tihurtius, qui vixit aiinos XXVI et 7ncnses IX, dies XI. De- 
 positus, VII Asanas Dcccmhrcs, Domino Nostro Gratiano IV et 
 Merohaudc ConsuUbus, in pace. 
 
 " Tiburtius, who lived twenty-six years, and nine months, (and) eleven 
 days. Buried on the seventh day before the Nones of December, in the 
 Consulship of our Lord Gratiauus for the fourth time, and Mcrobaudes 
 {i.e. November 29th, 377, a.d.), iu peace." 
 
 1. 2. VII • NON • DEC. I have regarded this as = III • KAL • 
 DEC. Thus we have in De Rossi, n. 442, VIII • X • (XVIII) 
 KLMART, i.e. PRID • ID • FEB •; and in n. 587, XVIII KAL 
 ENDAS NOBEMBRES, i.e. ID • OCTOB. 
 
 13. 
 
 IC POSITVS ETS LEO QVI 
 VIXIT ANNOSXXVI DI 
 POSITUS • VIII • IDVS • 
 CTOBRIS • NATVS EST 
 TAVRO • ET • FLORENTIO 
 
 cess 
 
 {In Bibliotheca S. Gregorii — Marini ; De Rossi, n. 362.) 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 
 (H) to pmtituH cts (est) Leo, qui vixif <nwn» XXVI. Dipontu$ 
 (dcpositus) Vlfl him Octobrcs, natus est Tuuro ct Florciitio Con- 
 tuUbtis. 
 
 " litre hftH been liiid Leo, wlio lived twenty-six jTirH. Bmied on tho 
 cightii day before the IdcH of Uetoiier. He wiiH born In the ConHuUhIp 
 of Taurus and FlorentiuH," i.e. 3G1, a.d. 
 
 As Loo was twenty-six years of af];o at his death, it it evident 
 that this epitaph is of the date, October 8th, 386, A.D. 
 
 14. 
 
 HIC REQVIESCET IN SOMNO PACIS 
 
 MALA QVI VIXIT ANNOS XXXVIII • M • V • DV • 
 
 ACCEPTA APVT DE IV • IDVS IVNIAS AETIO CONL'. 
 
 ( E fundtimentis vet. has. Vaticanm ; Do Rossi, n. GT8.) 
 
 Hie requicscct (rcquicscit), in somno pads, Mala qui (quae) vixit 
 annos XXXVIII, metises V, dies V. Acccpta ajmt (apud) Dc(um) 
 IV Idas Junius Actio Conside. 
 
 " Here rests, in the sleep of peace, Mala, who lived thirty-eight years, 
 five months, five day.s. Received before God, on the fourth day before 
 the Ides of June, In the Consulship of Actius," i.e. June 10th, 432, a.d. 
 
 1. 1. Requicscct. As if it were of the second conjugation: similarly 
 quiescct and rcquicscent, for quicscit and requicscunt. In Gruter, 
 998, 10, we have Hie rcquicscent, in a heathen in.scription, said of 
 the living, i.e. we have the ordinary future. 
 
 15. 
 
 EN0AAEKITEEN 
 EIPHNHMAPIA 
 EZH[ENETH . . 
 KPOnPOCB . . 
 ETEAineH lov 
 AIOYKSYn 
 A<I>AS*ASC . . . 
 
 {Rhegii; Kirchhoff, n. 9541.) 
 
 Ev^aSc KiTf. (Kcirai) h> txpyjvri Mapia. "E^t/o-cv en; [/xi]Kp6(v) Trpos 
 )8. 'EtcAiw^t; (ireXetwOr]) 'lovXtou ks 'v7r[aTi]a $.[''A]cr[7r]a[pos]. 
 
 "Here lies in peace Mary. She lived a little more than two years. 
 She finished her course on the twenty-sixth of July, in the Consulship 
 •of Flavius Aspar," i.e. 434, a.d. 
 
^ 
 
 8 
 
 OHBISTUN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 I have gi^en Kirchhoff's reading and expansion. Oorsini read the 
 last line thus : *. As. *. ASO, i.e. after emendation, Flavii Ariovindi 
 et Flavii Asparis, giving the names of the two consuls. De Roesi 
 suggests: $As ^AYOTov, i.e. Flavii Famti, or 490, a.D. 
 
 III. Those in which some Characteristic of the Deceased 
 
 IS Stated. 
 
 16. 
 
 (See Plate II, 1.) 
 
 (JS coemeterio Laurentii ; De Rossi, n 23.) 
 
 St/xirX(KUX ^ Kai KaX(i>w/<<o$ Jfiyacv h-tj la rjfi(pa^ icy €T«X«vnj(r«v Trpo 
 ty *c€iX. NojSe/A^puDv <&ai;oT<i> koI ToXXm vTrarois. 
 
 " Simplicia, who was also rightly so named, lived eleven years, twenty- 
 three days, died on the thirteenth day before the Calends of November, 
 in the Consulship of Faustus and Gallus," i.e. October 20th, 298, a.d. 
 
 These consuls were Anicius Faustus, for the second time, and Virius 
 Gallus. See De Rossi, p. 28, and Clinton, Fasti Romani, ii., 194. 
 
 *H KOI, like the Latin qucB et, is frequently used to signify "who 
 also was called." Here I have taken koAww/xos as an adjective, as 
 it has been understood by Montfaucon, Kirchhoff, and De Rossi. 
 The signification is, that her name, SinvpUcia, was a true indication 
 of her habits and manners. 
 
 17. 
 
 INNOCENTISSIMO • PAVLO 
 QVI • VIX • M • X • D • XIIII • DEPOSIT • PRID 
 NON • DECE • IN PACE • COSTANTIO • III • ET 
 COSTATE • II • CONS • 
 
 {E coem. Prsetextati; De Rossi, n. ST.) 
 
 Jnnocentissimo Pauh, qui vixit mentet X, diet XTV. Dfpontv*, 
 pridie Nonas Becembres, Constantio III et Costate (Constante) II 
 Conavlihm. 
 
 " To the very innocent Paul, who lived ten months, fourteen days. 
 Buried on the day before the Nones of December, in the Consulship of 
 GonBttrjtius for the third time, and Constans for the second time," t.e. 
 December 4th, 342, a.d. 
 
 18. 
 
 (See Plate II, 4.) 
 
 yj 
 
J I 
 
 Cj 
 
 sr. 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 
 :^ L 
 
 "^t^Cl 
 
 tr> 
 
 S>^ 
 
 eu 
 ^s:; 
 
 K < 
 
 t^ 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES, 
 
 9- 
 
 
 COKPATHC AEIMNHCTOC *IAo 
 
 AHHOCEITOYC ©KOKTBAM 
 
 ANNOYCTPiriNTA IN HAKE 
 
 {E roem. Cyriacse ; De Rossi, n. 85.) 
 
 SwKpa-n^s aeiiivrjaros ^lAo .... depositus 6 (iX) Kalmdas 
 
 Octohres ilmantio et Albino Consulibus, vixit annus (annos) triginta 
 
 in pace. 
 
 " Socrates, ever to be remembered . . . buried on the ninth day before 
 the Calends of October, in the Consulship of Amantius and Albinus" (i.«. 
 September 23rd, 345, a.d.) He IWed thirty years, in peace." 
 
 19. 
 BONOSO BENEMERENTI IN PACE 
 QVI VIXIT ANNISIIMIIIDXX 
 DEP PRID • IDVS • SEPT • POST 
 CONSSAMANTI ET ALBINI 
 
 (^Velitris; De Eossi, n. 92.) 
 
 JBonoso bene merenti, in pace, qui vixit annis II, mensibus III, 
 diebus XX. Depositus, pridie Idus Septemhr'es, post consulatunn 
 Amantii et Alhini. 
 
 "To Bonosus, well -deserving, in peace, who lived two years, three 
 months, twenty days. Buried on the day before the Ides of September 
 (i.e. September 12th), (in the year) after the Consulship of Amantius and 
 Albinus," i.e. 346, a.d. 
 
 1. 1. Bene Merenti. This was a very general characteristic of the 
 deceased, both in heathen and Christian epitaphs. It is frequently 
 contracted thus : B • M • See n. 33. 
 
 20. 
 EN0AAE KEITE 
 EYTEPHH H TON 
 MOYCON CYNTPO*00 
 BmCACA AHAfiC KAI 
 OCEKIC KAI AMEM 
 HTnC^ni ET IE 
 ElM KB MHN r_ 
 ETEAEYTH HPO E KAA 
 AEKEMB YHATIA 
 TON KY TO I KAI TO T 
 
 {Prope Motycam (in Sicilia) ; Kirchhoff, n, 9524.), 
 
10 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 illi 
 
 li 
 
 
 n 
 
 'EvddSi K«iT£ (xetTat) EvrcpTn; rj twv Movo-tov (rvvrpotfjo^ /3ta)(rao"a 
 uTrXois xai oaeiws (oo-iws) Kat d/AC/ATrrcos ctti ctt; , i^/iiepas k/3, /ui'^i'as y. 
 'EreXcuTT^o'ei/ t^ Trpo e KaXavSuv AcKc/tjSptiwv waria twv Kvpmv to I 
 xai TO y. 
 
 " Here lies Euterpe, the companion of the Muses, having lived simply, 
 and piously, and irreproachably, for iifteen years, twenty-two days, three 
 months. She died on the fifth day before the Calends of December, in 
 the Consulship of our Lords, for the tenth time, and for the third time," 
 {i.e. in the Consulship of Constantius, for the tenth time, and Julian, 
 for the third time), i.e. November 27th, 3G0, ad. 
 
 The abbreviation, whereby the names of the Emperors, or of the 
 Emperor and the. Cajsar, were omitted, and merely the numbers of 
 their Consulships stated, is rare in Christian inscriptions. The most 
 obvious example of it in heathen tituli, is — TER ET SEMEL 
 COSS, i.e. 202, A.D., in which Severus was Consul for the third 
 time, and Caracalla for the first. 
 
 21. 
 HIC POSITA EST ANIMA DVLCES 
 INNOCA SAPIENS ET PVLCHRA NOMINE 
 QVIRIACE QVE VIXIT • ANNOS • III • M • III • DVIII 
 DP IN PACE nil • ID • IAN • CONSS • DN • TEVDOSIO • AVG • II 
 ET MEROBAVDE • VC • III • 
 
 {In Mus. Lat.; De Rossi, n. 370.) 
 
 Ilicposita est aninia dulces (dulcis), innoca (innocua), sapiens etpid- 
 chra, nomine Quirlacc, qiice vixit annos III, menses III, dies VIII. 
 Deposita in 2mce, IV Idus Januarias, Constdibus Domino Nostra 
 Tendosio (Theodosio) Augusta II et Merohaude, Vira Clarissima, III. 
 
 "Here has been laid a sweet spirit, guilelf . , wise, and beautiful, by 
 name Quiriace, who lived three years, three nioiths, eight days. Buried, 
 in peace, on the fourth day before the Ides of January, in the Consulship 
 of our Lord Theodosius Augustus, for the second time, and Merobaudes, 
 a most distinguished man, for the third time," i.e. January 10th, 388, a.d. 
 
 The name Quiriace is another form of Cyriace, both being Kvpuuct] 
 Latinized. 
 
 There is great difficulty as to the jiinction of Merobaudes with 
 Theodosius, in the second consulship of the latter. The Fasti, laws, 
 and public acts mention, in his place, Cynegixis. The best solution, 
 of which I am aware, is that proposed by De Rossi in his note. 
 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 11 
 
 22. 
 HIC REQVIESCET QVODVVLDEVS HO 
 NESTERECORDATIONES VIR OVI VIC 
 XIT ANNOSL-SI DEFO SITVS IN PACE 
 DIE V IDVS OCTQBKES CONSS DD NN 
 ARCADIO AVG QVATER ET HONO 
 RIO AVG TER CONSVLIBVS 
 
 (/« Mm. Lot.; De Rossi, n. 436.) 
 
 Hie requic^cct (rcquiescit) Quodvuldeus (Quodvultdeus), honcste (hon- 
 estae) recordationes (recordationis) vir, ovi (qui) vicxit (vixit) annos 
 L VII. Dcpositus in pace, die V Idiis Octohrcs, Consulihus Dominis 
 Nostris Arcadio Aiigiisto qxiatcr et Honorio Augiisto ter Considibus. 
 
 " Here rests Quodvultdeus, a man worthy to be remembered with honor, 
 who lived tifty-seven years. Buried, in peace, on the fifth day before 
 the Ides of October, in tlie Consulship of our Lords Arcadius Augustus, 
 for the fourth time, and Honorius Augustus, for the third time," i.e. 
 October 11th, 396, a.d. 
 
 Christians assumed such names as Adeodatus, Deusdedit, Quod- 
 vultdeus. 
 
 23. 
 
 EN0AAE KEITAI EYTYXIAN02 
 ZHCAC EN Xn TEAEYTATHnP© 
 KAAANAfiN AYrOYCTON YO 
 ANIKIOY AYXENIOY BACCOYK 
 «I)AI$AinnOY 
 
 (Acris prope Syracusas ; KirchhofF, n. 9478.) 
 
 'Ev^aSc Kctrai 'F.vTV)(^Lav6? ^T^o-as tv Xpiorw. TcXevra t^ Trpo 6 KoA- 
 
 avSwv Avyovaroiv vTraria 'Avlklov Av)({vlov Bao-crou kol $X. 4>iXt7nroi;. 
 
 " Here lies Eutychianus, having lived in Christ. He dies on the ninth 
 day before the Calends of August, in the Consulship of Anicius Auch- 
 enius Bassus, and Flavins Philippus," i.e. Jul> 24th, 408, a.d. 
 
 24. 
 
 GVLFINVS • FAMVLVS • DEI 
 VIXIT • ANNOS • PLVS • MINVS • LXX 
 RECESSIT • IN • PACE D • III • KAL 
 AVGVSTAS • ERA ■ D 
 
 (Ilispali ; MafTei, Mus. Ver., 423, 3.) 
 Gulfinus, famulus Dei, vixit annos plus minus LXX. Rccessit 
 in pace, die III Kaloidas Augustas, era D. 
 
I 
 
 \ 
 
 I: 
 
 - 
 
 Id 
 
 i 
 
 12 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 "Gulfinus, a servant of God, lived seventy years, more or less. He 
 retired (from this world), in pence, on th^ third day before the Calends 
 of August, in the 500th year of the aera," i.e. July 30th, 462, a.d. 
 
 The Spanish sera counts from January 1st, 38, B.C. There are many 
 examples of its use. The oldest that I have observed is that given above. 
 
 25. 
 
 AETERNALIS FA 
 MVLVS DEI VIXIT 
 AN • XLVI • REQ • IN 
 ?AC • VI • KAL • SE 
 PTEM ERA DNI 
 DXLVIII 
 
 {Galistei in Lusitania, ex Emerita; Muratori, 1821, 9.) 
 
 JEtemalis, farKnlnr Dei; vixlt annos XLVI, requiescit in pace, 
 VJ. Kalendas Sij 'Jii'r:::-, a-a .Domini DXLVIII. 
 
 "jEternalis, a servs. 't < ■ vrc-d, lived forty-six years, rested in peace 
 on the sixth day before the 0< lOj i^a j{ September, in the 500th year of 
 the aera of (uir) Lord. t. . Augu> :Ah, 510, a.d. 
 
 I have given this exam ..^ i-i o . rr -f the use of DNI, which 
 is not common. If we had ANJSO ±*lil, it would, of course, refer 
 to the Christian, or Dionysian, aera; but this is said to have been 
 first used in the year of Christ, 525. As it stands, DNI = Domini 
 means Augustus, referring to his subjugation of Spain. Or, is DNI 
 a contraction of Domliiii, i.e. of Roman rule? 
 
 IV. Those in which the Relationship op the Deceased is 
 
 Stated. 
 
 (a.) To a father :— 26. 
 
 LEOPARDO PATRI DVLCISSIMO 
 BENEMERENTI IN PACE DEP 
 DIE XV • KAL • IAN • CONSTANTIO VIII 
 ET IVLIANO CAESCONS 
 
 (^Ad 8. A^n.; De Rossi, n. 130.) 
 
 Lecpardc patri ditlcissimo, henemerenti in pace. Depositus, die XV 
 Kalendas Jannarias, Constantio VIII et Juliano Casare Consulibus, 
 
 "To Leopardua (our, or my) sweetest father, well-deserving, in peace. 
 Buried on the fifteenth day before the Calends of January, in the Con- 
 sulship of Constantius, for the eighth time, and Julianus Caesar," i.e. 
 December 18th, 356, a.d. 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 13 
 
 The terms designating animals were commonly applied as names 
 of persons, both by pagans and by Christians, who, also, were in 
 the habit of using figures of those animals as representatives, as in 
 modern heraldry wo have " canting arms," aitncs parlantes. Thus, 
 in the Catacombs, we find a lion for a man named Leo, a little pig 
 for a girl named Porcelta, with the object, as is believed, of enabling 
 those who could not read, to distinguish the loculus of a frieud or 
 relative. 
 
 (h,) To a mother:— 27. 
 
 TIGRITI BENEMERIII IN PACE 
 QVE VICSIT ANNOSXXX 
 MEN • II • DEPOSITA • VIII • KAL 
 IAN • DD • NN • TEVDOSIO • III ■ ET 
 EVGENIO 
 EILIVS EECEI MATRI 
 
 (/n Lat.; De Rossi, n. 414.) 
 
 Tigriti (Tigridi) bencmcriii (bcnemcritoe), in jiace, que (quae) 
 
 vicsit (vixit) amws XXX, menses II. De2)osita, VIII Kalendas 
 
 Januarias, Dominis Nostn's Teudoslo (Theodosio) /// ct Eugcnio. 
 
 Eiliiis (filius) e.ecei (feci) inatri. 
 
 "To Tigris, well - deserving, in peace, who lived thirty years, two 
 months. Buried on the eighth day hefore the Calends of January, (in the 
 Consulship of) our Lords Thcodosias, for the third time, and Eugenius " 
 {i.e. December 2r)th, 393, a.d.) I, (her) son, made (this) for (my) mother." 
 
 (c.) To a husband:— 28. 
 
 DEPOSSIO IVNIANI PRI • IDVS APRILES MARCELLING 
 
 [ET PROBING CGNSS- 
 QVI BIXIT ANNIS XL IN PACE RECESSTT ET AMATGR 
 
 [PAVPERGRVM VIXIT 
 CVM BRGINIA ANNIS • XV • BENEMERENTI BIRGINIA SVA 
 
 [BICTGRA 
 BENEMERENTI FECIT AMATRIX PAVPERGRVM ET 
 
 [GPERARIA 
 
 {In Mm. Lat.; De Bossi, n. 62.) 
 
 Depossio (depositio) Juniani, pridie Idus Aprilcs, Marcellino et 
 Probino Considihus, qui hixit (vixit) annis (annos) XL. In pace 
 decissit (decessit) et amator pauperorum (pauperum), vixit cum 
 hrginia (Virginia) annis (annos) XV. Bene merenti, hirginia (vir- 
 
( 
 
 14 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 
 
 I .! 
 
 ginia) stta Bictora (Victoria), bene merenti, fecit cjmatrix pauper- 
 orum (pauperum) et operaria. 
 
 " The burial of Junianus (took place) on the day before the Ides of 
 April, in the consulship of Marcellinus and Probinus (i.e. April 12th, 341, 
 A.D.), who lived forty years. He departed, in peace, and (was) a lover 
 of the poor. Ho lived with his wife fifteen years. To him, well-deserv- 
 ing, his wife Victoria, a lover of the poor, and attentive to her work, 
 made (this) to him well-deserving." 
 
 1. 3. Brginia = Virginia = a wife, who was a maiden when mar- 
 ried. Thus, also, Virginius = Maritus, 1. 4. Operaria = industrious. 
 This praise of a female is found in heathen epitaphs. Thus, lanam 
 fecit, Gruter, 769, 9 ; lanifica, Orelli, 4658 ; and koI epyans, Boeckh, 
 Corp, Inscrip. GrcBC, 954. 
 
 29. 
 
 LIMENIO • ET • CATVLINO • CONSS • III • 
 IDVS • lANV ARIAS • DEFVNCTVS • EST 
 EVVODIVS • QVI • VIXIT • ANNOS • LXV 
 MENSES • TRES • ET • DIES • XI • BENEME 
 RENTIIN PACE FECIT • CONIVX 
 
 (£' coem. Frmtextati ; De Rossi, n. 104.) 
 
 Limenio et Catulino Consulibiis, III Idus Januarias, defunctus 
 est Evvodius qui vixit annos LXV, menses III, et dies XI. Bene- 
 merenti in pace fecit conjux. 
 
 " In the Consulship of Limenius and Catulinus («.e. 349, a.d.), on the 
 third day before the Ides of January (i.e. January 11th), Evodius died, 
 who lived sixty-five years, three months, and eleven days. His wife 
 made (this) to him, well-deserving, in peace." 
 
 30. 
 
 FELIX SANCTAEFIDEIVOCITVSIIT IN PACE- 
 CVIVS'TANTVS AMORET CARITAS • RETENETVR ■ AB 
 
 [AMICIS IN AEVO 
 QVI CVM ESSET FVIT SOLACIVS • MISERICORS • OMNIBVS 
 AGRIPPINA FECIT DVLCISSIMO SVO MARITO [NOTVS- 
 CVM QVEM VIXIT SINE LESIONE ANIMI • ANNOS_ III • 
 
 [ET MX- 
 FVIT IN SAECVLVM quod vixit • annos xxxii • dep • xiii • 
 
 [kAL • SEPT • VALENTINIANO 
 NP ET VICTORI CONSS 
 
 (i: basilica Vaticana; De Eossi, n. 211.) 
 
THE FIRST SIX CBNTURIE8. 
 
 15 
 
 Felix, sanctee fidei, vocitus (vocatus) iit in pace, cujua tantus 
 amor et caritaa retenetur (retinetur) ab amicia : in cevo qui cum 
 easet fuit aolaciua, miaericora, omnibua nottta. Agrippina fecit dul- 
 eiaaimo auo marito, cum quern (quo) vixit aine leaione (laesione) 
 animi annoa III et menaea X. Fuit in aceculum (saeculo), quod 
 (quoad) vixit, annoa XXXII. Bepoaitua, XIII Kalendaa Sep- 
 tembrea, Valentiniano, Nobiliaaimo puero, et Fictori (Victore) Con- 
 aulibus. 
 
 " Felix, of sacred honor, (when) called (away) went in peace, whose 
 love and affection are so warmly cherished by his friends : who, when 
 he was in life, was known to all for sympathy with the afflicted, and com- 
 passion towards the distressed. Agrippina made (this) to her very sweet 
 husband, with whom she lived, without jarring, three years and ten 
 months. He was in this world, whilst he lived, thirty-two years. Buried 
 on the thirteenth day before the Calends of September, in the Consulship 
 of Valentinianus, the most noble boy, and Victor," i.e. August 20th, 
 369, A.D. 
 
 1. 1. Sanctee ^dei. Literally "holy faith," but the meaning seems 
 to be "of sacred honor," "of strict integrity." Focitua for vocatua, 
 as probitua, rogitua. 1. 5. Sine Iceaione animi. Northcote, " Roman 
 Catacombs," p. 137, seems to regard such statements of conjugal 
 harmony, as peculiar to Christian inscriptions; but this eulogy is 
 often found in heathen epitaphs, both from husbands to wives, and 
 vice veraa. Other forms of it are aine querela, aine Jurgio, aine 
 diaaidio. Hence, Kenrick, " Roman Sepulchral Inscriptions," p. 
 42, justly remarks : " The married life of the Romans appears to 
 have been remarkably free from domestic differences." 1. 7. Nobil- 
 itaimo puero. Nobiliaaimua was the term applied to the Cceaar from 
 the time of Commodus and Severus ; but, in the fourth century, 
 it was extended in its use. 
 
 31. 
 
 MIRE • SAPIENTIAE 
 
 AVGENDO QVI VIXIT 
 
 ANN PLVS MINLXXII 
 
 CVM VXORE FECIT 
 
 ANN XXX DEPOSITVS 
 
 XVI KAL OCTOB DN GRA 
 
 TIANO AVGII ET PROBO CON 
 
 {Neapoli, in Mus. Borbon.; De Rossi, n. 225.) 
 
16 
 
 CIIRISTIAX EPITAPHS OP 
 
 •i 
 
 !! I- 
 
 Mire (mirae) sapientice Augendo, qui vixit annoa plus minus 
 LXXII. Cuiiz uxore fecit annoa XXX. Depositua, XFI Kalendas 
 Octobres, Domino nostra Gratiano Auyuato II et Probo Conaulibus. 
 
 "To Augendufi, of wonderful wisdom, who lived Keventy-two years, 
 more or less. HepaHS('d thirty years with his wife*. Buried on the sixteenth 
 day before the Calends of October, in the Consulship of our Lord Oratian 
 Augustus, for the second time, and Probus," i.e. September IGth, 371, a.u. 
 
 1. A. Fecit. Facere is often used in tho sense " to spend," " to 
 pass," in Christian epitaphs ; and this signification is not peculiar to 
 them. 
 
 32. 
 APRO • QVI • VIXIT • ANNOS XLVIII • MENSES III • DIES 
 XVI : DEPOSITVS IN PACE VI • KALENDAS MARTIAS 
 POST CONS • GRATIANI ET EQVITII • LIMFIRIA MARITO 
 FECIT MECVM ANNOS XX- 
 
 (E coem. Callisti.; Do Rossi, n. 248.) 
 
 Apro, qui vixit annos XLVIII, menses III, dies XVI. Deposi- 
 tus in pace, VI Kalendas Martias, post constdatum Gratiani et 
 Equitii. Limfiria marito. Fecit mecum annos viginti. 
 
 " To Aper, who lived forty-eight years, four months, sixteen days. 
 Buried, in peace, on the sixth day before the Calends of March, in the 
 year after the Consulship of Gratianus and Equitius (i.e. February 24th, 
 375, A.D.). Limfiria to her husband. He passed twenty years with me." 
 
 (d.) To a wife:— 33. 
 
 B M 
 •CVBICVLVM • AVRELIAE • MARTINAE CASTISSIMAE AD- 
 
 [QVE • PVDI 
 CISSIMAE FEMINAE QVE FECIT • INCONIVGIO ANN • 
 
 [XXIII D XIIII 
 BENEMERENTI • QVEVIXIT • ANN • XL • M • XI • D • XIII 
 
 [DEPOSITIO EIVS 
 DIE III NONAS- OCT NEPOTIANOET FACVNDO CONSS- 
 
 [IN PACE 
 
 (/n Mus. Lat. ; De Eossi, n. 45.) 
 
 Bene merenti. Cubiculum Aureliee Martina, castissimce adque 
 ^atque) pudicissimce femims, que (quSD) fecit in conjugio annos 
 
THE KIRST 81X CENTURIES. 
 
 17 
 
 r-S. 
 
 t5.) 
 
 XXIII, dies XIV. Bene merenti que (<|unD) vixit annos XL, 
 menses XI, dies XIII. Depositio ejus, die III Nonas Octohres, 
 Nepoliano et Facundo Constdibns. In pace. 
 
 " T(» (ono) \VflliloH(Mving. The slct'pin^'-iilacc of Aurolia Miirtina, a 
 moHt chiistt' iiiul iiKxU'Ht woman, who pusHcil in woiUock twcnty-throo 
 yearH, fourteen days. To lior, wcll-dt'Heivinf,', who livrd forty years, 
 cloven montlis, thirteen days, llir Imriai (tooiv (tlacc) on tlu^ tldrd day 
 before the Nones of October, in tlie ConsulsJiij) of Nopotianus and Fae- 
 undus, {i.e. October Mi, 33;"), a.d.). In peace." 
 
 1. 1. B. M. These lottcr.s stand sometimes for bene merenti, some- 
 times for bonce tnemorice, never for beatua or beata martyr (as sug- 
 gested by Bonfunt), for which there is no siuthority. 1. 2. Cubiculum. 
 This term for the jfravo or tomb, is found, also, in heathen epitaphs. 
 It is applied, by writers on the Catacombs, to a chamber, which " was 
 appropriated as the private vault, so to call it, of a particular family." 
 
 34. 
 
 AVR • CANDIDIANAE BENE QVESQVEN 
 
 TI IN PACE QVAE VIXIT ANNIS XXXI 
 
 MENSES • Vim • CVM MABITO FVIT ANNOS 
 
 XI • MENSES • VIII • DIES • X • DEPOSITA KAL [COSS • 
 
 APRIL • CONSTANTINO AVGIIET CONSTANTS AVG • 
 
 (/'« jHivim. led. S. Ajiollinaris ; Do Ilossi, n. 52.) 
 
 Aiireliee Candidiance bene qiiesquenti (quicsccnti), in pace, qute 
 vixit annis (annos) XXXI, menses IX, cum mnrito fnit annos XI, 
 menses VIII, dies X. Beposita, Kalendis Apnlibus, Constantino 
 Augusta II et Const ante Aiiyusto Considibus. 
 
 "To Anrelia C'andidiana, resting- well, in jieace, who lived thirty-one 
 years, (and) nine months. She was with her luisband {i.e. her married 
 life was) eleven years, eight months, (and) ten days. llinied on the 
 Calends of April, in the Consulship of Constantinus AiifX'istus, for the 
 second time, and Constans Augustus," i.e. April Jst, ?,:w, a.d. 
 
 35. 
 VISCILIVS NICENI • COSTAE • SVAE 
 QVAE FVIT • ANNOR ■ P • M • XXXI • EX QVTBVS 
 DVRABIT • MECVM ANNOS XV • FECI IN SE 
 SI EO BONO • SIM • EXIBIT • DE SAECVLO 
 VI • IDVS • IVL • MAMERTINO • ET • NEVITA 
 
 {In coem. S. Jlcrmelis ; I)e Rossi, n. l.'il.) 
 B 
 
18 
 
 CHRISTIAN EI'ITAPIIS OP 
 
 rl 
 
 Viscilius Niceni, coattu suce, qvre fuit annorum plus minus 2[JlJ[I, 
 ex quifjus durabit ((luravlt) mecum nnnos XV. Feci in se si eo 
 dono sim. Exihit (exivit) de sceculo, Vl Idus Julius, Mnmertino 
 et Nevita (Nevittii). 
 
 " ViHoiliiiH, to Nico liiH rib, who wrh of thlrty-ono ycarH (of ago) more 
 or li'KH, of which wlu! paKKcd witli iiii- fifteen yi-arH. I ina<h' it for our- 
 Hclvcs, if ! am (shoiiM bt) wortiiy of siiili a gift. Sliu (Icpartcd froin tliis 
 world, on tiic Kixtli day bofort; tlio IduH of July, in the ConHulHliip of 
 MamtirtinuH and Nuvitta," i.e. .Fiily 10th, ;JG2, a.d. 
 
 1. 1. Niceni. This change of the doclcnsion of nouns is common. 
 Thus we have Leopard eti, Eirenefi, iS:c. Ispeti, for Spei, is a 
 notable example of mctaplnsmns, with the introduction of the prefix 
 i, Hce n. 41. 
 
 Burgon was not aware of this usage. In p. 107, he gives an 
 inscription— _/?/2Vc Mercvraneti — and asks :., " Who ever heard of such 
 a name as Mercnrnnctis ? and yet, since I am sure that the word 
 is copied accurately, what else can the nominative be ?" It was 
 Mercurane, otherwise Mercuriane. 
 
 Costce. There is no authority for the use of costa for uxor, but 
 there are two examples in Greek, in which Gregory Nazianzeu uses 
 the term, doubtless with rci'erence to Genesis, ii., 21. 
 
 1. 8. Feci in se si eo dono sim. It is very difficult to give a satis- 
 factory interpretation to these words. Lami, to whom wc are indebted 
 for the suggestion that costre stands for uxori, does not attempt to 
 explain them. Odeiie cn(|uires: an forte FECI, hu7ic nimiriim titu- 
 lum, ne conjux men SINE EO DONO SIT, nempe ne careat hoc 
 amoris niei pignore ? Danzctta proposes: FECIwm* IN SEcw^p 
 SI«e VLLO DOliORE ^Vyiul. De Rossi justly rejects both of 
 these. He explains FECI IN SE, as standing for FECI INTER 
 SE, i.e. annos XV feci una cum ea, and explains EO DONO as 
 governed by dignns understood ; wliilst he regards SIM as used 
 for fuerinif or fui, i.e. si tamen eo dono dignus fiierim, or fui — 
 "(|U0 elogio non aliud aptius Christiana) uxori ab viro Christianas 
 humilitatis studioso potuit inscribi." 
 
 This is an ingenious, but unsatisfactory, explanation. I am inclined 
 to take /(?c« in the ordinary sense, "made," and se as used for "our- 
 selves;" and, adopting De Rossi's suggestion of an ellipsis of dignus, 
 to regard dono as referring to the "gift," or "blessing," of burial 
 with her ; but I am not satisfied. 
 
TUB PIllHT SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 10 
 
 but 
 
 11. 
 
 ; l)v Uossi, 
 
 mi K IIS XLV, 
 
 ito.) 
 cum 
 
 :jo. 
 
 EllENI QVK VIXITANN 
 PMXLV(.'V]MCVI'A1{K 
 SVO FKCITANNVSVIII 
 QVERECESSfTni N( )N [N 
 rACESVBDAiMASOKl'lSCO • 
 
 (//( Mas. La. 
 
 Ereni (Eiroiiai), qvi; ((|u;ic) vixit amms plim 
 cuparc (compare) suo fecit aniiuH (aniios) VHI, ijiie (<iutu) receasit 
 III Nonas in pace sub Damaso Episcopo. 
 
 "To Eirciu', ' who livi'd forty-live yciiiH, nioic or Khh, puHHcd oiyht 
 yeaiH with licr hiiHbund, wlio rotiriMl oii thd third day buforc tho NouuH, 
 ill itriicc, under liiNlioj) DumiiHUH,'' i.e. iJtiO or :')()7, a.o. 
 
 Maniaclii, Zaccaria, and Morcclli iiifbrrocl from thia inscription, 
 that the names of tlio Bi^shojis oi' Uome \\\.\TC used, from tho liiurth 
 century, to mark dates. IJiit, in all tlu; dated epitaphs, there is 
 only one other example of this use. See Do llossi, n. i;J9. Tho 
 reason for usinj:; tho terms sub Diimaso Episcoji ' here is, that in the 
 first two years of his Episcopate there was a rival bishop, Xfrsimis, 
 or Ursicinus, whose claims were supported by a considerable portion 
 of the laity. The deceased, or lier friends, took the side of Damasus. 
 
 37. 
 HIC REQUTESCTT TN 1»ACE ETLICISSTMA 
 QVAE VIXIT ANNVS LX • QVAE FECIT CVM VIRO 
 SUO ANNVS XLV • I)EP()8TTA I'RIDIE • KAL • IAN ' 
 HONORIO • ATKI • UII • IIILARANVS CONTRA 
 VOTVM POSUIT 
 
 (III. J/w.s. Ciii'iloL; Dc Uo.ssi, n. .OVV.) 
 
 Hie rcijuiescit in pace Filicissima (Felicissima), qiue vixit annus 
 (annos) LX, qwc fecit cum viro suo annus (annos) XL. Deposita, 
 pridie Kahni/as Janiiarias, Ilonorio Auyusto FIT. Ililaranns 
 contra votnin posuit, 
 
 "Here rests in ]ieiiee, Fclieissima, wlio lived sixty years, who passed 
 witii her iiiusbaud forty-live years, liuricd on the day liel'oro tlie (,'aleuds 
 of January, in tlio Consulship of Honorius Aut,'ustus, for tho sovonth time 
 (i.e. Documber 31st, 107, a.d.) llilaiaiius i)laeed this a,i;uiust liis wisli." 
 
 This use of contra votiim is found in heatheu inscriptions. The 
 origin of it, I suspect, was, that when a person had made a vow 
 
T~T**«««»«WH^ 
 
 20 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 contingent on the recovery of some one from illness, he was dis- 
 inclined, or was afraid, to omit the performance of the vow, even 
 though the object had not been attained. Here, and in other places, the 
 words simply mean " against tlie wish." Mark the use of both U and V, 
 1. 2, LX. In De Kossi's copy we have XL : I have followed Muratori. 
 
 38. 
 HIC REQVIESCIT INPACE lANVAEIA 
 LFQVAE A^XIT PL • M • ANN • XXVIII • C • MA 
 HIT V • FEC • ANN X V • M • XI • D • X • DEP • 
 D • XV • KAL • FEBRVAK • II • PC BILI 
 SARI VI P IND- PRIMA 
 
 IIIC REQVIESCIT IN PACE FILICELLVS SVBD • 
 QV 
 
 (^Nolfc ; Do Rcssl, in comment. \i. 1053.) 
 
 Hie requiescit in pace Januaria, laudabilis femina, qucc vixit 
 plus minus annos XXVIJl, cum maritu (marito) fecit annos XV, 
 menses XI, dies X. Deposita, die XV Kalendas Fehruarias, II 
 post consulatum Bilisari (Bclisarii), Viri Illustris, per indictione 
 (indictionem) 7J/7'/«« (primam). Ilic requiescit in pace Filicellus 
 subdiaconus qui 
 
 " Hero vests in peace, Januaiiii, a praiseworthy woman, who lived 
 twenty-eight years, more or less ; passed with her husband fifteen years, 
 eleven months, ten days. Buried on the fiftecntli day before the Calends 
 of February, in the second year after the Consulship of Belisarius, during 
 the first Indietion {i.e. January 18th, 538, A.n.) Hero rests in peace, 
 Filicellus, a Subdeacon, who" 
 
 1. 3. Ann. XV' M' XI' D' X. From this it appears that Janu- 
 aria was married when she was about twelve years of age. There are 
 examples of marriage at eleven, and, even, ton. See Fabretti, p. 586, 
 and Orelli, 2053. 1. 4. II • PC. De Rossi's note, in which he 
 determines the year, is well worthy of attentive perusal. 
 
 (c.) To a son:— 89. 
 
 MIRAE • INNOCENTIAE AC SAPIENTIAE 
 PVERO • MARCIANO QVI VIXIT ANN • IIII ET 
 
 MENSES • IIII • DIES • II • QVIESCET IN PACE 
 D • PRID • KAL • DEC • ARBETIONE ET LOLLIANO COSS • 
 
 [PARENTES FECERVNT 
 (ff coem, Priscillsc, ; De Rossi, u. 125.) 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 21 
 
 he 
 
 MircB innocentiee ac sapientuc piiero, Mnrciano, qui vixit annos 
 IF, et tnenses IF, dies II. Quiescet (cjuicscit) in 2>ace. Deposi- 
 tus, pridie Kalendas Becembres, Arbetione et Lolliano Considibus. 
 Parentes Jeceriint. 
 
 " To Marciaims, ji boy of wonderful iniioconco and intelligcnco, who 
 lived four years, and four months, (and) two days. He rests in peace. 
 Buried on the day before the Calends of December, in the Consulship 
 of Arbetio and Lollianua (i.e. November 30th, 351, a.d.) His parents 
 made this." 
 
 40. 
 CL • MAMERTINO ET FL NEVITTA • CONSS 
 DVLCISSIMO FILIO PETEIO QVI VIXIT • ANN XII 
 MIDXV DP]P PRID KAL-8EPTIN PACE 
 EVTYCHES PATER • FECIT 
 
 {E cofiii. Cullhli; I)c Rossi, n. 153.) 
 
 CI audio Mciwertino et Fluviu Nevittu Considibus, dulcissimo filio 
 Petrio, qui vixit annos XII, meuscni I, dies XF. Depositns pridie 
 Kalendas Septembres in puce. Eutyches j^tder fecit. 
 
 " In the Consiilshii) of (Jlaudius Mamertinus and Flavins Nevitta (i.e. 
 362, A.D.), to his very sweet son, Petrius, who lived twelve years, one 
 month, and fifteen days. Buried the day befori; the Calends of Septem- 
 ber (i.e. August 31st), in [leace. Eutyches, his father, made this." 
 
 (/.) To a daughter:— -ll. 
 
 TI • CL • MARCIANVS • ET 
 CORNELIA • IIILARITAS 
 CORNELIAE • PAVLAE • PAR • 
 FECR • QVAE • VIX • ANN • X • DIED 
 VIII • DEC • X • KAL AVG • MAX • ET 
 VRB • COS • 
 
 (/•/' cuciii. S. Hcrvielia ; De llossi, n. (5.) 
 
 Tiberius Claudius Marcianus et Cornelia Ililaritas, Cornelice 
 Paulfe parentes fecerunf, quce riait annis (ainios) A", diehus (dies) 
 P'lII. Decessit, X Kalendas Avyustas, Maximo ct Urbano Consulibus, 
 
 "Tiberius Claudius Miuciiinus und Cormlia Ililaritas, (her) j)arents, 
 made (this) to Cornelia I'aula, who livrd tv n years, eight days. She 
 departed on tlie tenth day licfore the Calends of .Vugnsl, in tlie Consul- 
 ship of Maxinius and I'rbaiius,' (i.e. .Inly 'Jl-rd, 'l.W. a.d.) 
 
 1. 1. Tlic use of the three name.s — Tiberius Claudius Marcianus — 
 deserves special notice. Tlierc is uo example of this in any Christian 
 
22 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 epitaph after the third century. This characteristic, and the identity 
 of tlie names of the deceased witli those of the wife of the Emperor 
 Ehigahalus, who was contemporary, have suggested tlic suspicion that 
 the family was of good rank. In Orolli, n. 4570, we have another 
 Cornelia Paula of the date 211, a.d. This inscription is the eailiest 
 of those bearing dates that are accompanied by symbols. Those 
 used here are the fish and the anchor. The fish, as is well known, 
 was chosen, as the letters that ibrm the Greek word for it, scil. 
 IX0Y2, are the initials of 'Irycrors Xpurro-i Wcou Yios Xurryp — Jesus 
 Christ, Son of God, Saviour. TcrtuUian regarded it as a fit emblem 
 of Him, whose children are '• born of water " in baptism. The 
 anchor is regarded as signifying " the close of a well-spent life, the 
 conclusion of a successful voyage, when the anchor is cast;" or that 
 hope, which '< we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and 
 stedfast." Both these s^rmltols are mentioned by Clemens Alex- 
 andrinus, as suitable for representation on the seals of Christians. 
 
 (See Plate I, 1.) 
 (fii Secret. S. Marm TranMih. ; Dn RoKisi, n. II.) 
 
 KwcrovXc KAdScico e8 llarepro) vwveis No/o'ei'/3/;jet/?ous Sett Kcvepes 
 Kovva XXIIII Act'KCs <^£/\eie ^if^i-jpe. KapeiTcre/xi ttoo-odctc eh cunrupuTOi 
 aavKT(xi Tovui puipTooa uvcouoykom VL cS fj.r](T<Dpwu XI ^evpwu X. 
 
 Consule Glaudio ct Falcrno, Nonis Novcmh'ihus, die Veneris, 
 luna XXIV, Leitccs filice Stwcrce cariasinicB posuit ct stpiritui 
 sannto tuo. Mortua annoruvi LV ct iiiensiiim XI dierum X. 
 
 "In tho (,'onstilslii[> df ClaiMliiis and I'aU'iinis (i.e. 2(i'J, .v.n.), on tlic 
 
 Nont'8 of Novciiibci' [i.e. Novi'mlur .'itli), on Friday, thi; 'iUli day of thu 
 
 Moon, Leuc'C! riuctcd (this jncnioiial) to lur very dear daughter, and to 
 
 tliy holy spirit. She (dird at tlio a.n'f) of (ifty-livc; yrars, and olevou 
 
 months, (and) ten days," 
 
 (/•] roriiiclerio S<i/iir)ii)ii ; Dc llossi, n. 11.) 
 
 This is the celebrated inscription that Lupi was the first to ex- 
 plain. Marini pointed out that the numerals, which he read <^|L, 
 were written avTiu-Tpoffxns, i.e. ~ L^, = 5ti. Be Rossi sliows that those 
 numerals were really VL, which, accoi-ding to Marini's view, ho 
 takes for LV. lie eorro(^ts the error of Lupi, as to the Consulships 
 being the second of Claudius, and the third of Paternus, and also 
 ascertained that Lupi's suggestion, that the word before awovmptan 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 23 
 
 may be martura, not mortua, must be rejected, as the letters are 
 distinctly MOPTOYA, i.e. mortua. 
 
 1. 4. AevKts. In Muratori, p. 27, we have Lucens as the Latin 
 form of this name, and iu p. ccclxvi, Leuces. Orelli, n. 1022, gives 
 Leuce. 1. 5. ctsTrctpctTw o-avKTw todw, i.e. ispirito (spiritui) sancto 
 tuo. This use of i as a prefix is often found in Clmstian epitaphs. 
 It is one of many indications of the lapse of Latin into Italian. 
 The change of person — tuo for ejus — occurs in Classical authors. 
 The points in this, as in some heathen inscriptions, are no indica- 
 tion of the intervals between words. 
 
 43. 
 SVCCESSAJ] FILIAE DVL 
 CISSIMAE PAKENTES • Q • V • AN 
 NOS DVOS M • XI • D • IIBMINPACE 
 DPXVIIIKALSEPTNIGRINIANO 
 
 (/« Mhs. L(iI.; Dc Rossi, n. 110.) 
 
 Successes, Jlliiv dulcissimcc, parentes, qitcc vixit annos II, menses 
 
 XI, dies II. Bene merenti in pace. Deposita, XVIII Kalendas 
 
 Septembrcs, Nigriniano (cousule). 
 
 "To Succes.sa, (tlu'ir) sweeti'st (l!Uii;litt'r, liev parents (made this); who 
 lived two years, eleven luoutlis, two days. To her, well-descrvinu:, iu 
 peace. Buried on tlie eighteenth day befort! tlio Calends of September, 
 in the Consulship of Nigrinianus," i.e. August 2r)th, iiSO, a.u. 
 
 44. 
 REVECCAE INNOCENTI QVAE VIXIT 
 ANNVM VNVM MENSEM VNVM 
 DIES XVII BENEjMERENTI IN PACE 
 DEPOSITA Villi KAL • SEPTEMBRES 
 FLAVIO • CAESARIO • ET NONIO 
 ATTICO ■ VV • CC • CONSS 
 PARENTES BENEMERENTI FECERVNT 
 
 (///, i1/«.i. Ciipitol. ; D(! Rossi, n. 450.) 
 
 RevecccB (Rebeccoe) innocenti, qitce vixit annum, I mensem I, dies 
 XVII. Bene onercnti in pace. Deposita IX Kalendas Septemhres 
 Mavio CcBsario et Nonio Attico, Viris Clarissimis, Consulihus. 
 Parentes bene merenti fecerunt. 
 
 "To the iunoo<!nt Rebecea, who lived one year, one month, seventeen 
 days. To her, wcll-deBcrviug, in peace. Buvied ou the ninth day before 
 
 i;«: 
 
 • ", 
 
24 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS C: 
 
 li 
 
 • M 
 
 the Calends of Sejitcmbcir, in tlio Consulship of Flavins Cassarius and 
 Nonius Atticus, most distinguished men {i.e. August 24th, 397, a.d.) Her 
 parents made this to her well-deserving." 
 
 46. 
 
 TPIAKONTAnENTAETHCEN0AAEKITEYnATIA 
 ©YrATHPANTONIOYKnCTANTINOnOAITICCA 
 THnPOAEKAKA AANAON $EBPARIftNYnATIAANIKIfl 
 BACCOYKAI^IAlilTIOYTfiNAAMnPOTATON 
 
 (In coeniet. S. J'auli via Osiiensi ; Do Rossi, n. 583.) 
 
 TptaKOVTaTTcvTaer^s ivOdSe klt€ (Kctrai) 'YTraria Ovydrrjp 'Avrwviov 
 K(u(v)o"Tavrivo7roXiTtcro"a ttJ irpb Scku KttXavSwv "te/Spapttov vwaria 'Avt- 
 
 KHO ( AVIKLOV) Bu(rO"OV Koi ^lXlTTTTOV TW' XafXTTpOTaTWV. 
 
 " Here lies Hypatia, thirty-five years of ii,t,'(', daughter of Antonius, a 
 native of Constantinople, on tlie tenth day before the Calends of Februarj', 
 in the Consulship of Anicius IJassus and Pliilippus, most distinguished 
 (men)," i.e. January 23rd, 408, a.d. 
 
 (g.) To u brother:— 46. 
 
 lOVIANO KAEISSIMO 
 
 FECIT LAMPADIVS ET SOTEllES FRA 
 TKES PIENTISSIIMI MEKOBAVDE 
 
 (I'imiiri, (• coem. Rom.; De Rossi, n. 330.) 
 
 Joviano carissimo fecit (fecorunt) Lampndius et Sotcres fratres 
 pientissimi, Merobaude. 
 
 " To dearest Jovianus, Lani]);ulii;s and Soteres, his most affectionate 
 brothers, liavo made (tliis), in tlie Consulship of Merobaudes [and Sat- 
 urninus]," i.e. 383, a.d. 
 
 The lower portion of the stono has been broken off; it most 
 probably had the letters ET SATVRNINO CONSS. 
 
 (/*.) To a sister:— 47; 
 
 SVME SOROR CARMEN SOLA^ea 
 TRISTA FRATRISQVI sol 
 VS GEMITV EEC TIBI VE;-i« 
 DEBIT QVAE TEGITVR T^wm 
 LO SI VIS COGNOSCERE lect 
 OR-SVBLIMES GESSiY 
 SANGVINIS HAEC TITmZo* 
 MORIBVSHEC CRIs^wm 
 
 - 
 
ftnd 
 Her 
 
 THE PI^ST SIX CENTURIES. 26 
 
 SEMPER COMITATa 
 SVPERSTES • QVEM ^ost 
 FATA SIBI CREDIDii5 
 ESSE DVCEM- 
 DEPOSITA IN PACE 
 CON FESTI ET Marciani 
 {111 atrio coemet. S. Laurentii in ayro Veruno ; Do Rossi, n. 841.) 
 
 Sume soror carmen solatia trista (tristia) fratris, 
 Qui solus gemitu hec (haec) tihi verba dedit. 
 
 QucB tegitur tumulo si vis cognoscere, lector, 
 Sublimes gessit sanguinis hac titulos. 
 
 Moribus hec (hsec) Cristum (Christum) semper comitata su- 
 Quern post fata sibi credidit esse ducem. [perstes, 
 
 Deposita in pace Consulatu Festi et Marciani. 
 
 '' Sister, tako those A'erKos, tho siul comfort of your brother, who, in 
 lonely lamentation, has f,aven these words to you. Reader, if you desire 
 to know who is covered by this tomb, she bore names that told hei' 
 high descent. Slie, wlicn alive, always followed, in her conduct, Christ, 
 who, she Itelieved, would be her guide afti'r death. Burii'd in peace, in 
 the Consulship of P'estus and JIarcianus.'' i.e. 47'2, a.d. 
 
 9 
 
 V. 4. I have interpreted this verse as referring to such names as 
 Eugenia. It is scarcely possible that it can mean martyrdom. There 
 is no dated epitaph in which the deceased is called Martyr, or is 
 said to have suffered such a death : and in those not dated, examples 
 are extremely rare. 
 
 (/.) To a Foster-father:— 48. 
 
 PERPETVAM • SEDEM NVTRITOR POSSIDES IPSE 
 HIC MERITVS FINEM MAGNIS DEFVNCTE PERICLIS 
 HIC REQVIEM FELIX SVMIS COGENTIBVS ANNIS 
 HIC POSITVS PAPASANTIMIO QVI VIXIT ANNIS LXX 
 DEPOSITVSDOMINONOSTROARCADIOIIETFLRVFINO 
 VVCCSS NONAS NOBEMB 
 
 {E vinea, via Salaria nova; Do Rossi, n. 4015.) 
 
 Perpetuam sedem, nutritor, possides ipse: 
 Hie meritus Jinem magnis defuncte periclis : 
 Hie requiem felix sumis cogentibm annis: 
 Hie positiis papas Antimio qui vixit annis 
 9 
 
!■ ! 
 
 26 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 I I 
 
 septuaginta. Depositus Domino Nostro Arcadio II et Flavio JRu- 
 fino, Viris Glarissimis, Nonas (Nonis) Nobembres (Novembribus). 
 
 " You yourself, who reared (us or me), now oocup)- a lasting resting- 
 place ; here you have reached the end that you deserved, of a course 
 fraught -with great perils : here, in happiness, you take the repose that 
 age compels. Here is laid Foster-father Antimio, who lived seventy 
 years. Buried in the Consulship of our Lord Arcadius, for the second 
 time, and Flavins llufinus, most distinguished men, on the Nones of 
 November," i.e. November 5th, 392, a.d. 
 
 The history of this epitaph is very curious and instructive. De 
 Kossi's comment on it, in which he gives an account of the contro- 
 versy that it excited, is well worth reading. It is a good specimen 
 of the slashing style of annotation, with wliich Bentley has made 
 English scholars familiar. 
 
 The stone bearing the inscription was found near Rome, in the 
 year 1787. Antonio Paoli first published it, with an engraving and a 
 long dissertation, Di S. Felice papa e martire, in which he attempted 
 defenders la sua santita, ed il sua pontijicato, referring FELIX, in 
 the third verse of the epitaph, to the Pope, known as " Felix the 
 Second." Such an attempt, of course, drew down on him the cen- 
 sure of men of superior learning, who knev.',- from unquestionable 
 historical authority, that Felix the Second was not buried even near 
 the place where the stone was found, and, besides, that his death 
 occurred not in A.D. 392, the date on this stone, but in a.d. 365. 
 *Marini published a short treatise on the subject, in which he com- 
 pletely refuted Paoli, and showed that the epitaph was neither of 
 Felix the Second, nor of any other Pope, but of a foster-father 
 (papas), whose name was Antimio, i.e. PAPAS ANTIMIO. Paoli, 
 however, was not convinced of his error, but attempted to vindicate 
 his views in ' Lettera in dijesa deW epitoffio di S. Felice II, 
 Oderic and Tiraboschi then assailed him, sustaining Marini's inter- 
 pretation, and Juvenati satirized him in severe hendecasyllabics. 
 Even then Paoli clung to his mistake, and published another letter 
 in his defence, so absurdly erroneous, that De Rossi designates it as 
 stuporis plenam, quam eruditorum nemo vel uno verbo refutare 
 dignatus est. 
 
 The controversy relative to the interpretation of the epitaph here 
 
 * This learned Epigraphist arranged the inscriptions in the Galleria 
 delle Lapidi in the Vatican. 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 27 
 
 3r- 
 
 la 
 
 died out, but, since then, it has been revived by Dr. Maitland and 
 by *Bishop Kip. Neither of these writers seems to have been aware 
 of the discussion which had taken place. Maitland's observations on 
 it are : — " The date of this Consulate is 392, in which year no bishop 
 of Rome died. Siricius was made pope in 385, and lived to 396; 
 yet the reference to a perpetual \seat, added to the title papa sanc- 
 tissimtis, strongly indicates episcopal rank. This Papa may have 
 been an anti-pope, there being a schism at that time in Rome." 
 De Rossi derides his ignorance totius controvei'sice vel lippis ac ton- 
 sorihus notce, and ridicules his object in citing the epitaph. There 
 is no doubt that Maitland was unacquainted with the literary history 
 of the inscription, and that he misread and misinterpreted the words 
 papas Antiinio. But De Rossi's censures ve too strong, end he 
 seems to hiive misunderstood Maitland's object. Maitland was not 
 the only one, besides Paoli, who was mistaken relative to this inscrip- 
 tion. Fea — hand sordidus auctor — held the same opinion, that it 
 was the epitaph of some bishop; and Maitland was evidently not 
 ignorant of the fact, that papa was the common appellation of all 
 bishops, whether in or out of the City, for he distinctly states this, 
 and gives in illustration the application of the term to the Bishops 
 of Carthage and Hippo. 
 
 The author of these verses was a reader of Virgil, but does not 
 seem to have profited by the perusal. The first line was, probably, 
 suggested by the opening of the seventh book of the ^Eneid, in 
 which the grave of Caieta — JEneia nutrix — is mentioned. The words 
 magnis defuncte periclis arc taken from JEn.^ vi., 83. See, also, 
 ix., 98. The verses, that are found in ancient epitaphs, present 
 many examples of violation of the ordinary rules of syntax and 
 prosody. " In [Greece] and Italy, as in iJugland, the Muse of the 
 cemetery was an ' unlettered iMuso.' " See Kenrick, '■' Roman Sepul- 
 chral Inscriptions," p. 21. 
 
 Northcote, "The Roman Catacombs," p. 136, observes: — "It is a 
 very singular fact, that there are actually more instances of alumni 
 
 * His remarks are merely a reproduction of Maitland'.s. 
 
 t Maitland's reference here, seems to be to the use of sedere in the sense 
 " to hold a bishopric," and we iind such expressions as sedit annos decern 
 denoting the time during which a person occupied the office of Bishop. 
 This use of sedere is, however, not peculiar to Episcopi. In De Rossi, 
 n. 879, an epitaph of a Presbyter, We find the words QVI SfiDIT PBB. 
 
IW 
 
 t 
 
 f ' 1 
 
 J|9 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 among the sepulchral inscriptions of Christians, than among the in- 
 finitely more numerous sepulchral inscriptions of Pagans ; showing 
 clearly that this was an act of chariiy to which the early Christians 
 were much addicted, and the alumni, when their foster-parents died, 
 very properly and naturally recorded upon their tombs this act of 
 charity, to which they were themselves so deeply indebted." I have 
 not compared, by counting, the number of instances of such inscrip- 
 tions, but I have reason to think, that the opposite opinion is true. Of 
 all the dated Christian epitaphs of Rome, in number between 1300 and 
 1400, I have not noticed one of an alumnus, and this is the only 
 example of a memorial to a foster-parent. 
 
 V. Those in which the Occupation or Position in Life op 
 
 THE Deceased is Stated. 
 
 A. Secular. 
 
 (a.) To a member of the Imperial household: — 49. 
 
 M • AVRELIO • AVGG • LIB • PROSENETI 
 
 A CVBICVLOAVG- 
 PROC • THESAVRORVIM 
 PROC • PATRIMONI PROC- 
 MVNERVMPROCVINORVM. 
 ORDINATOADIVOCOMMODO 
 IN KASTRENSE PATRONO PIISSIMO 
 LIBERTIBENEMERENTI 
 SARCOPHAGVM DE SVO • 
 ADORNAVERVNT • 
 
 PROSENES RECEPTVS ADDEVM • V • NON'i<**SSA-l<il:* >!<>!<*** H^NIA ' 
 
 [praesente • et • EXTRICATO • II 
 regrediens in vrbe AB EXPEDITI onibvs sripsit 
 
 [ampelivs lib 
 
 {Via Labicana ; Dc llossi, u. 5.) 
 
 Marco Aurelio, Augustorum liberto, Proseneti, a cuhiculo Augmti, 
 Frocuratori ihesaurorum, Procuratori patrimonii, Procuratori mune- 
 rum, Procuratori vinorum, ordinaio a Divo Commodo in Castrense, 
 Patrono piisnimo, liberti benemerenti sarcophagum de suo adorna- 
 
 veriint, Prosenes receptus ad Deum q^uinto Nonas 
 
 PrcBsente et Extricato iterum. Begrediens In urbe (urbem) ab 
 expeditioniblis scripsit Ampelius lihtrtus. .^ 
 
 II 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 29 
 
 II 
 
 llB 
 I..) 
 
 \ti, 
 
 \e' 
 ia- 
 
 " To Marcus Aurclius ProRcnes, frecdmau of the two Augueti, of the 
 bed-chamber of Augustus, Procurator of the Trensuros, Procurator of 
 the Patrimony, Procurator of the Presents, Procurator of the Wines, 
 appointed by the Deified Connuodus to duty in the Cump, a most aflfcc- 
 tionatc Patron. For him, well-deserving, his freedmen provided (this) 
 sarcophagus, at their own cost." 
 
 "Proscnes received to God, on the fifth day before the Nones of ... . 
 (in the Consulship of) Prresens and Extricatus for the second time," 
 i.e 217 A.n. 
 
 "Ampelius, his frecdman, returning to the city from the wars, set up 
 this inscription." 
 
 1. 1. Augg. Marcus Aurellus and Lucius Vcrus. 1. 2. Atig, 
 Comniodus. 1. 2. In Kastrense. Soil, munus, or oj/icium, Henzen 
 remarks, " = ratio castrensis." 1. 11. Receptus ad Deum. This 
 phrase may be regarded as sufficient proof of the Christianity of cither 
 Ampelius, or both Prosenes and Ampelius. lu Ilcnzcn's n. 7418, 
 a Pagan tituJus, we have the similar phrase, spiritus inter Deos 
 receptus, where, also, the word refrigerat or refrigeras, so common 
 in Christian epitaphs, is strangely used. It is remarkable that this 
 same expression occurs in another Pagan epitaph, given by Muratori, 
 978, 9, with the statement: ^^ Soma. In Coemeterio Callisti. Ex 
 Boldetto." The conmicnccment of the two epitaphs is identical : 
 D' M' in Jioc iuniulo jacet corpus exanimis (exauime) ciijus spiri- 
 tus inter Deos receptus est; sic enim meruit. And in both we 
 have, cujus fama in cterna (in Muratori, ceterno') nota est; but the 
 division into lines is not the same, and, besides many other dif- 
 ferences, the name of the deceased in tlie former, is M. JJlpius 
 Maximus, in the latter, L, Statins Onecimus. Ilenzen, n. G344, 
 copies the inscription to Proscnes, but without the lines given above 
 in smaller typo, and, consequently, treats the inscription as Pagan. 
 
 1. 11. V-NON. After NGN some letters are defaced; before 
 SSA there are traces like III. Do Rossi suggests, with a query, 
 [APRI]LIS, i.e. April \st. There are examples of this notation 
 of time, without mention of the Calends (see n. 12) ; but I am not 
 aware of any instance at so early a period as 217. I am unable to 
 offer any feasible conjecture as to the letters obliterated between 
 SA and NIA. 1. 12. Scripsit Ainpelius lib. Thus, we have in 
 Orelli, n. 4692 : Lih. Scripserunt. 
 
 60. _ 
 
 IVLIVS FELIX VALENTINIANVS • VC • ET Tp 
 
1 
 
 
 i 
 
 ! 
 
 il 
 
 30 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 KX SlLENTIAllIO SACKI PALATII KX COM • 
 CONSISTOllII COM • DOM QVI YlXit 
 ANN ■ LXVII • MENS • IIII • D • XXV DEP • IN PACE 
 FL • EVTHAIUCO • CILLIGA • VC • CONS 
 
 (fn Mm. Ciipit.; De RoHsi, n. OGS.) 
 
 Julius Felix Vitlentinianus, Vir Clarissimus et Spectabilis, Ex 
 aHeniiario Sacrl Palatil, Ex Comite Consistoni, Comes Domesti- 
 eorum, qui vixit annos LXVII, menses 7F, dies A'^XV. Dcpositus 
 in pace, Flavio Eufharlco Cilh'ga (Cillica), Viro Clarissimo, Consult. 
 
 "Julius J'elix Valeiitiniiinus, a uiau of tlio highest distinctiou ?ud 
 oousideration, ex-Sileutiary of tlie Sacred I'uhico, ex-Count of tho Con- 
 fiititory, Count of tlio Houseliold Troops, who lived Hixty-seven years, 
 four months, twenty-five days. Buried, in peace, in the Consulship ot 
 Vlavius Eutharic Cillica, a most distinguislied man," i.e. 519, a.d. 
 
 1. 1. Sp. I have adopted Dc Kossi's certain rcstoratiou. Valen- 
 tinian was Spectabilis as Comes Domesticorum. Other titles of honor 
 are : V ' C * =: Vir Clarissimus ; V * D • = Vir Devoius, or Devo- 
 tissimus ; V * I * = Vir Illustris ; V • P • = Vir Perfectissimus, &c. 
 On the applicatiou of these titles according to rank or position, see 
 Booking's edition of the Notitia, and (Jothofred's edition of the 
 Theodosian Code. It is impossible to tiiul English adjectives that 
 uatiefactorily express these grades of titular dignity or compliment. 
 
 Qj.) To a lawyer:— 51. 
 
 FELIX VITA Villi FELICIOK EXITVS IPSE 
 CAIANI SEMPER CRESCIT PER SAECVLA NOMEN 
 NESCIT FAMA MORI SED SEMPER VIBIT VBIQVE 
 ADVENIT IIOSPES ROMANVS PRINCEPS • IN VRBEM 
 QVI FVIT HIC PRIMVM IVRIS CONSVLTOR AMICVS 
 QVIESCITINPACEMDEPOSITVS DIEM QVAR 
 
 TVM NONAS AVGV 
 
 STAS FLAVIO FILIPPO 
 
 ET FLAVIO SALLEA CON 
 
 SVLIBVS PATER SABBA 
 
 TIVS FE CIT 
 
 ( ?; De Rosci, n. 101.) 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 :n 
 
 Felix I'l'tit viri, fdicior cxifim I 
 
 pDC 
 
 Caiimi semper crescit jier scecitia nomen, 
 Nesclt fama 7nor!, sed semper vihit (rivit) nhique, 
 Advenit hospes Romnnus 2)rlnc<ps in nrbcni, 
 Qui fuil hie primum juris conaultor amicus. 
 Quiescit in pacem (pace), deposifus diem (die) quartum (quarto) 
 
 nonets Augustas, Flavio Filippo (Pliilippo) ct Flavio Sallea (Salia) 
 
 Consulihus, Pater Sahbatius ftcit. 
 
 "Happy tho life of the man, happier tho death itself! The renown 
 of Caianus shall ever increase throughout (all) agcH. Fame knows not 
 death, but over lives, and everywhere. The Roman Emperor came a 
 stranger, to the city, whose first friend was this lawyer. He rests 'in 
 peace. Buried on the fourth day before the Nones pf August in the 
 Consulship of Flavius Phiippus and Flavins Salia (^U. August 2nd 348 
 A.D.) His father, Sabbatius, made" (this). ' ' 
 
 1. 2. Read crescet for crescit. 1. 4. Read princeps Romanus for 
 Romanus princeps, or insert princeps between adveiiit and hospes. 
 1. 5. Read cui for qui, and primus for primum. The Roman 
 Emperor was Constantine the Great, and the year, which is referred 
 to, of his coming to Rome, is 326, a.d. 
 
 (c.) To a praefcct of the city: — 52. 
 
 IVN-BASSVS-VC-QVI VIXIT ANNISXLII MEN-II IN IPSA PRAEPECTURA 
 [VRTT NEOFITVS TIT AD DEVAf VIII- ILAL' SEPT EVSEBIO ET YPATIO-COSS 
 
 (In crypth Vaticanis ; Dc Rossi, n. 141.) 
 
 Junius Bassus, Vir Clarissimus, qui vixii annis (annos) XLII, 
 
 menses II. In ipsa ptrcefectura urhi neofitus (neophytus) ivit ad 
 
 Deum, VIII Kakndas Septemhres, Euschio et Ypatio CHvoatio^ 
 
 Consulihus. \ Jf j> 
 
 " Junius Bassus, a most distinguished man, who lived forty-two years 
 two months. Whilst holding the office of Prtefect of the City he' 
 a neophyte, went to God on the 8th day before the Calends of 'Sep- 
 tember, in the Consulship of Eusebius and Hypatius," i.e August 25th 
 359, A.D. ' • 6 ; 
 
 (d.) To a physician: — 53. 
 
 RAPE TIG AME 
 DICVS CIVIS 
 HISPANVS QVI 
 VIXITINPANNPM 
 
 
 III 
 
 I 
 
 ii 
 
 . ii 
 
■ 
 
 H CURISTIAN Kl'ITAPIIrt OF 
 
 XXVnOCPATERNI 
 
 CAITVSFECITDNMA 
 
 MAXIMOAVGII 
 
 (A' coem. Ci/riacm ; Do Kossi, n. 375.) 
 
 Rapetlgn^ medicits, clvls Jltspanns, qui vixit in jj(uce) annos phi$ 
 minus viginti quinque. Hoc pater Nicaitua (Nicctiua) J'tcit, Domino 
 Nostra Mngno Maximo Augnsto itenim. 
 
 " Rapetiga, a physician, a citizen of Spain, wlio lived in peace twenty, 
 five years, moro or less. Nicctiua, liis I'atlur, made tiiis, in tiic Consulship 
 of our Lord Magnus Maxinius Auj,'UKtu.H, for tlio second time," i.e. 388, a.d. 
 
 (e.) To a baker: — 54. 
 
 HIC EST POSITVS IJITALIS PISTOll ANA 
 SIIICESRSXIIOVIBICSITAN 
 NVSPLMINVSNXLVDEPC 
 SITVSINPACINATALED 
 OMNESSITIRETISTERT 
 IVMIDVSFEBBCONSVLi' 
 TVMFLV MCEN T I VV CC 
 CONSS 
 
 (//t coenohio S. I'auli via Oatiensi ; De Rossi, n. 405.) 
 
 Ilic est jiositus Bitalis (Vitalis) pistor regionis XII, 
 
 ovi (fiui) vicsit (vixit) annus (annos) plus minus mimero XLV, 
 Depositus ill pad (pace) natale (natali) Domnes (Dominao) Sitiretis 
 (Soteridis) tcrtium (tertio) Idus Februarias Consulatum (Consulatu) 
 FlavU Vincentii [et Fraviti], Virorum Clarissimonim, Consulum. 
 
 «' Hero has been placed Vitalis, a baker of the twelfth. 
 
 District, who lived forty-five years, more or less. Buried, in peace, on 
 the birth-day of Saint ♦Soteres, the third day before the Ides of Feb- 
 ruary, in the Consulship of Flavins Vincentius [and Fravitusj, most 
 distinguished men. Consuls, i.e. February 11th, 401, a.d. 
 
 1. 1. No one has yet been able to explain the word or W' 
 formed by the letters between p)lstor and rs (regionis). Lc BL 
 Inscr. Chret. de la Gaule, i., 279, reads— MAGHICES ; but Lo 
 
 • Thus, Do Rossi, Index, p. 619 ; but Aringhi, i., p. 288, gives Soter. 
 Soter is the name of a man ; Soteres — otherwise Soteris and Soteria (in 
 Jowi8.h epitaphs, Orelli, n. 2523, Henzen, n. 6144) — is the name of a woman. 
 Hence, in epitaph n. 46, I should prefer the translation, " Lampadiui 
 and Soteres, his most affectionate brother and sister," to the versioK 
 
velfth 
 on 
 Feb- 
 most 
 
 t l>o 
 
 Soter. 
 a (in 
 iman. 
 adius 
 rsioa 
 
 THE FIRST SIX CENTURIB8. 
 
 33 
 
 Rossi, p. 577, justly rejects this, observing; that the *charactcr 
 between R and A contains two letters, and may be read either MI, 
 or INI, or even AN. 1. 2. RSXIT. Ancient Rome was divided into 
 fourteen Regions. This baker had his hliop in the twelfth. Thus, 
 in Orelli, n. 1455, we have pistor Rom' aliens is ex rcgione XIIII. 
 11. 4, 5. IJumnes. Domimt, like the Orck KVfun, — our " Mistress," 
 was a term of respect applied to female.^. It is commonly applied 
 to the samo who were otherwise called " Sanctce.'' 1. 5. Sitiretii. 
 This Saint is said to have suffered martyrdom, in the Appian Road, 
 under Diocletian and Maximian, 304, a.d. See Aringhi, i., p. 288. 
 1. 7. Fl. Vincenti. As he alone is mentioned, it appears that the 
 name of the Eastern Consul, Fravitiis, or Fravita, was not at the 
 time known in Rome; and yet the plural — VVCC CONSS — is used, 
 as if both names had been given. 
 
 (/.) To a gardener: — 55. 
 
 PASCASIVS • ORTOLANV 
 qi IDSIVLIASCOLSDECIVCC 
 
 (In S. Agnctis ; De Rossi, u. 1020.) 
 
 [Hie quiescit] Pascasius ortolanu (hortulanus), [depositus] septimo 
 Idus Julias, Consulatu Decii, Viri Clorissimi, ConsuUs. 
 
 "[Here rests] Pascasius, a gardener, buried on tlie seventh day before 
 the Ides of July, in tlie Consulship of Dccius, a most distinguished man, 
 Consul," i.fi. July 9th, r>20, or rather, 480, a.d. 
 
 (g.) To an ex-qua3stor: — 56. 
 HIC REQVIESCINT IN PACE PRAETEXTATVS Vl EX 
 QVESTOR SCP • DP • VII • IDVS • OCTOBR • FESTO VC • CONS 
 
 there given. ThiiB, fnttribus, in Orelli, n. 'iCtS3; fra/rum, in Tacitus, Ann. 
 ill., 4; and ^'Lucius el Titia fralres emancijiaii a pa I re,'' in Paul., iJii/. x., 
 2, 38, cited by Forccllini, in verb. 
 
 * This character occurs in Roman inscriptions found in Eritain, e.gr. 
 in a very perplexing one to the Beie Matres, figured in the " Report of 
 th Yorkshire Philosophical Society, for 1861." It seems as if it might 
 al bo read NV, or MV, or NN. De Rossi, in liis comment, remarks : 
 '■ V, quse postremis versus primi et prioribus secundi litteris continelur, millies 
 .« tentata est, sed irrilo semper conatu." As this has, also, been the result 
 o MJ experience, I merely state my impression, that the word is au 
 E tinic adjective, like Romanienns. 
 

 I i 
 
 34 
 
 CHHISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 ET FILIA EIVS PRAETEXTATA • CF • DP • XV • KAL • 
 
 [AVG.DECIO VC C 
 
 {In S. Martini; De Rossi, n. 844.) 
 
 Hie requiescint (rcquicscunt) in 2)acc PrcBtcctatus, Yir lUustris, 
 
 eoc-qucBstore Sacri Palatii, dcpositus VII Idus Octobrcs, Fcsto, Viro 
 
 Clarissimo, Consule, ct filia ejus Prcttextata, Clarissima Fetnina, 
 
 dcposita XV Kalendas Axigustas, .Dccio, Viro Clarissimo, Consule. 
 
 "Hero rest in peace, Prietextatus, an illustrious man, ox-quasstor of 
 the Sacred Palace, buried on the seventh day before the Ides of October, 
 in the Consulship of Festus, a most distinguished man (i.e. October OtL, 
 Al2, A. D.)) and his daughter Praitextata, a most distinguished woman, 
 buried on the fifteenth day brfore the Calends yf August, in the Con- 
 sulship of Dccius, a most distinguished man," i.e. July 18th, 48G, a.d. 
 
 1. 2. SCP. Sacri Palatii, scil. of the Emperor. Sec Epitaph 
 n. 50, and Kotitia, chap. xv. and xiv., vol. ii., ed. Booking. 
 
 Qi.) To a soldier: — 57. 
 
 EN0AAETONArPHrOPON 
 YriNONKA0EYAEI*IAE 
 EYPNfiMONIOSnPOTlKTOP 
 TONPENNAIOTATON 
 API0MOYMAPTH2lONnPO 
 AnEA0nNTOYKA©HMA2 
 BIOYMHNIIOYAIOYAEKA 
 THINAENAEKATHYITA 
 T . . . 2<i>ABI0YMAPN0Y 
 .... TOYMErAAOriRE 
 YX 
 (/« Muico Parisiensi ; Kirchhoff, n. 9449.) 
 
 'Ev^dSc Tov aypy'iyopov vtti'ov Ka^evSci,, cfiiXc, EvyViO//,ovtoSj vpoTiKTOO 
 (irpoTiKroyp) tCov yevvaioTaTwv apiOfiov Maprr^critor, rrpoatrtXOiov tov 
 KaO' 7?)Mas /Si'ou fj.ipl 'lot'Xtov ScKarr;, lvSlktlCh'l ivSeKaTrj, L'Trartas ^a/Stov 
 Mayvou f/u.orouJ to? /MeyaXorptTrecTTttroi'. 
 
 •' Here, friend, Kugnomonius sloejis the sloop that knows no waking, 
 a Protector, of tlic detachnKmt of tin; most noble Martcnses, h.iving gone 
 before from our life on the tenth of the month of July, in the eleventh 
 Indiction, in the Consulship of Fabitis Magnus [alone], the most distin- 
 guished," i.e. July lOtli, CIS, a.d. 
 
 1. 5. dpiOixor. This j.'^ UFcd a.s the Latin ivnncriis. A body of 
 
 .«»<-■ 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 35 
 
 the Marfniscs is incntiono(] in tlic Notitia, a,^ stationorl at AlHum 
 now .St. Main. ' 
 
 (i.) To a praefcct of tlio market :~ 58. 
 HIC IlEQVIESCIT IN PACE SABINVS VS PRE ANNS QVl 
 
 [BISSIT ANNVS 
 LIIII ET DIE8 XXTITT DP XVI KAL AGVSTAS CONS 
 
 [Si^MM ET BOETIO VC CONSS 
 
 (In afrio coem. ,^. Pauli ; Do Ilo.ssi, n. 078.) 
 
 Ilk reqniesdf l,i puce, Sahi.uu^, V!r SjicctahiUs, Prcefectus anno- 
 
 naes (annona)), (jui hisslt (vixit) raimis (annos) LIV, ct dies XXIV. 
 
 Depositm XVI Kalendas Agustas (Augimtas), Consulatu SymmacU 
 
 ft Boetio (Boetii), Vlrorum Clarissimornm, Consulnni. 
 
 "Here rests in piaco. Sabinns. a man of liigli considcratiun. Prefect of 
 the Market, who lived fifty-four yo.-.rs, and twenty-four davs. Buried 
 on the sixteenth day before the Calends of Aupu.st, in the cJnsnlship of 
 Symmaelms and lloetiiis, most distiiiK„is),rd men, fonsuls •' ,> .Julr 
 irth, r>2J, A.i). ' ■ ■ ^ 
 
 lu the expansion 1 liave conoctcd the fonimhi given ior the Con- 
 sulship. It was, doubtle.««, Gonsnhtw Si/mmacho et Boetio Viris 
 Chrissimis Consulibuu. In Do Rossi's, n. 977, we have the strange 
 mixture, Consulatu Symmad et Boeti Viris ConsuUhiis. 
 
 (k.) To a kcei>er of a public granary : — 59. 
 HIC REQVIESCITINPACECONSTANTINVSHOR 
 REARIVSQVIVISETPM • AN • XL VII DIP0SITV8ESTVII • KA 
 DEC • CONSFL • LAMPADIETORESTISVV • CC 
 
 (hi cocnoh. S. Pauli; De ilossi, n. 1026.) 
 
 Ilic requiescit in pace Coiistantinus horreayius, qui riset (\ixit) phis 
 minus amios XLVII. Diiwsitus (depositus) est VII KaJendas Dccem- 
 hres, Consulatu Flavii Lampadii ct Orestis, Virrmini ('lurissimorum. 
 
 "Here rest.s in peaee, Constantinu-s, a granary -keei.rr, wlio lived forty- 
 seven years, more or less. He was buried on the seventh day befor* 
 the Calends of December, in llie ConsuUhip of Flavins Lampadiug and 
 Orestes, most distinguishid men," i.f. November ir.th, r)30, a.d. 
 
 I am unable (without typo specially cut for the purpose) to repre- 
 sent the numerals after AN and before KA, as they appear in the 
 inscription. They are given as they were read ly l^Iuratori, 421, 2. 
 
36 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 I I 
 
 
 
 (I.) To a book-keeper: — 60. 
 
 HIC REQVIESCIT IN PACE lOHANNIS YH 
 OLOGRAFVS PROPINE ISIDORI QVI VIXi7 
 ANNPLVS MXLV DEP • X KALEN • IVNIAs 
 CONSVLATV VILISARI V C • 
 
 (fn crypt. Vatic; Do Rossi, n. 1055.) 
 
 Hie requiescit in pace, Johannis (Johannes), Vir Sbnestus, olo- 
 grafus (olographus) propinc (propinac) Isidori, qui vixit annos plus 
 minus XLV. Depositus X Kalendas Junias, consulatu Vilisari 
 (Belisarii), Viri Clarissimi. 
 
 " Here rests in peace, Johannes, a respectable man, the book-keeper of 
 the tavern of Isidorus, who lived forty-five years, more or less. Buried 
 on the tenth day before the Calends of June, in the Consulship of 
 BelisariuB, a most distinguished man," i.e. May 23rd, 535, a.d. 
 
 I have adopted Marini's interpretation of Hohgraphns, as explained 
 by De Rossi, but I know no ancient authority for this signification. 
 Although there are strong objections to receiving " the Consulship 
 of Belisarius " as marking the year 535 in an Italian inscription, 
 yet I have not ventured to follow De Rossi, who proposes the inser- 
 tion of post after IVNIAS, i.e. post consulatu (consulatum) Vilisari 
 rC, scil. A.D. 536 or 537. 
 
 B. Ecclesiastical. 
 
 (a.) To a bishop:— 61. 
 
 HICREQVIES 
 CITSANCTAE MEMO 
 RliEPATERNOSTER 
 REPARATVSE PS- QVIFE 
 CITINSACERDOTIVMAN 
 NOSVIIIIMENXIETPRE 
 CESSITNOSINPACE 
 DIEVNDECIMV • KAL 
 AVGPROVNC • CCCCXXX 
 ETSEXTA 
 
 (Orleansville in Algiert ; Renier, n. 3701.) 
 
 Jlic requiescit sanctce memories pater noster, Reparatus, episco- 
 pus, qui fecit in sacerdotium (sacerdotio), annos IX, menses XI, et 
 
 k ii. 5 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 37 
 
 pri^ceasit nos in pace, die undecimu (undecimo) Kalendas Augustas 
 IrovincicB [anno] quadringentesimo tricesimo et sexta (sexto). 
 
 ''Here reat3 our father of holy memory, Reparatus, the Bishop, who passed 
 m his priesthood nine years, eleven months; and went before us, in peace 
 on the eleventh day before the Calends of August, in the 436th yelr o the 
 Province," i.e. July 22nd, 475, a.d. 
 
 1. 1. Haccrdotium. The bishops in Africa wore sometimes called 
 Sacerdotes See Renier, n. 3704. The a.ra of the Province dated from 
 ^'^r^n^ ^''' "" ^^'"^ Mauretaniu was reduced. See Henzen, n. 
 5337; Remer, Reme Arch,, xi. 443, xv. 565; Mommsen, Epigraph- 
 xiiche Analekten, n. 20, in Berichte der phil. Hist., 1852, p 313. 
 
 (6.) To a presbyter : — 62. 
 
 PRAESBYTER HIC SITVS EST CELERINVS NOMINE 
 
 CORPOREOS RVMPENS NEXVS QVI GAVDET IN AST-RIS 
 DEP Vim KAL IVN FL SYAGRIO ET EVCERIO 
 
 {In S. Afjnetis via Komentana ; De Rossi, n. 303.) 
 
 Presbyter hie situs est Celerinus nomine dictus, 
 Corporeos rumpens nexus qui gaudet in astris 
 Bepositns IX Kalendas Junias, Flavio Syagrio et Eucerio. 
 
 J V "' ?r ^'^ ''i'^ "■ ^'''^^'''' ^alle^' by the name Celerinus, who, 
 breakingthe bonds of the body, rejoices in the stars (in heaven). Buri^ 
 on the ninth day before the Calends of June, in the Consulship of Syafrriu. 
 and Eucherius," i.e. May 24th, a.d. 381. ^yagrius 
 
 In Kirchhoff's u. 9258, found at Anc-vra, in Galatia, we have an 
 example of a presbyter pursuin- a secular uccupation :— 
 ^ 6 So?Ao, Tov ©coC ©eogo.po5 Trpar/JvVepo. r^v dy.'o. (dy.W) kI Ua\) 
 apyvpoKo^os, i.e. "the servant of God, Theodorus, a presbyter (of 
 the church) of the Saints (All Saints?), and a silversmith." 
 
 ((-■.) To the wife of a presbyter:— 03. 
 GAVDENTIVS • PRESB • SIBI 
 
 ET CONIVGI SVAE SEVERAE CASTAE HAG SANCf^^WtW] 
 FEMINAE QVAE VIXIT ANN • XLII • M • III • D • X 
 DEP III ■ NON . APRIL • TIMASIO ET PROMQTO 
 
 (/« cocm. S. Pauli liu Oatienst; De Rossi, n. 376.) 
 
i i 
 
 II 
 
 36 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 Gaudentius Presbyter sihi et conjugi suce Severa, castce hac (ao) 
 sanctissimce femince, quee vixit annos XLII, menses III, dies X. 
 Deposita IV Nonas Apriles, Timasio et Promoto. 
 
 " Gaudentius, a Presbyter, for himself, and his wife Sercra, a chaste and 
 most holy woman, who lived forty-two years, three months, ten daya. Buried 
 on the fourth day before the Nones of April, in the Consulship of Timasius 
 and Promotus," i.e. April 2nd, a.d. 389. 
 
 (d.) To a deacon : — 64. 
 
 DEPS • FELIX DIAC • V • IDVS • MARTIAS • 
 THEODOSIO • XV • ET • PLD • VALENTINIANO IIII 
 AA • VV • CC • CON • SS 
 
 (//( oyp/. basil. Vaticanx ; Do Kossi, n. G84.) 
 Depositns Feli.v Diacotms, V Idus Martins, Theodosio XV et 
 Placido Valentuiiano IV, Au(/iu''i, Viris Clarissimis, Consulibus. 
 
 " Felix, a Deacon, was buried on the fifth day before the Ides of March, 
 in the Consulship of Theodoaiuo ior the fifteenth time, and Placidus Valen- 
 tinianus for the fourth time, Augusti, most distinguished men," i.e. March 
 lltb, A.D. 435. 
 
 (e.) To a deacon's wife and children : — 65. 
 
 LEVITAE CONIVNX PETROXIA FORMA PVDORIS • HIS MEA DEPOXEKS SEDIBVS 
 
 [OSSA LOCO 
 PARCITE VOS LACRIMIS DVLCES CVM CONIVGE N.\TAE • VIVENTEMQVE DEO CRE- 
 
 [DITE FLERE NEFAS 
 DP -IN PACE III -NON OCTOB FESTO XC CONSS 
 
 HIC REQVIESCIT IN PACE PAVLA CLF • DVLCIS BENIGNA GRATIOSA FILIASS 
 
 DP VII KAL SEPT . . . . F NANTO VC C0N.S3 
 
 HIC REQVIESCIT DVLCISSIMVS PVER GORDIANVS FILIVS SS 
 
 DP -ID SEPT- SYJLMACHO VC CONSS 
 
 HIC REQVIESCIT AEMILIANA SAC -VG -DPV • fo • DEC • PROBING VC" CONSS' 
 
 (/« S. Pauli; De Rossi, n. 843.) 
 
 Levitce conjunx Petronia forma pudoris — Ilis mea deponens sedi- 
 
 [biis ossa loco. 
 Parcite vos lacrimis dulces cum couj: e natce — Viventemque Deo 
 
 [credite flere nefas. 
 Deposita in pace tertio Nonas Octohres, Festo, Viro Clarissimo, 
 
 [Conside. 
 Hie requiescit in pace Paula clarissima /atnina dulcis benigna gra- 
 
 [tiosa Jilia supra scripta. 
 Deposita septimo Kalendas Septembres, Venantio, Viro Clarissimo, 
 
 [Confide. 
 
 
 !■ 
 
THE FIRST SIX C'ENTURIE.S. 
 
 39 
 
 Hie requiescit didclssimns puer Gordianvs Jiliii,^ .vipra .scripfcp. 
 Depositus Idiljus Sejitemhrdms, Synunacho, Viro Clurissimo, Consule. 
 Hie requiescit Miniiiana Sacra Firyo. Dppo.^ifa qidnto Idus De- 
 
 [cemhres, Probino, Viro Clarissimo, Consule. 
 
 " I, Petrouia, the wife of a Deacon, the type of modo3t y, lay down my 
 bones in this resting-place. Refrain from tears, my sweet daughters and 
 husband, and believe that it is forbidden to weep for one wlio lives in God. 
 Buried, in peace, on the tliird day before the Nones of October {i.e. October 
 5th), in the Consulship of Festus, a most distinguished man, i.e. 472, a.d. 
 Here rests in peace, Paula, a most distinguislied woman, the sweet, kind, 
 gracious daughter of the above mentioned; buried on the seventh day before 
 the Calends of September (i.e. August 26th), in the Consulship of Veuantius, 
 a^ most distinguished man, i.e. 484, a.d. Here rests a very sweet l)oy, Gor- 
 dianus, son of the above mentioned ; buried on the Ides of September (i.e. 
 September 13th), in the Consulship of Symmachus, a most distinguished man,' 
 i.e. 485, A.D. Here rests ^l!:miliana, a sacred virgin ; buried on the tifth day 
 before the Ides of December (i.e. December 9th), in the Consulship of Pro- 
 binus, a most distinguished man," i.e. 4S0, a.d. 
 
 I. 1. Levifce. This term is used for Diaconui; as tlic latter is 
 unsuitable for hexameters. The difficuhy is got over sometimes by 
 syncope, scil. Diacnus, as by Venantius; sometimes by using Zaconns, 
 for Diaconus. I have regarded Petronia as supposed to speak from 
 the beginning. Others will, perhaps, prefer taking the first verse a3 
 expressed by the author of the epitaph. De Rossi's comment is well 
 worth reading. It contains a most ingenious and conclusive argTiment, 
 that Gregory the Great was a descendant of the persons named in 
 this epitaph. 
 
 (/.) To a sub-deacon: — 66. 
 
 HIC QVIESCET APPIANVS SVRDIAC0NV8 QYI VIXIT 
 
 [ANNVS 
 XXXII DIES XXVIIII D III IDVS APRICON POSTV- 
 
 [MIANI VC 
 
 {In hasil. S. Alcxandri via Xnmfnlana ; Do Kossi, n. T43.) 
 Hie quieseet (quiescit) Appianus, Snbdiaconus, qui vixit annus 
 (annos) XXXII, dies XXVIIII. Depositus te.-tio Idus Apriles, 
 Consulatn Postumiani, Viri Clarissiwi. 
 
 "Here rests Appianus, a Sub-deacon, who lived thirty-two years, twenty- 
 nine days. Buried on the third day before the Ides of April, in the Consul- 
 ship of Postumianus, a most distinguished man," i.e. April 11th, 448, a.d. 
 
't: 
 
 
 40 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 G7. 
 
 LOCVS MARCELLI SVBD • REG • SEXTE CONCESSVM SIBI 
 
 [ET POS 
 
 TERIS EIVS A BEATISSIMO PAPA lOANNE 
 
 QVI VIXIT ANN • PLM • LXVTII DEP PC BASILI VC ANN 
 
 INDXIVNDECIMV KAL lANVARIAS [XXII 
 
 {In crypt, basil. Vaticanie ; De Rossi, n. 1090.) 
 
 Locus Marcelli, Suhdiaconi Regionis sexte (sextxc), concessum 
 (concesBUs) sibi et posteris ejus a beatissbno Papa Joanne, qui 
 vixit annos plus minus LXVIII. Depositus post consulatum Basilii, 
 Viri Claiissimi, anno XXII, Indictione XI, vndecimu (undecimo) 
 Kalendas Januarias. 
 
 " The place of Marcellns, a Sub-deacon of the Sixth District, conceded to 
 him, and to his posterity, bj the most blessed Father John, who lired 
 sixty-eight years, more or less. Buried in the twenty-second year after the 
 Consulship of Basilius, a most distinguished man (i.e. 563, a.d.), in the 
 eleventh Indiction, on the eleventh day before the Calends of January," 
 i.e. December 22nd. 
 
 1. 1. Regionis sextcs. Pagan Rome was divided, as I have men- 
 tioned in the notes on epitaph 54, into fourteen regions, or districts. 
 The ecclesiastical division was into seven. 
 
 (g.) To an acolyte: — 68. 
 
 VS ACOLVThs 
 N CONSS'HO«om. 
 
 (/« S. J'iiuli; n ' Rossi, 11. G31) 
 
 . . . us Acolutus n Considihus Ilonorio ef 
 
 "... us, an Acolyte, n, in the Consulship of llonorius and 
 
 ," i.e. 422, or 418, or 417, or 415, or 412, or 409, or 407, or 398, 
 
 or 386, A.D. 
 
 This is tlio only notice of an Acolyte that I have observed in 
 a ^Roman dated epitaph. As the inscription is very defective, in 
 consequence of the fracture of the stone, I subjoin another, but 
 without the year: — 
 
 • In Mommsen's Inscrip. Neapol., n. 1305, we have one, found at .(Eclanum, 
 to Murrasius Jcoletus (sic) of the date 529, a.d. 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 41 
 
 m 
 
 ACE ABVNDANTIVS ACOL • 
 REG-QVARTE rf^VESTlNE QVI VIXFT AN\ • XXX 
 DEPiNPD NAf.SCIMARCI MENSE SE OCTIND XII 
 
 (/« S. Agnetis via Nomentana ; he Rcssi, n. 1185) 
 [Hie requiescit in p]ae., Abvn<lantiys, Jco/nfvs Itrrjionis\uarte 
 (quarta,), Tituli Vestine (Vestin.^), ,ul vidt annos XXX 7W 
 lus in pace die natali Sancti Marci. men.e Octobn, Indlctione XII. 
 "Here rests in peace, Abundautius, an Acolyte of the Fourth District of 
 the par^sh-church of Vestina, who lived thirty-yoars. Buried, in peace on the 
 b.rth-da, of Sa.nt Mark, in the .onth of Octobor, in the \..^^^, 
 
 1. 2. Reyionis quartce. Sco note on epitaph u. 67. Tituli Vo.iin^ 
 On this xnoaning of Titulus, see Du C^of /. .er,. ^^t^^n 
 Sn Marci This Saint Mark is the Pope of that nan.c who su 
 ceededSa.nt Sylvester, in 33G, .... SE. These letters we e related 
 la mistake by the stone-cutter. Reincsius assigns 414 ad as the 
 
 ate of th. inscription, but there is no grounS for ^'^Z 
 cen ury. Jacuti places it m the fourth; but De Rossi's suggestion 
 that It was of the sixth or seventh, is much more probabk Thb 
 inscription, is, at present, to be seen in the portico of the Basilica of 
 S . Mark ; it is, liowever, not the original, for that is not extant 
 but a modern copy on marble. 
 
 (h,) To an exorcist : — G9. 
 
 HIC • REQVIESCIT • IN 
 SOMNO • PACIS • CAELIVS 
 IVHANNIS • EXHORCISTA 
 QVI-VIXIT ANNs.pLs.Ms 
 AEPOSITIO • EIVS • CII • IDS 
 AECEMBRES • FL« • FELICE ■ V • C 
 CONSVLE 
 
 (Bellini; MoiiimKcn, I. N.^ 1293) 
 
 Hie requiescit in somno pads Collins J.hannis (Johannes), ' e.^,. 
 crsta exorcistaj, ,./ ,/,,, «„„,, ^/,, ,.^,^,^^ j - 
 
 Idas Becnlres, Fladu. (Flavio) Felice, vL ClLsiJ^J^^^^ 
 
 "Here rests, in the sleep of peace, Ca-Iius John, an exorcist, wh . lind 
 
 W* * ;," ^r. ' T' '' ^'''- "''^ ^^^^'-1 *""k place on the ei!hth d v 
 before the Ides of December, ia the Consniship of Flavins Fel' a n.o 
 distinguished man," i.e. December 6th, 511, a.d. ' 
 
 V 
 
 mi 
 
I 
 
 If: 
 l> r 
 
 li • 
 
 
 (I I 
 
 Si 
 
 ! 
 
 42 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 1. 4. Momnipen remnrks : " Guarhii vidit et ^y explicuvit A'X" 
 1. 5. I have taken tho chiiracti.-r before II for (J = Q = G. On the 
 year, see De Rossi, p. 425. 
 
 (i.) To a reader : — 70. 
 
 (See Plate III, 2.) 
 {E coem. Callhti et Pnttextati ; De Rossi, n. 48.) 
 
 Efftitius lleradhis, <jui fu.it in sceculum (saeculo) aimos XIX, 
 menses VII, dies XX, lector j'egionis secundee. [Parentcs] fece- 
 run(t) sihi et filio sito lenemerenti in pace. Deces(s)it VII Irus 
 (Idus) Fehruarias, Urso et Polemio ConsuUhus. 
 
 " Equitiua Heraclius, who was in this world nineteen years, seven months, 
 twenty days, a Reader of the Second District. [His parents] made (this) for 
 themselves, and their well -deserving son, in peace. He departed on the 
 seventh day before the Ides of February, in the Consulship of Uraus and 
 Polemius," i.e. February 7th, 338, a.d. 
 
 71. 
 HIC REQVIESCIT IN So3INo 
 PACIS CAELIVS LAVRENTIVS 
 LECTOR SANCTAE ECOLESIAE 
 AECLANENSIS QVI VIXIT 
 ANNoS PL MXLVIII DEPoSITIo 
 KIVS DIE VII IDVS MAIAS FLAVIS 
 ASTERIo ET PRAESIDIo VV CC CoN 
 
 (€ crypt. jEclanis ; Mommseu, I. N., 1299.) 
 
 Hie requiescit in soimio pacis Coilius Laurentius, lector sanctce 
 eeclesicB A-lclanensis, qui vixit annos plus minus XLVIII. De- 
 positio ejus die VII Idus Maias, Flaviis Asterio et Prcesidio, 
 Viris Clarissimis, Consulibus. 
 
 "Here rests, in the sleep of peace, Ca.'lius Laurentius, a Reader of the 
 holy church of vEclanum, who lived forty-eight years, more or less. His 
 burial (took place) on the seventh day before the Ides of May, in the Con- 
 sulship of Flavins Asterius and Flavins Praesidius, most distinguished men," 
 ;.*. May 9th, 494, a.u. 
 
 (/t.) To a custodian : — 72. 
 
 loQ DECI • CVBICVLARI • HVIw* hasiUc<B 
 hie (7VIESCIT CARO >IEA NOvissimo vera die 
 per XPM CREDO RESYSC^VaJiV^r a mortuis 
 dep ' XV KAL • IVN • ET ITER • Pc • (basili v • c ?) 
 
 (In S. Pauli; De Rossi, n. 1087.) 
 
IJ 
 
i 1- 
 
 ^ I 
 
 I'l. 
 
 -9 i!? 
 
 
 t-b 
 
 
 H 
 O 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 < 
 
 
 -^ 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 .-/^ 
 
 
 S 
 
 < 
 
 
 LU 
 
 >^ 
 
 
 •—5 
 
 
 
 1^ ^ 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 o 
 
TlIK KIHST srx rKNTURIEB. 
 
 43 
 
 Locm iJeci cbiclani hujus hamllcce. llic ,pr,escU cnro won ■ 
 nmussuno .era .Ue ,.r Ckn.Uun creUo rosu.cUul.itur a mortui:. 
 Depo^Uus XV Kalendas Junius et iterum post consulatum liasilii, 
 Vtn Clartssinn. 
 
 "The place of Decius, Custodian of tins Basilica. Hero rests my flesh but 
 at the last day, through Christ, I believe it will be raised from the dead 
 Buned on the fifteenth day before the Oulends of June, in he t rd ye'; 
 after the Consulship of Basilius, a most distinguished man," i.e. sICId 
 
 (t.) To a deaconess: — 73. 
 
 HIO IN PACE llEQVIESCIT B-M 
 THEODORA DIACONISSA QVAE 
 VIXIT IN SECVLO ANNOS PL • MIN 
 XLVIII • D • XI • KAL • AVG • V • P • C • 
 PAVLINI IVN • V • C • IND • II 
 
 {Ticini in ^'a7ictisaimie Trinitatis ; Munitori, 424, 6.) 
 
 Hie in paoe ro,pdescit bonce memonco Thoodom Diacouissa nuce 
 
 vixit in secnlo (sieculo) annos plus mit.vs XLVIII. Deposita XI 
 
 Kalendas Augustas, quinto post consnlafum Pauliui Juniori, Viri 
 
 tlarissimi, Indietiune socundu. 
 
 " Here rests in peace, Theodora, a Deaconess, of cood rennto whn v a 
 in this world forty.ei,ht years, more or less. Buried on Zl'evenhd: 
 before the Calends of Au.u.t, in the fifth year after the ConI Iship o'f 
 July 22nd 539,^.0. ""' clistinguished man, in the second mioiion/ il 
 
 1.1. lionrs menton<e. Literally, "'of good memory," ie wortliv 
 to be remembered for licr virtues. "uiuiy 
 
 The duties di^seharged by females among the early Christians are 
 noticed by heathen writers. Thus, Pliny, Epist. x., 96 says — 
 necessarium credidi 0. duabus ancillis, quce ministrce dicobantur 
 nu^d essotren ot per tonnonta qua>roro ; and Lucian, De morte 
 Peregnm, ^:-^e.. ,,. .,6^, .5. ,,,, ,„^, ^ _ 
 
 /ici/ovTa yf>a6La x»/pas Tivas Kal naiSca opcf^ava k. r. A. 
 
 (m.) To a sacred virgin: — 74, 
 
 PRIEIVNPAVSA 
 BETPRAETIOSA 
 
M CHRISTIAN EPITAIMIS OP 
 
 ANNORVMPVIiLA 
 VIRGOXIITANTVM 
 . ANCILLADEIETXPI 
 FL • VINCENTIOET 
 ,.■)., FRAVITOVCCONSS 
 
 (In coem. Callitti ; D<' Uoasi, n. 49Y.) 
 
 Prie (pridic) [Kal.] Junius j^ansaLct (pausnvit) Pratiosa on- 
 nonim jxi'I i (puolla) virgo XII fu/i(inii, ancilln Dei el Christi, 
 Flavin Vincentio ct Frarito, f'iris C/ari.ssimis, Consniibus. 
 
 " On the dfty before the Calends of June, Prtctiosa went to her rest, a 
 young maiden of only twelve years of age, a hand-maid of God and of 
 Christ, in the Consulship of Flaviua Vincentius and Fravitus, most diatla- 
 guished men," i.e. May 3l9t, 401, a.d. 
 
 %^ 
 
 HIC QVIESCIT GAVDIOSA CF ANCILLA DEI QVAE 
 YIXIT ANNVS XL ET MEN • V • DEP • X • KAL • OCTOB 
 CALLEPIO VC CON/ 
 
 {In S. I'auli; Do Rossi, n. 739.) 
 
 Hie quiescit Gaudiosa, Clarissima Femina, ancUla Dei, qu(S vixit 
 annus (annos) XL et menses V. Deposita X Kalendas Octobres, 
 CaUcpio, Viro CAarissimo, Consule. 
 
 " Here rests Gaudiosa, a most distinguished woman, a hand-maid of God, 
 who lived forty years, and (ive months. I^uried on the tenth day before the 
 Calends of October, in the Consulship of Callepius, a most distinguished 
 man," i.e. September 22nd, 447, a.d. 
 
 VI. Those in which there is Mention, of or Reference 
 TO THE Place of Burial. 
 
 (a.) Locus /actus : — 
 
 76. 
 
 LOCVSBASILEONIS 
 
 SEBIBOFECIT 
 
 XENEBENEMEREN 
 
 TIINPACEDPRID 
 
 NONASNOVEMB 
 
 CONSS-HONORI 
 
 AVG'VIIETTHODO 
 
 SIITER-AVGG 
 
 »n i ncff .wwiW>lW^Ba 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 45 
 
 {Ad *S. LaurcHlii in agro Vtrano ; De Rossi, n. B76.) 
 
 Loms Biinleonis, se hlho (so vivo, vivus) fecit. Xcne (^Xentc) 
 Itr.ncmcrenti in pace. Dcposita, j)ri<he iVf^na.s Novemhrcs, Consulitu 
 Ilunorii Aujusti VII et y/tyrfost (Thoodosii) itcrum Augustorum. 
 
 " Tho plncc of nnsllco. Ifo when nlivo mndc It. To Xono well-deacrvinfj In 
 jioaco. IJurlcil on tho ilny boforn tlio Noiios of November in tiio Consulsliip of 
 llonorius Augustus, for tho scventli time, nncl Theoiloalua for tlio second timo, 
 tlie two August!," i. c. November 4th, 407 a, d. 
 
 1.2. aebiho. In Pagan epitaphs such forms are found a^sevivo, 
 se viviiSf se vivis^ mc vivus. Fecit. This word is used in various con- 
 nexions. In n. 31, I have noticed its use with cu7n in tho sense 
 " spend." Wo find it, also, with fafum, scil. fatum fecit = died ; and 
 vi'ith titulus, scil. titulum fecit = '' mado the inscription" or " caused 
 the inscription to bo made ;" also with locus, scil. locum. fecit=^' made 
 the place of burial" or "caused the place to bo made." F. C. = 
 faciundum curavit^ so common in Heathen epitaphs, is very rare in 
 Christian. In both cases, I suspect, the place of burial was, some- 
 times, actually made by the person himself. Thus in Ilenzon's u. 
 C394 — communi lahore sibi fscerttnt. 1. 3. Xene. I have regarded 
 this name as Greek, although I do not recollect having ever met with 
 an example of it. Xeiiis occurs, and also Xinna, which Reincsius 
 strangely believed to stand for Cinna. 
 
 This stone is remarkable as presenting tho most ancient example of 
 the representation of tho cross in dated epitaphs. This symbol of 
 Christianity, so common in inscriptions from the latter part of the 
 fifth century, does not appear in any one of those of the first four cen- 
 turies. Tho monogrammatic cross, as it is called, was used before this, 
 not however as early as 209, as Zaunoni inferred from an inscription 
 given by Boldetti, p. 83. There is, certainly, a monogrammatic cross 
 in that epitaph, but the date is 456, as is evident from tho words DN 
 AVITl, «'. c. Domini Nostri Aviti sciL the emperor of that name. 
 Boldetti, who was not aware of the Consulship of Avitus Augustus, 
 interpreted the words as referring to Avitus, Consul in 209. Tho same 
 careless investigator, p. 351, introduced a new fashion of cross on the 
 authority of a stone that he found in the Catacomb of St. Agnes. 
 This he not only figured, but described as a decussated cross trans- 
 fixed with a spear, whilst it is really no more than an imperfect 
 Constantinian monogram. His mistake led to serious waste of time and 
 o 
 
1 I 
 
 i' ; 
 
 ' V, . 
 
 i i 
 
 ! i ' 
 
 II 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 
 
 > 
 
 i 
 f 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 , 
 
 M 
 
 i 
 
 ! 
 
 1 
 
 4G 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPTTAPIIS OF 
 
 trouble, for sor.ie learned men, as De Rossi reniarlis, arcanam signi- 
 Jicntioncm inani lahore investigarunt. See Cavedoni, Ball dcU'. 1st. 
 1S43, p. 152. Aringhi, vol. ii. pp. 377-380, furnishes another example 
 of the result of extravagant symbolism. More than four columns of 
 his work are devoted to the explanation of certain figures, that he calls 
 representations of the heart, in the inscriptions found in the Catacombs, 
 and the subject is illustrated by various quotations from the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, the Fathers, and Greek and Latin heathen authors. These figures, 
 however, on which so much learning is wasted, are in reality nothing 
 more than leaf-points, or leaf-decorations, that are commonly found ia 
 both Christian and Pagan inscriptions. See examples in Plate iii. 2. 
 Nor was this ridiculous mistake limited to Aringhi. ]3oldoni suggested 
 that the figure — unquestionably a leaf with a stem — signified dolorem 
 cordi vitimum, and Grasser believed that it was the representation 
 cordis spina traiisjixi, and meant cordoUum ! 
 
 The ConLuntinian monogram is, as might be expected, of frequent 
 occurrence ou Christian sepulchral stones, but a great object of search 
 relative to this symbol has been to find an example before the year 
 812 A. D. It was believed that one was found on a stono discovered 
 by Boldctti, of the date 291 A. D., but De llossi, n. 17, has, I think, 
 correctly regarded this figure as merely au ornamental point, lie 
 himself, however, gives an example (n. 20), which may be, but cannot 
 certainly be proved to be, of the date 298 A.D. The ^earliest that I 
 have noticed is of the date 331 a. o. 
 
 (I)) Locus cniptus : — 77. 
 
 COSTxVTINOS • EMIS 
 SE lANVARIVM • ET • BUI 
 TIAM LOCYM ANTE PO 
 MNA EiMER ITA AEOSSO 
 IIIBVS BVllDONE ETMICI 
 NYM ET :\1VSC0 IIVTIONE AVllISOLI 
 VM VN SEMES • CONS • D • D ^ • N • TIIAE 
 ODOSIO • ET • VALENTINIANO • II- 
 
 {In cocnobio S. PauJi ; De Rossi, n. 653.) 
 
 * I ilo not take into account the use of crosses and monograms before Chris- 
 tianity, the meaning of winch was of course dilTerent from the Christian signifi 
 ct'.tion. Examples of the gammadion occur on Roman altars found in Britain, 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 -17 
 
 [3.) 
 in. 
 
 Co{>i)i<((it nos cmissc, Januarium et Britiarn, locum ante ilomna 
 (cloniinam) Emcrita (Eracritani), a ccssorihus (fossoribus) Burdonc ct 
 Jliciinim (Mieino) et JTusco, ratlonc avri soliiJam (solidi) tinum (unius) 
 semessem (seniissis), Consullbus Dominis Nostrls Theodoslo et Yalen- 
 tiniano iter urn. 
 
 " It \i unquestionable tliat we Jannarius and Britia bought a place in front 
 of (tiie fscpulchre of) Lady Emerita from the dijgera Burdo and Miciinis and 
 Muscus for the consideration of one solidus of gold and a lialf in tlie Consulship 
 of our Lords Theodosius and Valentinian for the 2nd time," ;. c. 420 a. d. 
 
 The formula constat nos e7nisse is not rare in monuments of this age, 
 whence it appears that tho line between costat and nos is merely a 
 mark of punctuation. The sepulchre of Saint Emcrita was in the 
 cemetery of CommoJilla, behind the basilica of St. Paul. 
 
 She and Digna are said to have suffered death at Iloiuo, under 
 Valerian and (}a]!ienus. 
 
 Tho Noh'divi was originally called the aureus. It had different values 
 at different periods. From the time of Constantino there were 72 
 (OB) coined to the pound of gold. The semissis and tremissis were 
 coins respectively •} and J of *he solidus. Northcote, " Roman Cata- 
 combs," p. 28, notices this inscription, and remarks, ''A solidus and a 
 half the price paid for a single [?] grave was a sum equivalent to about 
 eighteen shillings [sterling] of our own coin." 
 
 (r) L'jcns '''donatus : — 78. 
 
 HIG KEQVIESCIT IN PACE AMEN 
 
 . . . SQVI FECIT • CVM OXVRE ANN . . . dcp 
 in LOCVM QYEM DONAVIT D0MINV3 PAPA 
 IlOllMISDA POSSEDATVR LOCS i:V^\I NE QVIS 
 
 MREMOBxVT DEFVNCTVS EST NON NOVEMBRIS 
 
 ¥L- SYMMACO ET VOETIO VV CC. 
 
 (//I S. Martini in montibuK ; Do Rossi, n. OSd.) 
 
 Hie rcqniescit in pace Amen s, qui fecit cum oxurc 
 
 (uxore) annos [Dcpo. itus] in locum (loco) quern donavit 
 
 Domimis Papa Jlormisda. Possedatur (possideatur) locus; eum nc 
 quis niiquam remolat (removeat). Dc/uiictus est, Nonas (Nonis) 
 Kovtmbris (Novembres, Novembribus), Plavio l!i}jmmaco Q^ymvivxaho) 
 et Voctio (Hoetio), Viris Clarissimis. 
 
 * For locus concessus see Epitaph 67. 
 
M 
 
 h : 
 
 i I 
 
 1 ■'! 
 
 '! ■ 
 
 \ 
 
 M 
 
 48 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 " Here rests in peftce Amen 
 
 s wlio passed with his wife 
 
 years. Buried in the place wliicli the Lord Bisliop Hormisda gave (to him). 
 Let the place be held in possession ; let uo one ever remove it (or liim). IIo 
 died on the Nones of November, in the Consulship of Flavins Symmachus and 
 Boelius, most distinguished men," i. e. November 5th, 522 a, d, 
 
 (d) Locus bisomiis : — 79. 
 
 PETIIONIVS IN PACE XVII- KALENc/as 
 
 NIS QVI VIXIT_ANNVS LXVI • CONSVLAT« oli/brio et 
 PIIOBINO VV CO • IIIC KEQVIESCIT IN Face . . . qnx 
 SEBI13A FECIT BISOMVS VACAT. 
 
 PctioniuH in pace, XVII Calendas 
 
 nis qui vixit annus 
 
 (annos) LXYI, Consuhdu Oli/hrio (Olybrii) ct Prohino (Probini) 
 Yiris ClarisHimis (Yiroruiu Clarissiraoruin^. Hie rcqm'csctt in pace 
 qjice se liha (se viva) /ecu'. Bisomus vacat. 
 
 " Petronius in peace on the seventeenth day before the Calends of , 
 
 who lived iJO years, in the Consulship of Olybrius and Probinus, most distin- 
 guished men, /. c. 39.') a. d. Here rests in peace who in her life time 
 
 made this. Space for two bodies is unoccupied." 
 
 1. 2. tiis. The beginning of the word, of which this is the ending, 
 was in the preceding line. Consuiata Oli/brio. See note on epitaph 58. 
 ^Bisumus vacat. Was this an intimation that it was for sale? I have 
 not seen Ilatti's comment on this inscription, which was published in 
 Atti delta, pont. accad. d'arch., but De llossi's notice of it is very 
 unfavorable. He says that his observations show nothing but incredi' 
 bilem ejus in re epljroijhica inscitiam et sunimam judicii levitatem. 
 
 (jti) Locus trisumus : — 80. 
 
 CALEVIVSBENDIDITAVINTRISOMVVBTPOSITIERANTVIN 
 
 [lETCALVILIVSET 
 LVCIVSINPA COS • STIL 
 
 {£ cocmeterio SS. Quarll ct Qiiinti ; De Rossi, n. 489.) 
 
 Calevim veudidit Aviii (Avinio) trisomu (trisomum), iibi positi 
 erant oini (bini) et Calvilim et Lucius in pace, Consulatu Stilichonis. 
 
 * I have given this epit«iph in illu«tTation of locus bisonnts, chiefly on account 
 of the words bisoinus vacat ; l.-nt the >^us seems to havo been quadrisomus, space 
 for two bodies being unoccuj>ied. 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 49 
 
 very 
 redi- 
 
 "Caleviua sold to Avinius a place for three bodiea, where both Calvilius niul 
 Lucius had (already) been placed in peace, in the Consulship of Stilicho," i. c. 
 400 A. D. 
 
 The stone that bears this inscription is remarkable on account of the 
 symbols that are cut on it, vis.^ the monogram, the balance, the fish, 
 the candelabrum with seven lights, the house, and the mummy in a 
 receptacle approached by steps. Of the monogram and the fish I have 
 already spoken. The candehibrum with seven lights, or the seven- 
 branched candlestick, is frequently represented on the grave-stones of 
 Jews, and was adopted from them by Christians, with, perhaps, a diffe- 
 rent meaning. The balance may have been derived from the notion of 
 Psychostasy, which was Eastern in its origin, and to which the weigh- 
 ing of the Fates of Achilles and Hector in the Iliad is analogous. 
 With it may be compared the expression used relative to Belshazzar 
 ill Daniel, v. 27. Or does the symbol merely indicate the just dealing 
 of the deceased ? 
 
 The house may have boon used as indicative of the last dwelling-place, 
 and the mummy certainly represents Lazarus and is symbolical of the 
 resurrection. De Ilossi refers to the discussion of these symbols by 
 Mamachi, Orig. ch. iii., Muntcr, Sinnhllder, p. 57, Didron, Hist, de 
 Dieu, p. 339, Raoul Rochette, Mum. de V Acad, des inscr. xiii. 244, 
 and by himself in Spicil. Soks7n. iii. p. 549. Aringhi, ii. p. 357, 
 figures the stone and illustrates the meaning as usual, by citations of 
 all kinds from the authors of the Old and of the New Testament, 
 from Origen, Irenof^us, Jerome, Augustine, Chrysostom, and Gregory. 
 And yet in this, as in other collections of quotations in Aringhi's work, 
 the result, so far as definiteness of explanation is concerned, is very 
 unsatisfactory. 
 
 'VIN 
 ^SET 
 
 5'J.) 
 
 jositi 
 on is. 
 
 count 
 space 
 
 (/) Lotus qnadn'somus : — 81. 
 
 fltatiaxo et qvinto 
 avr-svm3iacov311ts 
 ci rissimts egozita 
 locvm qvadiii3 
 so:mv in bsilic 
 
 ALVA EMI 
 
 [E fjdsHica svpra coon. DoinitilUv ; Do Rossi, n. 395.) 
 
 Fl, Toii'anoet Qiiinto Aur. tStnninaco (Symmacho), Vir is Clarissimi.'i, 
 C'jo Zita hicuui quadrii^omnm in hastlica saha emi. 
 
1 1 
 
 ' «: 
 
 1 I 
 
 I ' 
 
 %»<&.n 
 
 50 
 
 CHRISTIAN EI'ITAniS OF 
 
 " In the Consulship of Flavins Tatiamis and Qnintus Anrfllns Syminachus, 
 most distinguished men (;. e. 391 a. d.) I, Zita, whilst alive, bought a place for 
 four bodies in the Basilica." 
 
 (y) Mvriiu'.ov:— 82. 
 
 'ExTiffOrj Tu fjyrj>j.su>v rod /mxapioo I'Tsy/ix u drzo '.■Jrw/isi'a- [?] l'> pr^'A 
 \4~z/Mji{(i) h8'./.T'.a)'/j^ C TOL) irow: vdrj, 
 
 (Schmurrin in Syria; Kircldioft', n. 9110.) 
 
 " This monument of the blessed Stephen from Apanica was erected in the 
 month Apelliiius, in the Tth Indiction, in the year 438," of the epoch of the 
 L'ostrcni (which counts from 105 a. D.)^Dccember 544, a. d. 
 
 I have given only the expansion, as I am unable to present a copy 
 of the original without type cut for the purpose. Ofhcr terms applied 
 tD the tomb are /Jivy/a, Twror, OijxTj, ffM/xaroOrjxTj, r^fuizltiv, zapufTTurcxdv, 
 HyyjfiUj yapoai'iputVy Tu/J.fjo^, xoc/j.rjrrjficav, inxa^ alio->i<.^. 
 
 (Ji) In Basilica : — 83. 
 
 Vid OR IN PACE FILIVS EPISCOPI VICXOIUS 
 Civit ATIS VCRESIVM VIXIT ANNIS XXXolII 
 jVensibmYll DECES D XI KAL • NOVEBR • COxXSVLATV 
 d. n. honor IVI AVG DEPOSITVS IN BASILICA SANCTO 
 rum NASAUI ET NABORIS SECVNDV ARCV IVXTA 
 /ENESTRA 
 
 {Tn vlco qnodam ad S. Maricc svpra Miven'ani ; De Ros*!, n. 531.) 
 
 Victor in pace, filius Epiticopi Yicxoris (Victoris) civliatisUcrcsiuin. 
 Yixit annis XXXIX mensihus Vll. Deccssit die XI Kalendus Xoocni- 
 hres, Coiisulatn Domini Nostri Ilonorii sextum Auijvsti. Depositiis in 
 Basilica Sanclorum Nasarii et Nahoris secundo arcn Jiixta fenestram. 
 
 " Victor, in peace, son of Bishop Victor of the City of the Ucren&es. lie 
 lived 39 years 1 months, lie departed on the 11th day before the Calends of 
 November, in the Consulship of our Lord llonorius, fur the sixth time, Augustus 
 (/'. e. October 22nd, 404 a. p.) Buried in the Basilica of Saints Xasurius and 
 Nabor, in the second arch near the window," 
 
 The Italics in the text are De Rossi's restorations. I have lollnwed 
 him in substituting q for C in the 2(1 line, and in roauin,; 1 Jur T, 
 before VI, in the 4th line. 
 
 1. 1. Iipiscopi Vicxoris (Victoris). This is the usual order — nut 
 Victoris B'piscopi Civitotis Ucrcsiion : thus also Pupa Ilmniisila, 
 Papa luanne. See De Rossi, n. 089. 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 51 
 
 In an inscription, found at Narbonnc, (Mai, p. 83, Gruter, 1059, 1) 
 of the year 445 A. d. — Valentiniano Aug. vi. — we have — 
 
 !•) 
 
 llo 
 s of 
 
 istus 
 ami 
 
 RYSTICVS • EPVS • EPI • BONOSI ■ FILIVS • EPl • APvATORIS • 
 
 _ _ [DE • SOROIIE- 
 
 NEPVS • EPI • VENERI • SOCI ■ IN • MONASTERIO COIMPRB • 
 
 [ECCLE • MASSILIEX, &c. 
 
 Itusticns cpiscopus, cpiscopi Bonod filius, cpiscopi Aratorls de 
 sorore ncpos, cjiiscopi Veneru socius in Monastcrio, com2)rcshijter 
 ecclesix Massiliensis. 
 
 1. 2. Ucrisium. De Rossi regards this as used for Wrcensium or 
 Urgenmim. There was a town called Vrgi^ m Numidia, and another 
 called Urci in proconsular Africa. Each of these had its own Bishop 
 in the fourth or fifth century. 
 
 Nasarius (or Nazarius) and Nabor, soldiers, are said to have been 
 beheaded at Rome, in the persecutinn of Diocletian and Maximian. 
 
 (t) Sepulcrum : — 84. 
 
 VOSPER CRISTVM 
 NEMIIIIABALIQVOVIO 
 LENTIAMFIATETNESEPVL 
 C RVM ME VM VIOLET YR 
 DEPDIEVIIIDAVGVSTAS 
 ADELFIO VC CONSS 
 
 {In Mun. Lnt. ; De Rossi, n. 752.) 
 
 [Adjuro] vos per Cristum (Christum), ne mihi ab ah'quo violoitiani 
 (viol'intia), f.at et ve sepulcrum mcuin violdur. Depodtus^, die VII 
 Idiis Augustas, Adeljio (Adelphio), Viro Clarissimo, Consulc. 
 
 "I conjure you bj^ Clulst tlial no violence maj' be offered to me by any one, 
 and that my sepulchre may not be violated. Buried on the seventh day before 
 the Ides of August, in the Consulship of Adelphius, a nios^ distinguished man," 
 i. e. August Vth, 451 a. d. 
 
 Such *prayers and 'nji-nctions to respect the sanctity of tlic sepul- 
 chre are found in Pagan epitaphs : in both also the stronger form of 
 
 * In Ilenzcn's n. 63V1 there is a similar prayer. I subjoin the inscription, as 
 it is in some respects peculiar : — Alexander Atifjff. scr. fecit se bivo Marco Jilio 
 dulcisbno, caputafrtccsi, qn'i depntahalHr inter bcntitorcs (vcntitores) qui vixil annis 
 
 XVIII iiiiiisiliH VIII diihn V. Pcto a hobis (vobis) frntres boni per unuin Dcuvi 
 
 ne guts vii tit-do molcstct post mortem. See Orelli, n. 2083. 
 
i I 
 
 ■!|i 
 
 i f 
 
 •■ \ 
 
 M 
 
 52 
 
 CHRISTIAN EriTAPIIS OF 
 
 imprecations is used. In a Heathen epitaph, we have siquis violavcrit 
 ad inferos non recipiatur; in a Christian, male pere(tt, insepulhis j'aceaf, 
 non resurgat, cum JuJa partem haheat, si qiiis sepulcrum hunc 
 violavcrit. 
 
 Sometimes the anathema is resorted to, as in the following, found in 
 the island of Salamis, and given by Kirchhoff, n. 9303 : 
 
 Olxoq aiwvioq ^AydOiuvo^ avayvuxTzou xai Eoyr^/ua^ iv duff] Orjxai^ iSia 
 ^xdffTOi TjiiaJv. El 8i riq raJv Idctov ^ irspuq ri^ ToX/irjrTrj aoijia xa~aOi<rOa'. 
 ivTobOa Ttaps^ -zibv too y)iiu)v, Xoyov d(ijr] tw Oi<p xai avdOtiia ijroj 
 iiapr/yaOfh. i. e. 
 
 " Tlie everlasting dwelling of Agatlio, a reader, and Euplicmia, in two graves, 
 one for each of us separately. If any one of our relatives or any one else shall 
 presume to bury a body here, besides us two, may he give account to God and 
 let him be anathema maranatha " 
 
 85. 
 
 FLIVLIVS ZACONVS ET 
 AVRELIA MERIA CON 
 IVX EIVS HOC SARCOFA 
 GVM SIBI VIBI- rOSVERVNT 
 SI QVIS POST NOSTRAM PAY 
 SATIONEM HOC SARCOFA 
 GVM APERIRE VOLVERIT IN 
 FERAT ECCLESIAE SALON • AR 
 GENTI LIBRAS QVINQVAGINTA 
 
 (/<;) Sarcophagus : — 
 DEP 
 IVL 
 ZACO 
 NIS 
 DIE nil 
 NOVEM 
 BRES 
 DATIA 
 NO Y.\ 
 CERE A 
 LE COSS 
 
 {Sdonis; Muratori, 381,2.) 
 
 Flavins Julius Zaconus (Diaconus) ct Aurelia JRria conjiix ejus 
 hoc (hunc) sarcofagum (sarcophagum) sihi vihi (y'wV) posueruiU. Si 
 quis post nostram pausationem hoc (hunc) sarcophagum aperire vo!uerii 
 inferat ecclesiee Salonitanx argeriti libras quinquaglnta. 
 
 Deposiius Julius Zaconis (Diaconus) die IV [Kalcndas] Novnnhrts^ 
 Datiano et Cereale Consulihus. 
 
 "Flavins .UJius, a deacon, and Aurelia Meria his wife, whilst living, erected 
 this sarcopliagus for themselves. If any one after . ur decease shall take on 
 himself to open this sarcophagus, let him pay as the penalty fifty jiounds of 
 silver to the church at Salonie." 
 
 " Julius, the deacon, was h' ied on the fourth day before the Calends of 
 November, in the Cousulship f Datianus and Cerealis," /. e. October 2.9tl>.. 
 358 A. D. 
 
TUE FIRST SIX CENTUIIIES, 
 
 53 
 
 ictcd 
 
 on 
 
 is of 
 
 1. 1. Zacomis. See note on epitaph G5. Muratori observes : — 
 
 " ZaconuH ct Zuconis est pro Diacoiius et JJiuconis, uti Zabitliis jiro Diabolua, 
 Zeta i)ro DUela." 
 
 I have regarded Zaconis as given in mistake for Zaconm, and think 
 that the correctness of this view is confirmed by the name " Julius." 
 
 I. 7. Iii/erat, &c. The naming of a penalty for violation of the grave 
 is of very common occurrence in Pagan epitaphs, both Greek and Latin. 
 
 There is scarcely one of the *designations of the place of burial used 
 in Christian epitaphs, so far as I recollect, that is peculiar to them. 
 Loctis, tumulvH, memoria, nibiadum, sppulchrum, sarcnjJuif/its, &c., 
 are found in Pagan inscriptions, from which, also, 'ld(>7m(s oetarna, 
 although inconsistent with belief in the resurrection, has been inadver- 
 tently borrowed. See De Piossi, nn. 159, 173. 
 
 VII. Those which contain Cyclic marks of time. 
 
 (a) Day of the month, day of the week, and day of the moon with- 
 out the vear : — 
 
 86. 
 
 IJALENTINE QVE VIXIT ANNOS XXXVI 
 DECESSIT • VIKAL • MAR • BIEBENERIS 
 LNAXVII. 
 
 {In coem. PriscilliB ; De Rossi, n. 597.) 
 
 Bolentine (Valentinaj), que (quae) vixit annos XA'^XVI. Decessii 
 VI Kalcndas Martias, die Bencris (Veneris), lima XVII. 
 
 " To Valeiitina, who lived thirty-six years. She departed on the sixth day 
 before the Calends of March, Friday, the seventeenth day of the Moon," i. e. 
 February 24th, 411 or 327 a.d. 
 
 In this inscription the Consul.-i are not mentioned; nor is there any 
 other form of expression for the year used ; and yet the full date may- 
 be inferred from what is therein stated. It is plain that it must be a 
 year in which February 24th and the 17th day of the Moon fell on 
 Fiiday. Marini's comments are : — *' Ihijus inscriptionis characteres. 
 si auctur ceteicm ecdesinc cyclun<. annorum LXXXIV seqtiutus est, 
 
 * I have not observed quadrisomus in any Pagan epitaph. 
 
 \ This form or (7(>/n«s ceternalis is unusually common in the epitaphs of Po??ta?v''j 
 in Ali>vria. Sec Renicr, n. 15(5. In different localities, as might be expected, 
 diffennt forms were popular. Thus plus often occurs in African, and ccinis s"ii. 
 in Spanish epitaphs. 
 
54 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 I 
 
 ; : 
 
 1 f 
 
 J) 
 
 '[ 
 
 H . 
 
 pcrthere j)ossunt ad annos 327,411, 495, qui r^cli XXX sunl, atqiie 
 exonliuntur die solis luna XXI 1 ; jn'ohidrque vovilunhim Januarii 
 cant if/it die X, Fehniarii die VIII, a qua ad VI J\<il. Mt(rfia^, seu 
 ad diem XXIV Fehniarii dies sunt XVII." 
 
 Do Kossi discusses the sultjoct, and sliow.s that tlio choice lies 
 between 327 and 411, as in 495 the Victorian canon was in u?e at 
 Korne, according to which wo should have had Itoia XV, not XVII 
 Of tlio two the first, 327, is preferable, as the characteristics of the 
 inscription, /. e. the absence of contractions and the use of the ancient 
 term (?cre.s.s/7, point to the earlier date. 
 
 (^) Hour, day of the month, and day of the ]Moon with year : — 87. 
 
 V\VA\ NATVSA L> 
 DIVOIOVIANO AYG • ET 
 YARRONIANO COSS 
 
 ORANOCTIS • nil 
 IN VXIT VIII • IDVS JIADIAS 
 DIE SATVRNIS LVNAVIGESDIA 
 SIGNO AriORNONOMINFSIMrCCIVS 
 
 {In Mas. C'cqulolino ; De Rossi, n. 172.) 
 
 Piicr nains, (^Aij)ha Omega') Divo loviano Augxisto et Varroniano 
 Considibus, ova (hora) nocds IV, in vxit VIII Idus Madias (Maias), 
 die Satiirnis (Saturni), Luna vigesima, sigao Apiorno (Capricorno), 
 nnminc Simpccius (Siraplicius). 
 
 "A boy born (Alpha Omega) in the Consulship of tlie deified Jovian Auyu^tiis, 
 
 and VaiTonianus (/. e. 364 a.d.), in the fourth iiour of the night, the 
 
 fighth day before the Ides of May, i.e. May 8th, on Saturday, the twentieth day 
 of the Moon, in the sign of Capricorn, by name Simplicius." 
 
 1.1. Puernatus. This is no uncommon betrinnin";. See n. 8S, and 
 notes on it. 1. 2. Divo Joviano. This Emperor died on the XIV 
 Kal. 3[artias, in the year 3)4 A.D., and after that date was styled, as 
 was usual, Uivvs. Christians used the ordinary term, in the sense 
 " deceased" or " late/' without regard to the sense assigned by Pagans. 
 
 1. 5. In, vxit. It is difficult to determine what was the word intended 
 by the unskilful workman who cut the inscription. Maffei, Mks. Vcr, 
 p. 252, makes two attempts at it : — ^'/ortasse inluxit intelligendum, 
 hoc est lucidus moricndo cvasit ; fortasse inussit, p/'o iiiustus est jJJei 
 nota, seu baptismatc." Le Blant, Inscr. Chrct. de la Gaule t. i. j^- 479, 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 65 
 
 roads '• indusit," /. e. indnxit alhds = \\aH bapti/cd. Sco n. 88, and 
 notes on It. Guasco, iii. p, 141, n. 1235, suggests " inluxit," in tho 
 sense (according to Do Rossi) — Shnplldum natnm Itora nnrtis qnarta 
 annul uc inliixerat dies VIII Idits Mnii. Do Rossi objects to this — 
 tliat the hours wore astrologically counted not from niidniL'ht but from 
 sunset, and, after stating Maffei's and Lo IJlant's views, remarks that 
 the words arc novue jn'orsns ct Chrhtianis tilu^is iitnudittc. IIo him- 
 self suggests, " In vixit" in the sense — vi.n't in VIII Idas Muiax, i. c. 
 Simplicius was born in the fourth hour of the night and lived only for 
 the one day — J^Iay Sth. There arc, I think, but few scholars that 
 would accept tho views of Maffoi or liU JJlant. Guasco's is recom- 
 mended by similar phraseology in Muratori's n. 2, p. 4')1 — " Oiiiit 
 honsc vienwrhe Civi^a ' medium noctis die ])ominica iiduceseente VI 
 Id. De'-r-mbn''!." Thus also Suetonius, C';.es<ir, c. 81 — Ea nocte, citi 
 illusit f//. .s c/cdis, &c. In Kirchoff's n. 0119 wo have the correspond- 
 ing Greek phtase — i-t9"W(rz[(uW>jc r>7?] oy/WyjT t<i~j M [^w/'] pi/^o^. 
 But I asn not satisfied. The objection to Do Ilot>si's reading is — that 
 he does not supply the letter in the place left vacant by the stone 
 cutter ard. between N and V. Can it be that the vacant space was 
 intended for tho monogram, with the letters AO incorporated with it, 
 as they often were, and that this having been omitted either from the 
 ignorance or inadvertence of the workman, Aii were cut in tho corner, 
 but yet should be read between In and oixit — acil. " in Ail vixit" i. e. 
 ill Deo or C/iristo vixit, in the sense " lived in God," " died ?" 8ee n, 
 65, etc. 
 
 1. G. Die Satiiriii hum viycfiina sii/nr) Cupiiconto. Tliis inscrip- 
 tion has been discussed chronologically and astronomically by ]^)lan- 
 chini, Lupi and Marini, but De Rossi is the first who has shown that 
 the notices in it arc really astrological, and that they should bo regarded 
 as ibrming a horoscope of birth. Thus, p. LXXXIY, he proves that 
 each uf these characteristics — scil. tho fourth hour of Saturday, tho 
 Moon in Capricorn, and the twentieth day of the May moon — was 
 regarded as unlucky. See also his comment. 
 
 ((■) Day of the month, octave of Easter, and year : — 
 
 NATV • SKVERINOMINEPASCASIVS 
 DIESPASCALESI'R IDNOVAAPRILN 
 DIEIOIUSFL CONSTANTINO 
 ETllVFOVVCCCONSSQVIVIXIT 
 
 CO. 
 
66 
 
 CHRISTIAN El'lTAPIIS OP 
 
 ANNORVMVI • IMCRCEl'IT 
 XIKALMAIASETALIJASSVAS 
 0CTA]3ASPASCAEADSEPVLCRVI\I 
 DEPOSVITD • I1IIKALMAIFL13ASIL10 
 
 YCCO/(s 
 
 {Urhini in mlilits pnhlicia ; Do Ilossi, n. 810.) 
 
 A'a/M (s) Severi nomine Pasc(h)asius dies Pasc(Ji)ales pn'die Nonas 
 Apriles, in die Jovis, Flavio Conslanfino et Bnjo, Viris Clarissimis, 
 Cunsuli'bm, qui vixit annorum (annos) F7. I'crrepit AT Calendas 
 Maias ct albas situs Octavos (Octavis) Pasrhre ad sepukruvi deposit it, 
 lY Kalcndas 3Iuias, Flavio Basilio, Viro Clarissimo, Consiile. 
 
 " Scveru3, who had also the name Paschasius, was horn on one of i\w Paschal 
 daj'8, tho (lay heforo the Nones of Aiiril [i c. April -Ith), on the day of Jui)it('r, 
 (Thursday), in tho Consulship of Flavins Constantinus and llufus, most distin- 
 guished men («. c. 45*7 a. r>.), who lived six years. lie received baptism on tho 
 eleventh day before the Calends of May (t. e. April 21st), and laid aside his albs 
 at the sepulchre, on the Octave of Easter, on the fourth day before tlie Calends 
 of May, in tho Consulship of Plavius Basilius, a most distinguished man," t. e. 
 463 A. 0. 
 
 1. 1. nomine. "Whether we regard Severi as used for Scverus, or 
 governed by some word understood, it seems certain that nomine should 
 be joined to the name following, as in De Rossi's nn. 41, 49, 172, 
 229, itc. De Ilossi remarks : "i^/e, cvjus hoc est ejntajduum, j^aiemo 
 sine matenio cognoynine Severus a2'>pdlatus Paschasii qnoqve agnomen 
 habuit, quod natus erat anno 457 die Jovis j^aschali." 1. 2. dies Pas- 
 chales. "Used for die Paschali. These dies Paschales, as we know 
 from a law of the Emperor Valentinian, Cod. Theodos. ii. 8, 2, were in 
 number 15, 7 before and 7 after Easter-day. pridie Nmias Apriles die 
 Jovis, i. e. on Thursday, April the 4th, in Easter week, for in tho year 
 457 A.D. (sct7. the year in which Constantino and Rufus were Consuls), 
 according to both Roman and Alexandrian calculation, p]aster-day was 
 observed on March the 31st. 1. 5. percejnt, i. e. haptisma percepit, 
 " received baptism." ^Perdpio is similarly used in heathen inscrip- 
 
 * In some instances, where this verb is used, it is difficult to decide whether 
 the inscription is Christian or Pagan. Thus in Henzen's n. G147 : — D. M. MuriiuH 
 Vcrinus pater Murtie Vcr'ine et Murtic Flor'iancni fiUabus nialcmerc^rtihii.t crmhUs 
 pater titulum iscfipsit. Verina percepit M. X, viczit annos XII, menses V, Flor'iancs 
 percepit M. XII. vkxit annis VIII, M. III. Innoccntcs acceperunt a siio patre quod 
 ei dcbuerant ; and in Mommsen's 1. N. n. SIGO; — J). M. Ingcnlosw que vixit aniiis 
 
 li :>t 
 
THE FIRST BIX CENTURIES. 
 
 67 
 
 or 
 
 0, 
 
 ras 
 
 lor 
 lus 
 
 >c,i 
 od 
 
 its 
 
 tions, where it is nppliod to those who had participated in the mystic 
 rites of the Mater J)<um Mmjua Idn:a or of Mithras, kiiDwn as the 
 *TaHroh(iliiim and Crioholiuvi. Thus we have — 2>eriept" Taurvhalio 
 Crioholioqiip, in an inscription, given by Do Rossi n. 21, of the date 
 31'J A. D. ; in Orelli's n. 21.'J0, of the date 390 a. d. ; in his n. 2:!35, 
 of the date 370 a.d. ; in ITonzcn's n. GOlO, of the date 370 a.d. ; in 
 Muratori's n. 4, p. 389, of the date 383 A. D. ; and also in Ileinesius, 
 CI. 1, 40 (without date), wliose note is worth reading. In Muratori's 
 n. 2, p. 371, of tlie date 305 a.d., wc have the words Tanrohnlinm 
 perccpi J'elic(^iter). 
 
 The oldest example of the taurohuUum, of which I am aware, was in 
 175 A.D. See Fleetwood, p. 11 j Fabretti, p. GG5j and lluinesius, as 
 above. 
 
 Another terra, in which there is a strange agreement, is rcmttus, 
 applied by Christians to the baptized — as in Do llossi's n. 270, ((«) 
 clesti rcnatus (ji(])aa <jui vivit in (aevuin) (see also n. 3G — natiis est 
 in {Ktcrnxivx) — and by Pagans to the Tauroholiati. Thus Taurubolio 
 Crioholioquc in aetcrmnn rcnatus, in Orelli's n. 2352, of the date 37G 
 A.D. ; and arcanis perfmionihus in scternnm rcnatus 7\uirobolium 
 CriobolitwKjue fecit in Henzen's n. 6040. These mystic rites seem to 
 have been a mixture of the cults of the Magna Mater and Mifhran, 
 with the addition of some Christian principles and terms. 
 
 1. G. AT Calendas Maias. From the words Octavas Paschw, and 
 Basilio Consule, it is evident that this day — scil. April 21st — was 
 Easter-day in the year 463 A. D., and that Severus was baptized, 
 according to custom, on its vigil, the day being counted, as usual, from 
 Saturday to Sunday evening. But here a great difficulty presents itself. 
 According to the tables of Noris, Easter-day should in this year, 
 cunformably to lloman calculation, have been celebrated on IX Calcndaa 
 Apriles, i.e. March 24th. The learned Cardinal discusses the subject 
 
 ///, M. V, Dies SXI. FiJc percepit mcsorum VII. Aur. Fortunhm pater Jilice, 
 Henzen regards fide us used (ovjidem ; I am inclined to take it as an adverb. 
 
 * Tlic Tauroboliuin and C'rioboUuin were respectively sacrifices of a Lull and a 
 ram, on the occasion of initiations. The persons who received thcin (qui pcr- 
 ccperunt) descended into a deep pit, which was covered over with a wooden 
 platform composed of pierced planks. On this platform the animal was killed, 
 and the persons beneath presented their bodies to receive the blood, as it 
 descended through the holes. The result was believed to be purification that 
 lasted for twenty years, or everlasting regeneration. 
 

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 I%otographic 
 
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 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
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 (716) 872-4503 
 

 6 
 
 
68 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPUS OF 
 
 ad fastos c.onsulares anonymi and de jyasch. Lot. cjjclo, where lie 
 suggests two solutions, both of which have been proved to bo erroneous, 
 one by Van der Ilagen, and the other by De Rossi. 'J'lie latter shows 
 that by the old Roman calculation of the cycle of 84 yoars, before it 
 was aujendcd by Prosper, and also by the Victorian correction, Easter- 
 day was observed in the year 4G3 a.d., on the A'l Calendas Mains, 
 i. c. April 21st, not on the IX Calendas Apriles, or March 24th, 
 
 11. G, 7. alias suas Oclabas Pascse od sepidcrum dvpomit. "White 
 dresses {allx) were worn by those receiving baptism. On the Sunday 
 next after Easter Sunday, /'. c, the Octave of Easter-day, these dresses 
 were laid aside, whence this Sunday was called Dominica in Albis. 
 Puschasius was buried on the day on which, according to usage, he 
 should have laid aside his albs or white clothes. 
 
 VIII. MlSCELLANEOU-S. 
 
 («) The most ancient dated epitaph : — SO. 
 
 (See Plate IV, 3.) 
 
 {In MiiK. Latcran. ; De Rossi, n. 1.) 
 
 \_A']vj(jist.as') Vcsjmsiano III Conside. — Jan^tiarias.) 
 
 " before the Calends (?) of August, in tho tliird Consulship of Vespa- 
 sian" (t. e. '71 A.D.) " before the Calends of January." 
 
 This fragment has been received as a part of a Clirislian epitaph by 
 Reggi, INIarini, and De Rossi. It is the most ancient of all such that 
 bear dates. The chief grounds on which it has been regarded as Christian 
 are that the slab is of the same kind as those used to close the tombs 
 in the Catacombs, and that it had adhering to it the mortar by which 
 such slabs were fixed in their places. To these grounds De Rossi has 
 made an important addition, by his reading IAN as Januarias, thus 
 showing that the stone closed a locus bisomns, containing the bodies 
 of one who had died — before the Calends ['/] of August, and of another 
 who had died — before the Calends of January. 
 
 In the year 71 Vespasian was Consul for the third time, with Cocceius 
 Nerva as his colleague. On tho 1st of March or April he resigned the 
 office, and, on the 1st of July, L. Flavius Fimbria and Attilius 13ar- 
 barus were made consules sufccd. The year then is marked hero, as 
 in other Christian epitaphs, not by the names of the sujf'ccti, but by 
 that of one of the ordinarii. 
 
 I 
 
I... 
 
 o 
 
 w 
 
 ^ vJ c >^<r 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 Z 
 
 O 
 
 z 
 
 z 
 
 z 
 
 
 
 SO) lil.ONYISYM--: 
 
 f,j^ AN'M^it^'^iflM 
 
' 
 
 THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 m 
 
 (h) Unexplained numerals : — 90. 
 
 NXXX- SVRA KT SENEC • COSS- 
 
 (B cocinet. Liii'lnic ; De Rossi, n. 2.) 
 
 JN'-A'A'A' Sura ct Scnecionc Consulilnis. 
 
 " III tlio Consulship of Sura and Scnceio," i. e. 107 a. d. 
 
 The numeral III is omittea after SVRA and 11 after SEXEC See 
 Do Rossi's note. 
 
 I have not attempted to translate " N -XXX •," as their meaning 
 is unknown. The interpretation that has been generally received is 
 that they stand for nvmrro XXX^ indicating that martyrs vrerc 
 buried there in number thirty. This view has been taken by Visconti, 
 Cavedoni, Raoul Rochette, and Wiseman. Roestel also assents, but 
 rcgiuds the inscription as commemorative of a past ago. Do Rossi 
 objects, in my judgment with good reason, to this *interprctation. 
 lie calls in (juestion the genuineness or analogy of the other inscrip- 
 tions u.^ually compared with this as confirming the sense assigned to it, 
 and points out the improbability that the stone marked a /ocult/s in the 
 Catacombs, as the greatest number of bodies contained in such is 4. 
 He suggests that the inscrip'Jon may be imperfect, and that tlius N 
 niny be regarded as the last letter of ANN. i.e. annorum, scJl. annunan 
 XXX, the person, whose name preceded, being of thirty years of age. 
 It is remarkable that in this \)c Rossi was anticipated by Maitland, 
 who (p. 08) " reads the words as the fragment of ijui vi.rit an it. A'A'A' 
 Si/ira d Svncc. coss, who lived thirty years. In the Consulate of 
 Syrra and Senecio ; that is, a.d. 102." I cannot concur in this expla. 
 nation. It suits this particular ease, but is wholly inapplicable in 
 otlicrs e. <ji'. in Fabrctti, p. 07-4, Gl, we have the epitaph of 
 L'op inhis, a boy whose age is stated to have been 7 years and 7 
 months. At the con)mencement of it are the letters — DMASACRVM 
 XL, i.e. Dls Manihus Sdcmm. 40. Again, in the Catacomb of St. 
 Agnes, Do Rossi found LIX on the loculus of an infant. Nor can 
 
 • Tiiis view might seem to be ns old as the time of rrudentius {sal. the 4th 
 century), for he writes : — 
 
 Sunt et nmlta iamcn lacita.'i clandtntla turhns, 
 Marinora <jH<e solum siffnljiciinf unmenim. 
 r.ut thfc roforcnce here seems to be to rolyandna — pits containing many dead 
 bodii'^— not to londi, of wliich, so far as I am aware, there is no exaniplo of their 
 coutainin;; more tliau four. 
 
1 
 
 ., ; 
 
 00 
 
 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 
 
 Amati's positive assertion that they indicate loculoram ordincs be 
 received, for this is contrary to the experience of those who have 
 personally examined the Catacombs. To me it seems evident that 
 there is no suihcient reason for believing either that these numerals 
 indicate the number of bodies buried within, or that the deceased were 
 Martyrs. I can offer no satisfactory solution : it has seemed to me, 
 however, not improbable that the numbers were the marks of workmen 
 — the /ossores or their assistants — who may have been paid according to 
 the number of locull excavated or of slabs put up. I have observed 
 a similar notation in a Pagan epitaph, given by OrclH, n. 5008 : — 
 N. 111. Id. Nov. Diis Manibus Didiie Q. F. Quintiiuc Luctina 
 Priscus uxori opfimm V. A. XXVII. Labus remarks: — '' X'umero 
 tertio, Idibus Novemhribus : cio6 la pictra, il cippo, il monumetito ecc. 
 era posto ncl terren sacro al No. 3." 
 
 (c) Specimen of I'alajography : — 91. 
 
 (See Plate III, 1.) 
 
 {E coemet, Cyrlacoe ; Do Rossi, n, 21.) 
 Dr.cesit (decessit) Serotina pride (pridie) Kid. Atartias m (^cnsitirn) 
 X, dier(um) XX, Diocl(etiano) <i (VI) [consule.] 
 
 " Serotina departed on the day before the Calende of March, (aged) ten 
 months, twenty days, in the sixth Consulship of Diocletita," i. e, February 29th, 
 296 A. D. 
 
 (d) Use of D. M. by Christians :— 92. 
 
 D- M- 
 P • LIBERIO JIXIT ANN N • V • MENS 
 N III DIES N VIII RANICIO 
 FAVSTO ET VIRIO GAL- 
 
 (Eeoem. ?; Do Rossi, n. 24.) 
 Dlis Manilxis. Puhlio Liberia, vixit nnnos numero V, me7ises 
 numero III, dies numcio VIII. Reccssit Anicio Fausto et Virio Gallo 
 (Consulibus). 
 
 " To the Gods the Manes, To Publius Libcrius. Ho lived years in number 
 five, months in number three, days in number eight. He retired (from this 
 world) in the Consulship of Faustus and Virius Gallus, t. e. 298 a.d." 
 
 We have here an example of the use of the heathen formula D, M., 
 Diis Manibus, in an epitaph that De Rossi and other scholars regard as 
 Chr'stian. I have noticed this anomaly in Part XI of my " Notes on 
 Latin Inscriptions foun<l in Britain" (^Canadian Journal, X. p. 95), 
 
 1 1 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 Gl 
 
 24.) 
 menses 
 Gallo 
 
 lumber 
 m this 
 
 ). M., 
 
 I as 
 Itcs on 
 j. 95), 
 
 and ascribed it either to thoughtless use of the form, produced by 
 familiarity \7ith it as the ordinary commencement of a sepulchral 
 inscription, or to the fact, that grave-stones were kept for sale with 
 these letters cut on them, and were purchased by Christians without 
 consideration of their appropriateness. Fabretti insists that these letters 
 when they occur in a Christian epitaph, stand for Deo Magno, or Deo 
 Maximo; but there is no doubt that his opinion is erroneous, for the 
 form is found, in at least one such inscription, in exlenso, i. e. Diis 
 Manihus. See Orelli, n. 4458=4723, and compare Maitland, " Church 
 in the Catacombs," pp. 59, 60, 61, who regards this inscription to 
 Liberius as ' almost certainly Pagan.' The same view of it is taken by 
 Boestel I incline, however, to the belief that it is Christian. My 
 reasons are that it was found in one of the Catacombs, that the stone 
 was not broken, and that we find in the inscription the letter R used 
 for recessil, requiescit, or reddidit. See Epitaph, n. 1. Maitland's 
 version of this inscription is liable to just censure. In his text, he 
 gives R before ANICIO, but takes no notice of it either in his trans- 
 lation or in his remarks. Again, the date is given by him as A. d. 98; 
 and although one would be disposed to explain this error by supposing 
 that 2 was accidentally omitted before 98, by a typographical mistake, 
 it is impossible to accept this solution, for, in pp. 58, 59, he notices 
 this inscription as of earlier date than two others, one of a.d. 102, and 
 the other of A.d. 111. In Westropp's "Handbook of Archaeology," 
 p. 400, we have the same inscription, with the same neglect of R in 
 translation, and with the date A. D. 102. The same author assigns 
 A.D. 130 for the inscription relative to Marius, and A. D. ICO for that 
 relative to Alexander, without sufficient ground for assigning either 
 year. 
 
 The most remarkable of the Christian epitaphs, that have the 
 heathen formula in the commencement, is a well known one to 
 Leopardus, discussed by Fabretti, p. 574, and by Raoul Rochette, in a 
 '' Memoire sur les antiquity's chr6tiennes des catacombes," in Mem. de 
 VAcadem. des inscript. et belles IcUres, XIII. 
 
 The inscription, as given by Fabretti, stands thus : 
 
 DMA SACRVM XL 
 LEOPARDVM IN PACEM 
 CVM SPIRITA SANTA • ACCEP 
 TVM EVMTE ABEATIS INNOCINEM 
 POSVER-PAR- Q- AN • N • VII • MEN • VII • 
 
a 
 
 i hi 
 
 9S ClimSTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 In llaoul Rochette's *copy, we have evinle for eumte in the fourth 
 line, and G for Q in the fifth. Mabillon discovered in this inscription 
 a luunifcst reference to the rite of conjtnnation. Fubretti gravely 
 corrects this interpretation, as he found in it a nmnifest reference to 
 the rite of baptism ! lluonl Rochette judiciously maintained that 
 f neither was right. He remarks — " II n' est question, dans ces expres- 
 sions d' unc latinit6 barbare, d' aucun de ces sacremonts de 1' P^giisc; 
 ou recontiuit une foule d' exemples de ces mots; cum njnn'to, ispirito, 
 hlspin'to sttncto, cum spirita sancta, o\l6\C'3 d'une roanlire plus ou 
 moin.s vicieuse, et qui ne peuvent s'entcndre que de Vajne mome dii 
 chroticn, admise apr6s la mort dans le sOjour des bienheureuz, en 
 vertu de la synonymio eonnu des mots anima ct spin'tun, duns le 
 vocabulaire do la basse latinit<3." He closes hia observations on the 
 inscription by proposing the following expansion : 
 
 " Divis marti/rihus sacrum (piaihatjinta 
 Leopardum in pace 
 cum Spiritu sancto arcep 
 turn eumilan haheat'S. J Innoceutem 
 2wxu'iruiit parentes. <pii [vixit] annis VII, mensihus VII" 
 
 It is very difficult to infer from the two copies that I have before 
 me — viz., Fabretti's and llaoul Rochette's — the true reading of the 
 inscription ; but I entertain no doubt that both Mabillon's and 
 Fabretti's interpretations should be rejected, and that Raoul Rochette's 
 view as to cum spirita santa is correct. At the same time, his expan- 
 sion — Vivis Marti/rihus sacrum (piadraglnta — is clearly inadmissible. 
 There is no authority in any epitaph for this rendering. Nor is there 
 any reasonable doubt that the letters DMA stand for Diis Manihus, 
 
 " As given in Bivtionnaire d' Epigraphie Chntieiine, ii. p. 758. 
 
 f Luj)i held tlie same opinion, viz., that there was no reference to either 
 baptism or coufirnmtion. lie explains the 2cl, 3d, and 4th lines thus : Leojxir- 
 dnm in pacem (pace) cum Spirita Sancta (Spiritus Snnctos, Spiritibus Sanctis) 
 acceptum eumte (cumdcni) abeatis innocinem (habeatis innoccntem). Corsini, 
 Not. Gro'c. Diss. ii. p. xxxvi, rejects this view, and proposes the following as 
 preferable: — Leopardum in pace cum Spiritu Sancto (the Holy Spirit). Acctptiim 
 eandfin a Jkutis (the Blessed) innocentem potuerunt Parentca. 
 
 X I have given this whole expansion, as it appears in Dictionnaire d' Epigra- 
 phie Chrttienne, for I am unable to refer to the original article in the Metn. de 
 rAcademie. 1 am not satisfied, however, that cither the presence or the absence 
 of the points is as Raoul Rochette intended : the authority of the i>(c-tto»/t(.iVe 
 is not worth considering. 
 
THE FIRST SIX CENTNRIK8. 
 
 68 
 
 VKp'^gra- 
 Man. de 
 absence 
 
 dionnuire 
 
 as Mabillon understood them ; whilst the signification of XL, as I have 
 observed in my note on Epitaph, d. 90, remains to be discovered. 
 The rest of bis expansion is probable, except the omission of mimcro 
 after annin, which should bo introduced, if Fabretti's punctuation be 
 correct. But another, and a very remarkable, peculiarity of tiie inscrip- 
 tion, hitherto unnoticed, remains to be considered — i. e. the use of the 
 expression acrqitum haheatia with the dedication Dis Manibu» in a 
 Christian epitaph. If we compare this with the words — Mutien sane- 
 tissimie [stV] coramendatdm hoboatis meum conjiKjcm in Orolli'a n. 
 4775, a Paj^an epitaph, and SancHqiie tni Maucs 7wbit pefenfilttis 
 mhint in Gruter's, 10(il, 7, a Christian epitaph, there can, I think, 
 be but little doubt that some Christians of the early ap;cs rctuiticd 
 some of the Pagan superstitions. See Mabillon, p. 75, and Morcclli, 
 Stil. ii. 71, 72. To me it is plain, that whatever difference of opinion 
 rany arise as to the exact reading of this inscription to Leopardu.?, 
 there can bo no question that in it his parents asked the Di Manet, 
 the Pagan deities of the unseen world afler death, to receive with 
 favor their innocent son. Nor can there be any doubt that the in- 
 scription is Christian, for this is proved by the use of the terms — 
 in paccviy cum spirita santa. On the latter see Epitaph, n. 42 ; and 
 on the use of Christian terms in Pagan inscriptions, see notes on 
 Epitaphs 49, 88, 
 
 (e) Specimen of Palteography : — 93. 
 
 (See Plato IV, 1.) 
 
 {In Mut. CapitoUn. ; De Rossi, n. 60. 
 Anime (Animse) innoccnti Gaudentise, que (qu.'u) vixit annos V, 
 menses VIT, dies XXII, in pace. JUercurius ^mler filiae d (cpositw) 
 <? idus Novemh. Vrso et Pulemio coas. 
 
 " To an innocent spirit Gnudontia, who lived five years, seven months, twenty- 
 two days, in pence. Her father Mercnrius for liis daughter buried on t.lie sixth 
 daj' before the Ides of November, iu the Consulship of Ursus and I'oleaiius," 
 I. e. No"ember 8th, 333 a. d. 
 
 (/) Use of puer as opplicd to persons of mature age : — 94. 
 
 VRSO ET POLEMIO CONSS NATVS PVEll 
 NOMINE MERCVRIVS D IIII KAL APRILl 
 DEPOSITVS VII • KAL • SEPT • QVI VIXIT 
 ANN • XXIIII • M • VII • DXV • BENEM • INP 
 
 {Piaauri; e coem. Urbi$ ; De Rossi, n. 49.) 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 111 
 
 fH OHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OF 
 
 Uno et Pulemio Consulibus, natm puer, nomine MercuriuB, die IV 
 KdlenJas Aprilea, depo$itus VII KalenJas Septembretf qui vixit annos 
 XXlVf menset VII, diet XV, benemerenti in pace. 
 
 " In tho Consulship of Ursus and Polomlus (». e. 838 a.d.) a boy was born by 
 namo Morcurius, on the fourth day before tho Calonda of April (t. e. March 29th). 
 Buried on the sovonth day before tho Calends of September (t. e, Aui^ust 20th), 
 vrho lived twenty-four years, seven months, fiftocn days ; to hiui well deserving 
 in peace." 
 
 Oa first sight of this inscription, it seems strange that a person of 
 twenty-four years of oge should be called puer, and that he should be 
 said to have been born and buried in the same year. Tho explanation 
 is that nafv.8 is used with reference to birth by baptism, estimated by 
 which Mcrcurius was but pxter at the time of his death* See De 
 Bossi's nn. 178, and 193, 
 
 {g) Mention of time of sickness before death : — 95. 
 
 PERPETVO BENEMERENTI IN PACE 
 QVI VIXIT • ANNOS • PLM • XXX MEnm ... 
 DEPOSITVS IDVS APRILIS DEFVNc^wa ne 
 OFITVS PERIT • IN DIES • V • 
 POS CONSVLATV • VICTORI« et 
 VALENTINIANI • NOBI Usssmi pueri 
 
 {In Mus. Vat. ; De Rossi, n. 214.) 
 
 Perpeiuo bene merenti in pace, qui vixit annos plus minus XXX, 
 
 menses . Depositxu Idus Aprilis (Idibus Aprilibus), de/unctus 
 
 neojitus (neophytus), perit in dies V, post Consvlatu (Consulatum) 
 Victoris et Valentiniani, Nobilissimi Pueri. 
 
 " To Perpetuus, well deserving, in peace, who lived thirty years more or less, 
 
 months. Buried on the Ides of April (April 13th), died a neophyte, was 
 
 sick for five days, in the year after the Consulship of Victor, and Yolentinian, 
 the most noble boy," i. e. 370 a. d. 
 
 1. 4. Perit in dies V. This notice of the period of sickness is very 
 rare. We have another example in De Rossi's n. 8 : — ivoarjaev ijfiipa'z 
 T^. 1. 5. Post consulatum Victoris et Valentiniani. It is strange that 
 this form should be used to denote the year, instead of the ordinary 
 form — Valentiniano III et Valente III — especially as we have exam- 
 ples of the use of this latter in Christian epitaphs of January and 
 March. No satisfactory reason can be assigned for this variation, 
 which is also used in other cases apparently capriciously. 
 
THE riRST SIX OSNTUaiES. 
 
 (h) Domini Nottri applied to CodsuIs not Augutti : — 96. 
 
 DD NN • CLAEARCO ET RTCOMEDE VVCC 
 CONSVLIBVS BENEMERENTI OLIBIONI QVI VIXIT 
 ANNVS XV' MESIS VI DIES XX DECESSII 
 DIE XII KALENDAS OCTOBRES IN PACE 
 
 Dominis Nbstrit Claearco (Clearcho) et Ricomedo. (Rioomcre), T7r»« 
 Clarisilmit, Consulibus. Benemerenti Olibioni, qiU vixit annua (annos) 
 XV, mesis (meDses) VI, did XX. Decemi (decessit) die XII 
 Kalendaa Octobrea in pace. 
 
 " In tho Consulship of our Lords Clearcbus and Ricomer, most distinguished 
 men (>. e. 384 a.d.) To tho well-doserving Olibio, who lived fifteen years, six 
 months, twenty days. Ue departed on the twelfth day before the Calends of 
 October, in peace," t. «. September 20th. 
 
 I. 1. DDNN. The phrase Domini Noatri ia comtnonlj applied 
 to the Emperors; here it is used regarding private persons, who were 
 Consuls. There are, also, other examples of this of earlier date. 
 Hence Corsiui, Zaccaria, and Canoelleri inferred that from the close 
 of the 4th century, Consuls were usually styled Domini. Muratori, 
 Hagenhuch, and De Rossi, more correctly, ascribe this use to inadver- 
 tency and mistake on the part of the stone-cutters. 
 
 (i) Opiatho<jraj)ha : — 97, 
 
 (1) HIC • POSITVS • EST 
 VICTORIANVS QVI VIXIT 
 ANN • PLVS MINVS L DIPOSI 
 TOS • IN PACE • DIEM IIII • KAl^ 
 IVNDDNNTL CAESARIO 
 
 ET NONIO • ATTICO • VVCC 
 
 (2) D M 
 
 Q. VERGILIVS. FELIX 
 QVI VIXIT. ANNI8. Ill 
 MES. VI. DIEB. XVII. 
 
 (Ecoem, S. Hippolyti; D. Rossi, n. 446.) 
 
 (1) Ilic po' ':ua est Victoriantu, qui vixit annoa plus minus L. 
 Dipositoa (depositus) in pace diem (die) IV Kalendaa Junias, Dominis 
 Nostris Tl, (Flavio) Csssario et Nonio Atlico, Viris Clarissimis. 
 
i 
 
 M CHRISTIAN KPlTAPnS Or 
 
 (2) Diis Manihut, Quintus Vergilitu Felix, qui vixit annis (annos) 
 III, mes (menses) VI, diebu$ (dies) X\ll. 
 
 (1) Iluro has beon placed Viutorianus, who lived fifty years, more or less. 
 Burled in peace on the fourth day before the Calends of June, in the ConnulHliip 
 of our Lo'-ds, Flavius Cwsarlus et Nonius Atticus, most distinguished men," i. «. 
 May 2Uth, 397 a. d. 
 
 (2) " To the Gods the Mones. Quintus Vergilius Felix, who lived three years 
 six months [and] seventeen days." 
 
 I have given this as an example of the tahda: opisthographie, that 
 are sometimes found in the Catacombs, tcil. tablets on which a Pagan 
 inscription had been cut, but wliich wore subsequently used for a 
 Christiiin epitaph. 
 
 Nonius Atticua had Maximusixs his nijnomen. It has been inferred 
 from a lump bearing the monogram, and his name — Noni Atlici V(J et 
 InJustrls, that he was a Christian. This inference has been confirmed 
 by a pioof of the Christianity of the Nonian family at this period, 
 given by jMinervini, in Bull. Nap. Ser. ? t. 1 p. 15, to which De Rossi, 
 p. 198 refers, but which I have not seen. 
 
 (/c) Specimen of Palooography : — 98. 
 
 (See Plate IV, 4.) 
 
 {Ecoemet. 8. Zoiici ; De Rossi, n. 630.) 
 
 Lepusdus (Lepusculus) Leo, qui vixit anum (annum) et mensis 
 (menses) undeci (undecim) et dies dece (decern) et nove (no\em) perit 
 septimu (septimo) calendus Atjxistas (Augustas) Onorio (Honorio) 
 aexis (sexies) Agusto (Augusto). 
 
 " Lepusculus Leo, \iho lived a year and eleven months and nineteen days. lie 
 died on the seventh day before the Calends of August, (in the Consulship of) 
 llonorius for the sixth time," t. e. July 26th, 404 a. d. 
 
 Lepusculus, as JUuscula, was, probably, a pet name. Compare the 
 modern Leporello. I have translated petit as standing for periit, but 
 it may be used as reXeuT^ in Epitaph 23. 
 
 (/) Posture in prayer : — 99. 
 
 (See Plate IV, 2.) 
 
 (E coemet, Commodillat ; De Rossi, n. 261.) 
 
 Petronise dignss coiugi (conjugi) que (qua)) vixit annis (annos) 
 XXI, et fecit cum conpare (compare) suo menses X, dies V. [Deposita] 
 
TTIR riRST SIX CENTURIES. 
 
 «T 
 
 perit 
 
 I's. lie 
 lip of) 
 
 re the 
 but 
 
 61.) 
 
 DDOS) 
 
 osita] 
 
 Kalcndia Novemhtihua pot (post) Comulntum Gratiani ter et Equitit^ 
 Ursus maritus till ct innocenti compari fcciU CeKpiet (quicscit) in 
 pace. 
 
 " To Pctronia, » worthy wife, who lived twentj'-ono years, and pnnsod with 
 lior mato ten montliH, five days. [Burled] on the Calonda of November, in tho 
 year after tlio ConBiilbhip of (iratianus, for tho third time, and Equitius (i. e, 
 Novenihor IhI, 376 a. d.) Ursus, lior husband, made (thiw) for himself and his 
 blameless matu. She rests In peace." 
 
 I have selected tliin epitaph chiefly bocauso the stono presents an 
 illustration of tho attitude of a person prayin;*. This position was at 
 one time so general, that those, who were suiToring penaooc, were not 
 poriuittcd to stand up in tho church during prayer. 
 
 The uutstrotohcd arms and uplifted hands wore common to both 
 Jews and Pagans. At one time this figure in tho attitude of prayer 
 was regarded as an emblem of martyrdom ; and tho crown and the 
 palm-branch, also, were interpreted as having similar significance, but 
 these theories have not stood investigation. Tho figure in pniyer is 
 certainly a proof of Christianity, but tho crown and tho palm-branch 
 ore found on Pagan tomb-stones. See Muratori Nov. Themnir., 
 1828, 5, Anti'q. Ital. dm. LVIII ; Raoul Ilochette, Mem. aur let 
 Antiq. Chrit. p. ii. §2; Cardinal Mai, Vet. Script. Nov. Collect. Y, 
 p. 8, n. 1 ; and De Rossi, n. oO. 
 
 No symbol has so far been suggested as a criterion of martyrdom, 
 that has been universally accepted by scholars. And yet there ore at 
 present few, if any, who would give their assent to DodwcU's opinions 
 de pancilate Marti/rum, or to Burnet's views, in his " Letters from 
 Switzerland, &c.," regarding the identity of the catacombs and 
 pxiticvU. 
 
 Birds form one of the favorite decorations of Christian tombstones. 
 The most common of these is the dove, represented singly or in pairs, 
 with or without a branch in the mouth, sometimes perched on a tree, 
 sometimes pecking at a bunch of grapes, and sometimes standing on a 
 vase. Singly it has been regarded as the emblem of peace or of simpli- 
 city — in pairs it may have been, in some cases, the symbol of affection. 
 It is Jewish in its origin, and was, doubtless, derived from the history 
 of Noah. Two other birds are occasionally represented, the peacock 
 and the phoenix. They are both Pagan in their origin, but were used 
 by Christians as symbolical of the resurrection. 
 
88 CITRISTIAN EPITAPHS. 
 
 (w) Interval b^^tweea death and burial : — 100. 
 
 DN-MAGNO MAXIMO AVGII CONSS 
 in IDVS MAIAS FATV3I FECIT LEO ET 
 DEPOSIWS PRIDIE IDVS MAIAS BENE 
 MERENTl IN PACE 
 
 (E coem. Cyriaca ; De Rossi, n. 374.) 
 
 Domino Nostra Magna Maximo Augusta iterum Consule, III Idas 
 Maias Jaium fecit Leo d deposilus pridie Idus Maias. Bene merenti 
 in pace. 
 
 " In the Bocond Consulship of our Lord Magnus Maximna Augustus (t. c. 388 
 A. D.), on the third day before the Ides of May (t. e. May 18th), Leo died, and 
 was buried on the day before the Ides of May (i. e. May 14tli). To him well 
 deserving in peace," 
 
 L 2. Fatum fecit. This rare expression for defunctus est is found 
 in some other Christian epitaphs. See Corsini, Not. Grsec. Diss, ii) 
 p. XXIV. 
 
 1. 3 Deposilus pridie Idus Maias. Here the deceased was buried 
 on the day after his death. Thus we find in Gruter, 1054, 8 — quae 
 reccssit die Mercurii hora VIII et dcposita die lovis Iduum Maiarum, 
 i. c. she died on Wednesday and was buried on Thursday. See other 
 examples in Corsini, Diss, i, p. 12. In Muratori's, 1959, 9, we have 
 an example of an interval of two days — Defunctus die XVI Ral. April, 
 deposilus XIIU Kal, i. e. he died on March 17th, and was buried on 
 March 19th. 
 
 \h 
 
 ■ \ 
 
I X D E X . 
 
 A. pvnE 
 
 Acflamal'inncx xvii 
 
 AoKN-Kii, M. J., ' Die Rdmiselien 
 Inscliriften in Dacien,' Vienna, 
 
 ISti;") xiii 
 
 Adodntus 11 
 
 Adjurations 51 
 
 ALm xxvii 
 
 Bostra 50 
 
 Maiiretania 37 
 
 Spain 12 
 
 An,<t 57 
 
 Alnmm 28 
 
 Amati CO 
 
 Anatlieina 51 
 
 Anciior 22 
 
 ARixcni, P., Roma Subterninca, 
 
 Paris, 1659 iv, 32, 40, 49 
 
 Astrology 55 
 
 B. 
 
 Balance 49, 5G 
 
 Baptism 64 
 
 Birds as s^-mbols 56, ()7 
 
 Blaxcihni 65 
 
 B. M 9, 17 
 
 BocKisG, Dii. E., Xotltia D'trpiita- 
 
 turn, Bonn, 1839-1853 ,./,.. 30, 34 
 BocKn, A., Corpus LiscriptionuDi 
 
 Gracarum, Berlin, 1828-59. ... 14 
 BoLDKTTi, M.A., ' Osservazioni so- 
 
 pra i cimitcrii de' SS. Martiri 
 
 cd antichi Cliristiani di Roma, 
 
 Ptonia, 1720 iv, 45, 46 
 
 BoRGiiKsi, B xxiii 
 
 Bosin, A., " Roma Sottt'rranca,' 
 
 Roina, 1632 iv, xvii 
 
 BuR(ioy, Rkv. J. W., M.A., ' L.'t- 
 
 ters from Rome,' London, 1802 
 
 [v, IS 
 Bi'RNKT, RiriMor — ' Letters from 
 
 Switzerland, &c.' 67 
 
 Boi.DONi, t)., Epiftraphii-a s. Elo- 
 
 ffia, An(j. I'eru.sia: lilGii 46 
 
 C. PAOE 
 
 Calendar, Roman, variations from 6, 25 
 
 CAXrELLKUI , 69 
 
 Candelabrum xiv, 4, 49 
 
 Cavkdom 45, 59 
 
 Catcclnimons xvi 
 
 Cliristian terms in Pagan inscrip- 
 tions 29, 57 
 
 Clkmkss Alkxanduinus 22 
 
 Clinton, II. F., M.A., Fasti IMle- 
 
 nici. Oxford, 1834 xxvii 
 
 Fasti Romimi,C)x^m'ii, 1815. 8 
 
 Conjugation, varieties of 7 
 
 Constructions, confusion of . ... 35, 48 
 
 Constat 47 
 
 Consular dates viii, xxiii 
 
 COS, COSS, CONS, CONSS .... xxiv 
 
 Contra votum 19 
 
 CoRsiNi, E., Notas Orcecorum, Flo- 
 rence, 1 749 8, 62, 68 
 
 CWd, rib, wife xiii, 18 
 
 Crioboliuin 57 
 
 Cross, most ancient example of in 
 
 dated epitaplis 45 
 
 Crown ()7 
 
 Cubicnlum 17 
 
 Cyclic marks of time viii, 53 
 
 D. 
 
 Dnmasus, Episc 19 
 
 iJitlicidty of distinguishing Cliris- 
 tian and Pagan inscriptions ... 56 
 
 Danzktta 18 
 
 I)X, DDNN 65 
 
 Dcccmt 2 
 
 Declension, changes of 18 
 
 Drpositio 3 
 
 Dcpositiis xiv, 2, 4 
 
 Dk Rossi, (f. /j., Inscript. C/n-i.t- 
 tiaiiw UrbiH Roma; Septntio So;- 
 chIo Antiqniores, Roma', 1857- 
 
 1861 pixsx'im 
 
 , ' Roma Sotterranea 
 
 Cristiana,' Roma, 1 804-1 8ii7. . v, xv 
 
 * See also " Contents" i>i>. vii, viii, ix, x. 
 
■\( 
 
 '-'^M'-^"' 
 
 70 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 \ 
 
 PA OR 
 
 Db Ro98i, M. S xxviii 
 
 DeuxdcdH 11 
 
 ' Dictionnairo tl']6]iigraphie Chr6- 
 
 tienne,' Paris, 1852 62 
 
 Divo Joviano 54 
 
 D. M., use of by Christians. . . . xii, CO 
 DoDWELL. 11., DisHcrtntioncs Cypri- 
 
 anicw, Oxford, 1682 \... 6Y 
 
 Domina 33 
 
 Dotnm cBternalia 53 
 
 Dove 07 
 
 DucANGE, Olosmrhim media', et in- 
 
 fimcK Lalinitatis, Paris, 1850 ... 41 
 
 E. 
 
 Easter-clav 66 
 
 ' Edinburgh Review,' n. CCXLV, 
 
 New York, 1804 v, xix 
 
 EmerUa, St 47 
 
 Epitaph, most ancient of those not 
 
 Roman 5 
 
 " number of Roman. . . . x, xxii 
 Et itenim xxvi, 43 
 
 F. 
 Fabretti, R., Imcript. Anliq. Ex- 
 
 plicatio, Rome, 1099 
 
 [20, 57, 59,61, 62 
 
 Faccre, to spend 16 
 
 Fatum fecit 46, 68 
 
 Fea 27 
 
 Fimus 1 
 
 Fish 22 
 
 Fleetwood, G., Imcript. Antiq. 
 
 Si/llor/e, London, 1091 iv, 57 
 
 Fonsons 45 
 
 Fratre.1, brother and sister .... 24, 32 
 Freedmen xv 
 
 G. 
 GAnnucci, R., ' Ciinitero degli an- 
 ticlii Ebrei scoperto reccnte- 
 meiite in Vigna Randanini,' 
 
 Roma, 1802 xviii 
 
 GoTiroKHEUus, I., C'odcx Tfieodosi- 
 
 anns, Leipsic, 1730 30 
 
 Grasser, J. J., Sax. Jiemaus 40 
 
 Gregory tiie Great 39 
 
 Gruter, I., Li^crip. Autiq. totius 
 orbia Roinani,' Amsterdam, ]7n7 
 
 [iv, xiv, 7, 14, 51 
 Guasco 55 
 
 II. 
 Henze\, G., Collect. Orell. Vol. iii. 
 Zurich, 1850 
 
 [xiv, 29, 32, 37, 45, 51, 56, 57 
 
 PAGE 
 
 HAGENDUCn 65 
 
 Jlolof/raphus 36 
 
 House 49 
 
 I. 
 
 I, ns a prefix 2i 
 
 IMP xxvi 
 
 Indietions , , . xvii 
 
 Inflexions xiii 
 
 III pace xiv 
 
 J. 
 
 J ACl'TI 41 
 
 Jewish usages, borrowed by Chris- 
 tians xiv, 49 
 
 JUVENATI 26 
 
 K. 
 
 Kenrick, Rev. J., M.A., ' Roman 
 Sepulchral Inscriptions,' Lon- 
 don, 1848 15, 27 
 
 Kii', RisHop, ' The Catacombs of 
 Rome,' New York, 1854 27 
 
 KiR<iniOFF, A.,Corp.Inscript. Grcec. 
 IV. 2, Berlin, 1859 
 
 [8, 9, 11, 37, 52, 55 
 
 L. 
 
 Lami 18 
 
 Laxzi, L., ' Saggio di Lingua Et- 
 
 rusca,' Roma, 1789 
 
 Latin in Greek characters 9, 22 
 
 Latinity, decline of xii, 23 
 
 Leaf-points 46 
 
 Le Blant, E., ' Inscript. Chr^t. de 
 la Gaule, anterieures au VIII. 
 me Siecle,' Paris, 1856. . xvi, 32, 54 
 
 LfpHSculus 66 
 
 Letters, unexplained 82 
 
 J.cvita, deacon 39 
 
 Liltcrins, Episc xxvii 
 
 Lindsay, Lord, 'Sketches of ^he 
 History of Christian Art,' Lon- 
 don, 1847 xxviii 
 
 Locnlits, locwt, xiv 
 
 Locum fecit 45 
 
 Locus, concessus 40 
 
 " factiis 44, 45 
 
 " emptus 46 
 
 " donalus 47 
 
 " hiaomns 48 
 
 " trisomus 48 
 
 " quadrisomus 49 
 
 Llcian , 43 
 
 Lui'i 22, 65, 62 
 
 Lu7ia 63, 64 
 
INDEX. 
 
 71 
 
 PAGE 
 05 
 
 36 
 49 
 
 . 2S 
 xxvi 
 
 . xvii 
 
 . xiii 
 
 xiv 
 
 J2, 54 
 66 
 32 
 39 
 
 ixxvii 
 
 fXVlll 
 
 xiv 
 
 45 
 
 40 
 
 1,45 
 
 4ft 
 
 47 
 
 48 
 
 48 
 
 49 
 
 43 
 
 f. 62 
 
 ,64 
 
 M. PAGE 
 
 Mabtllon, J 62, 63 
 
 Maffei, S., Museum Veronense, 
 
 Verona, 1749 II, 54 
 
 Mai, a., Cardinal, Veterum Scrip- 
 toriim Nova CoUcctio, Rome, 
 
 1831 61, 67 
 
 Maitlaxd, CnARLES, M.D., 'The 
 Church in tlie Catacombs,' Lon- 
 don, 1847 iv, 27, 59, 61 
 
 Mala, a name 7 
 
 MAMAcni, F. J. M,, Originum et an- 
 tiq. Christian., 'kovae, 1747-1755 
 
 [19, 49, 50 
 Marciii, G., ' Monnmenti delle Arti 
 Cristiane primitive,' Roma, 1844 
 
 [xxviii 
 Marini, G., ' Iscrizioni Albane,' 
 
 Roma, 1785 xvii 
 
 'Atti de fintelli Ar- 
 
 vali, Roma, 1795 xxiv 
 
 22, 36, 53, 55, 58 
 
 Married life 15, 20 
 
 Martyrolor/iinn liomanum, Mechlin, 
 
 184ti .." 47, 51 
 
 Martjrs xi, xvi 
 
 Martyrdom, emblems of xi, 67 
 
 Miservixi 66 
 
 MOMMSEX, TllEOI)., 'luKcrip. Ii)(/. 
 
 Keapol. Latino;, Leipsic, 1852, 
 
 [xxv, 40, 41, 42, 56 
 " " Iiiftcrip. Latin, 
 
 Antiqni^,vma:, Berlin, 1863. . . . 
 
 Mono;rrnm 46 
 
 MoRCELi.i, S. A., dc Saio Iimcrip. 
 
 Latin., Padua. 1818 xiv, 19, 63 
 
 MiiLLER. — See Ackser. 
 
 Mummy 40, 50 
 
 MrRATORi, L. A., A'oi'jM Thrsaurus 
 
 Vet. InscHp., Milan, 1739, 
 [xi, xiv, xvii, 12, 20, 23, 55, 57, 65, 67 
 
 K 
 
 Nabor, St 51 
 
 Names, of contempt or abasement 1 
 " Pntran, used by Christian xx, 1 
 " Christian and Pagan. . , . xx, 6 
 
 two 6 
 
 pet 6 
 
 " numerals instead of lu 
 
 " |)ec«liar to Christians. . 10, 11 
 
 " from animals xx, 13 
 
 " three xix, 21 
 
 " Gothic xxi 
 
 yusariu,i, St 51 
 
 Natus 61 
 
 Nobis, Cardinal 67 
 
 PAQI 
 
 NoRTncoTE, Rev. J. Spencer, M. A., 
 ' TI.3 Roman Catacombs,' Lon- 
 don, 1857 4, 15, 27,47 
 
 Xumerua 35 
 
 Numerals, unexplained 69 
 
 0. 
 
 Octave 67 
 
 OnKRRi 18, 26 
 
 OuKLi.i, (/., Inncrip. Latin. Collcdio, 
 Zurich, 1828, 
 
 [xiv, 14, 22, 23, 33, 51, 57, 61 
 
 Orthography xii 
 
 Ovid 4 
 
 P. 
 
 Pagan usages borrowed by Chris- 
 tians xi, xvii, xviii, 63, 67 
 
 Palieography 2 
 
 Palm-branch xiv, 67 
 
 Peacock 67 
 
 Phienix 67 
 
 Paoi.i 20 
 
 I'apa 27,47, 50 
 
 I'lipas 25 
 
 J'dxchalcs dies 56 
 
 Pamo 44 
 
 I'ercipio 56 
 
 J'ereo 64 
 
 pKURET, L., ' Le Catacombes de 
 llonie,' Paris, 1852-57 .... v, xxviii 
 
 Puny 43 
 
 J'o.sf ('oiiKulnhiDi xxvi 
 
 Price of grave (probablj- bisomiis) 47 
 PuUDEN'rtL'S 59 
 
 Q. 
 
 Qitirlnce 10 
 
 QuodvuUdcus 11 
 
 R. 
 
 RAoi-i.-RoniETTE, ' Memoire snr lea 
 antir|uit<'3 Chretiennes des Cata- 
 combes (Mem. de I'Acad. des 
 Inser. XIII.) xiv, 49, 69, 61, 62, 67 
 
 Rcc(ptus ad Dcnm 29 
 
 " inter decs 29 
 
 Rffrifjeras 29 
 
 Regions, of Rome 33, 40 
 
 RE(iGt 58 
 
 Reinesics, T., Syntaama Vet. In- 
 
 scrip., Leipsic, 1682 6, 67 
 
 Renikr, L..' inscriptions Romaincs 
 
 de I'Algerie,' Paris, 1858. .. . 37, 63 
 RiisTELL, ' lieschreibuntr der Stadt 
 
 Rom,' Stuttgard, 1830 xviii, 3 
 
 TutfiovKi 3 
 
1! 
 
 T 
 i 
 
 mf 
 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 12 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 S. PAOE 
 
 8ircophngn» 62 
 
 Sepulcrtim 61, 5<5 
 
 Seveuaxo, G. — Seo Aringiii. 
 
 Se vivo 45 
 
 Sickness, time of 64 
 
 Siyno Capricorui 64 
 
 Slaves XV 
 
 Soldiers xvi 
 
 Solichis 47 
 
 SottKei, Solcria, Soter 32 
 
 Stkineu, Dii., CoJez Inscrip. Rom. 
 Dauub. et Jihcn., Seligenstadt, 
 
 1841 xii 
 
 Sicrcorins 1 
 
 Stercoria 1 
 
 Suetonius 65 
 
 Symbols xxviii, 22, 49, B7 
 
 Syntax .... xiii 
 
 T. 
 
 Taoitus S3 
 
 TiiuroboUum 67 
 
 Ttr et Semel xxiv, 10 
 
 Teiitulliav. Liher Apologetkus, 
 
 Cambridge, 1813 xvi 
 
 TiRAno.scin 26 
 
 J\tulus 41 
 
 U. 
 
 Urci 51 
 
 Urgi 61 
 
 V. PAS! 
 
 Vacat 48 
 
 Van dkh IIaqe.v 67 
 
 Vam, Vascula xvi, xvii 
 
 V. C XXV, 80, etc. 
 
 V. I) 30 
 
 V. 1 30 
 
 V. T 30 
 
 Y. SP 30 
 
 Violation of grave 61, 62 
 
 ViuoiL . 4, 27 
 
 ] 'trginius xiii 
 
 YiscosTi 6i) 
 
 VocUhs, vocalns 15 
 
 W. 
 "WnsTnopp, TI. M., ' Handbook of 
 
 Arcluuology,' London. 1807 ... 61 
 "WisKMAN, CAuniXAL, ' Twi'lve Lec- 
 tures on tlie connexion between 
 Science and Revealed Religion,' 
 
 London, 1S53 59 
 
 " 'Fabiola,' New York. 18.-.5 
 
 [xiii, xxii 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zaccaria, F. a., ' Instituzlone anti- 
 qnario — lapidariu,' llonia, 1770 65 
 
 Zdconux for Diavonm 62 
 
 *Zan\oxi 45 
 
 Zell, C, Deleclvs Inscrip. Jiom., 
 Heidelberg, 1850 xviii 
 
 * Mcxk'ni authors that aro named without iiu'iitinn of the work or pdition have been rited, 
 generally, ou the authority of Do Rossi. In ji. 05 the words -(/•' cnem. S. llippubjti ; Dc Rossi, 
 n. 3.4^)— have been inadvertently omitted after the text of the Ei)itai>h, 
 
 i 
 ■; 
 
 ' , t 
 
PAaR 
 
 48 
 
 57 
 
 . . .xvi, xvii 
 :xv, 30, «fec, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 51, 62 
 
 . . . 4, 27 
 
 xiii 
 
 5!) 
 
 15 
 
 »ok of 
 157... 61 
 e Lcc- 
 twucn 
 igion,' 
 
 59 
 
 , 18.->5 
 [.\iii, xxii 
 
 3 nnti- 
 
 1770 65 
 
 52 
 
 45 
 
 liom., 
 
 .... xviii 
 
 been riteil, 
 ; De liossi.