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The fourth installment of ACE Director Souzana Steverding's "Inscriptions in Stone". This article shows examples of various unusual ancient Roman inscriptions, as well as translations.
ROMAN INSCRIPTIONS
IV Varied & Unusual Inscriptions
A Goldsmith's slave - this inscription was found on a building stone at Malton in Yorkshire - date unknown. (ref RIB 712)..............
FELICITER SIT
GENIO LOCI
SERVVLE VTERE
FELIX TABERNAM
AVREFICINAM
"Good luck to the Genius of this place. Young slave, may fortune be yours in using this goldsmith's shop".
A trader in Pottery caused an Altar with this inscription to be erected in modern day Holland, around the end of the 2nd century / beginning of the 3rd century AD........ (ref ILS 4751)
DEAE N(e)HALENNIAE OB MERCES RECTE
CONSERVATAS M(arcus) SECVND(inius) SILVANVS
NEGOTIATOR CRETARIVS BRITANNICIANVS
V(otum) S(olvit) L(ibens) M(erito)
"To the goddess Nehalennia, on account of goods duly kept safe, Marcus Secundinius Silvanus, trader in Pottery with Britain, fulfilled his vow willingly and deservedly."
A " Haruspex" (Soothsayer) of the Goddess Sulis - a Base plinth found in Bath - of unknown date. This official of high standing in the town interpreted omens and inspected sacrificial offerings.
DEAE SVLI L (ucius) MARCIVS MEMOR
HARVSP(ex) D(ono) D(edit)
"To the goddess Sulis, Lucius Marcius Memor, Haruspex, gave and dedicated (this)"
A " Curse Tablet" from Bath - lead and lead alloys are the traditional material for engraving curse tablets - this dated from the 4th century AD.
SEU GEN (tili)S SEU CH(r)ISTIANVS QVAECVMQVE
VTRVM VIR (u)TRVM MULIER VTRVM PVER
VTRVM PVELLA VTRVM S(er)VVS VTRVM LIBER
MIHI ANNIANO MA(n)TVTENE DE BVRSA MEA
S(e)X ARGENTE(o)S FVRAVERIT TV D(o)MINA
DEA AB IPSO PEREXI(g)E(.eo)S SI MIHI PER
(f)RAVDEM ALIQVAM IN DEP REG(.)STVM
DEDERIT NEC SIC IPSI DONA SED VT SANGVINEM
SVVM EPVTES QVI MIHI HOC INTEROGAVERIT.
" Whether pagan or Christian, whosoever, whether man or woman, whether boy or girl, whether slave or free, has stolen from me, Annianus, in the morning (?), six silver coins from my purse, you, lady Goddess, are to exact (them) from him.
If through some deceit he has given me...., and do not give thus to him, but his blood who has invoked this upon me."
(With grateful thanks and due acknowledgement to the London Association of Classical Teachers' Inscriptions of Roman Britain.)
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