The Inscription of Alexandria and Sopatrus

Current Location

Institution: VIAF ID: 124364831

TGN ID: 7003045 VIAF ID: 148456131
Inventory Number: 379

External Resources

TrisMegistos: EDR097893
Epigraphic Database Rome: 125634
Ubi Erat Lupa: 29354

INSCRIPTION DETAILS

Findspot and Place of Origin

Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Ancient Region: Regio X Venetia et Histria
City: Concordia Sagittaria
Ancient City: TM ID: 12269 DARE ID: 10645 VIAF ID: 148456131

Chronology

Date of the inscription

Date: First Half of the Fourth Century A.D.
Dating criteria

Autopsy

Institution: VIAF ID: 124364831

TGN ID: 7003045 VIAF ID: 148456131
Location within museum: set into the wall of the right nave
Date of observation: 2024

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Type: Panel of the frontal slab of the sarcophagus.
Material(s): Limestone.
Execution: Inscribed..
Dimensions: 50 × 102 cm
Epigraphic Field: 38 × 88 cm
Letters Height: 4.5-7.5 cm

Palaeographic comment

Dextrograde direction; horizontal orientation; vertical module; ductus regular; shallow groove. Triangular-shaped interpuncts.

The stonecutter made some layout mistakes, and, in order to fit the text within the available space, the last letters of the final line are strongly compressed laterally, with words abbreviated to a single letter.

To save space, four letters were also carved in ligature: in the fourth line, the N and V of nullus share a common vertical stroke, and likewise the A and V in the last line.

The letter E displays triangular wolf-tooth terminals at the ends of its arms.

The M is composed of four oblique strokes, while the lateral strokes of the N are vertical.

Inscribed front panel of a limestone sarcophagus — The iscription of Martinianus and Severina. Photograph courtesy of the Museo Nazionale Concordiese, Portogruaro; photo by Ortolf Harl (Ubi Erat Lupa). Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture - Regional Directorate of National Museums of Veneto. Any commercial or for-profit use of these images is strictly prohibited and must be subject to a specific authorization request to the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Veneto.

INSCRIPTION

INTERPRETATIVE TRANSCRIPTION

LID:

M(anibus) D(iis)

CHEST:

                  Aur(elia) Alexandria arcam conpa
                        =
                  ravi (!) mihi etFl(avio) Sopatro marito
                        
                  meo dulcissimo q(ui) v(ixit) mecum an(nis)
                        
                  XVIIII ita ut post obitum nost(rum) n̂ull
                        =
                  us eandem putet se violare si qui<s>
                        
                  
                     crediderit
                     dab(it) fisci virib(us) sol(idos) XX v(el) i(n)  a(rgento)u(ncias) L
                    
               

APPARATUS CRITICUS

4. NOSTR(VM), Lettich 1983, .

TRANSLATION

To the Manes gods.

Aurelia Alexandria purchased the sarcophagus for herself and for her dearest husband Flavius Sopatrus a sarcophagus, with whom she lived for nineteen years.

She ordered that, after their death, no one should presume to violate it.

Whoever does so shall pay, to the public treasury, a fine of twenty gold solidi or fifty ounces of silver.

COMMENTARY

PEOPLE

Aurelia Alexandria

NOMEN: Aurelia
COGNOMEN: Alexandria
GENS: Aurelia
ORIGIN (of the name Alexandria): latin
GENDER: female
OCCUPATION: civilian
ROLE: dedicator/deceased
RELATIONSHIP

Flavius Sopatrus

NOMEN: Flavius
COGNOMEN: Sopatrus
GENS: Flavia
ORIGIN (of the name Sopatrus): unknown
GENDER: male
OCCUPATION: civilian
ROLE: deceased
RELATIONSHIP: husband (→ Aurelia Alexandria)

Bibliography

Bertolini 1874a, 25, n. 13.

Bertolini 1874b, 294, n. 19.

CIL V 8734

ILCV 823

Lettich 1983, 99, nr. 63.

EDR: EDR097893
Author of the record:: Damiana Baldassarra
Date:: 21-11-2007