The Inscription of Dionisia_B
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
- Type
- Front of a sarcophagus.
- Material(s)
- Limestone.
- Execution
- Inscribed.
- Dimensions
- 41,5 × 45 cm
- Epigraphic Field
- 41,5 × 45 cm
- Letters Height
- 3,5-5 cm
Palaeographic comment
Dextrograde direction, horizontal layout, vertical module, irregular ductus, no interpunction, shallow incision, centered layout.
E strongly laterally compressed.
M is composed of four oblique strokes.
T has a short crossbar.
INSCRIPTION
INTERPRETATIVE TRANSCRIPTION
Aurelia Dionis[ia] [quae vixi]
t
annis VIIII mm(ensibus) VII d(iebus) [---] [Si]
qui
=
s eam voluerit [inr]umpere
davit (!)
fiṣci (!) arge[nti] libras V
APPARATUS CRITICUS
1. [FILIA QVAE VIXI], , Bertolini 1875b; [VIXI],
ILCV 817 B
.
2. SI, Lettich 1983
.
3. [R]VMPERE, Bertolini 1875a, Bertolini 1875b; [CORR]VMPERE,
CIL V 8735a,
EDR097894
; [---]VMPERE, Lettich 1983
.
4. FISCI <VIRIBVS>, Lettich 1983
.
TRANSLATION
Aurelia Dionisia, who lived nine years, seven months, and [---] days.
If anyone should wish to break into this burial, he shall pay to the fisc five pounds of silver.
PEOPLE
Aurelia Dionisia
- NOMEN
- Aurelia
- COGNOMEN
- Dionisia
- GENS
- Aurelia
- ORIGIN (of the name Dionisia)
- greek
- GENDER
- female
- OCCUPATION
- civilian
- ROLE
- deceased
- RELATIONSHIP
- granddaughter (→ )
Bibliography
| Bertolini 1875a, 114, nr. 55. |
| Bertolini 1875b, 121, nr. 16. |
| CIL V 8735a |
| ILCV 817 B |
| Lettich 1983, 107, nr. 81. |
- EDR
-
EDR097894
- Author of the record:
- Damiana Baldassarra
- Date:
- 23-07-2008
COMMENTARY
Aurelia Dionisia is addressed in another fragmentary inscription on a nearby sarcophagus, since both her age and the initials of her cognomen coincide.
It is not clear why two sarcophagi would have been dedicated to Dionisia. Mommsen, attempting to resolve this issue, maintains that both inscriptions belonged to the same arca: this inscription would have been on the front of the sarcophagus, while the second on one of its sides.
However, Bertolini does not report this version and, according to the site plan, the inscriptions in question were located on two distinct arcae, although close to one another.
Perhaps Dionisia’s first sarcophagus had been damaged or subsequently occupied by others, or her body had initially been placed in a temporary arca intended for other members of the family—reasons that would have made it necessary to move her remains to another arca.
Indeed, the inscription of Ennius Cerealis shows that tombs were at times cared for and restructured by relatives.