The Inscription of Mercurius and Ursa

The Inscription of Mercurius and Ursa

INSCRIPTION DETAILS

Findspot and Place of Origin

Country
Italy
Region
Veneto
Ancient Region
Regio X Venetia et Histria
City
Concordia Sagittaria
Ancient City

Chronology

Date of the inscription

Date
Mid-Fourth Century A.D.
Dating criteria
palaeography, onomastics, textual/linguistic content

Autopsy

Institution
Location within museum
set into the wall of the right nave
Date of observation
2024

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Type
Material(s)
Execution
Inscribed.
Dimensions
42.5 × 83 cm
Epigraphic Field
40 × 77.5 cm
Letters Height
4-6 cm

Palaeographic comment

Dextrograde direction, horizontal alignment, vertical module, irregular ductus, light incision.

The letter A shows a slightly oblique crossbar and a right stroke that extends beyond the point of intersection with the left one.

The letter F features an anomalous stroke below the median stroke, with three oblique strokes ascending towards the right.

The letter G has an oblique vertical element (pilastrino) descending towards the right.

The letter M is composed of four oblique strokes.

The letter O is positioned above the baseline and has a smaller module compared to the other letters.

The letter P has a laterally compressed bowl.

The letter R features a laterally compressed bowl and a tail that curves upwards upon reaching the baseline.

The letter T has a short top bar.

Inscribed front panel of a limestone sarcophagus
The iscription of Mercurius and Ursa. 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

Fl(avius) Mercurius biarcus (!) fabricensis sibi et con = iugi suae Fl(aviae) Urse (!) vivi de re (!) sua conparaverun̂t (!). Si quis post hobitum (!) eorum voluerit aperire dabit auri p(ondo) duo.

APPARATUS CRITICUS

4. SVAM, Scarpa Bonazza Buora Veronese 1978 COMPARAVERVNT, Bertolini 1874b, Bertolini 1875b, Scarpa Bonazza Buora Veronese 1978 . 6. DAB(IT) V(IRIBVS)F(ISCI), Bertolini 1874a, Bertolini 1874b .

TRANSLATION

Flavius Mercurius, biarchus of the fabricenses, for himself and for his wife Flavia Ursa, while living, purchased (this) from their own resources.

If anyone, after their death, should wish to open it, they shall pay two (roman) pounds of gold.

COMMENTARY

Like Flavius Martinianus, Flavius Mercurius was also a biarchus of the fabricenses.

This is the only epigraphic attestation of an individual named Mercurius in the whole of Concordia, although this cognomen appears in many other cities of the regio X, such as Aquileia (CIL V 1390 = EDR179690; CIL V 1390 = EDR179693; CIL V 8424 = EDR179749).

The inscription of a woman named Ursa Iulia was found in Caorle and perhaps originally came from the city of Concordia (CIL V 1962 = EDR156654).

PEOPLE

Flavius Mercurius

NOMEN
Flavius
COGNOMEN
Mercurius
GENS
Flavia
ORIGIN (of the name Mercurius)
latin
GENDER
male
OCCUPATION
fabricensis
RANK
biarchus
ROLE
dedicator/deceased
RELATIONSHIP
husband (→ Flavia Severina)

Flavia Severina

NOMEN
Flavia
COGNOMEN
Ursa
GENS
Flavia
ORIGIN (of the name Ursa)
latin
GENDER
female
OCCUPATION
civilian
ROLE
dedicator/deceased
RELATIONSHIP
wife (→ Flavius Mercurius)

Bibliography

Bertolini 1874a, 24, nr. 10.
Bertolini 1874b, 285, nr. 6.
Bertolini 1875b, 116, nr. 9.
CIL V 8757
ILCV 521
Scarpa Bonazza Buora Veronese 1978, 74-75.
Lettich 1983, 57-58, nr. 14.
EDR
EDR097905
Author of the record:
Damiana Baldassarra
Date:
26-11-2007