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Inscriptions: Epitaph of the freedman and perfumes dealer Titus Vettius Hermes

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Identification

Reference as: MPL01149
Title Epitaph of the freedman and perfumes dealer Titus Vettius Hermes
Trismegistos-No. 259322

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place Vardacate
Find Context Grazzano Badoglio (Cuneo), parish church of the Saints Vittore and Corona, reused in the right-hand external wall.
Latitude 45.0408
Longitude 8.31092
Current Location Grazzano Badoglio (Cuneo), Chiesa dei Santi Vittore e Corona
Inventory number
Current Location Details Reused in the old rectory stairwell.
Vicinity

Object Details

Object Type stele
Material marble
State of Preservation complete
Dimensions

width: 60.0 cm

height: 190.0 cm

depth: unknown

Letter Size in cm (min) 2.5
Letter Size in cm (max) 6.7
Execution Technique chiselled
Religion Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography Inscription framed within pseudo-aedicula flanked by fluted pillar topped by pseudo-corinthian capitals decorated with leaves. Between the capitals, frieze decorated with garlands and theatrical masks. above the frieze, architrave inscribed with the letters V and F, topped by moulded tympanum. On pediment, kantharos flanked by birds peking on fruits contained within. On the slants of the tympanum, carving of down-facing dolphins. Rosettes carved on both sides of the tip of the tympanum.
Decoration Tags
  • Animal / bird
  • Animal / dolphin
  • Architecture / Aedicula
  • Architecture / Frieze
  • Architecture / Garland
  • Architecture / Moulding
  • Architecture / Pediment
  • Architecture / Rosette
  • Architecture / Tympanum
  • Architecture / architrave
  • Architecture / Capital
  • Architecture / pillar
  • Object / Mask
  • Object / vase
  • Plant / Fruit
  • Plant / Leaf
  • Object / Kantharos

Verse Layouts

  • Prose Verse PresenceProse + Verse + Prose
    Prose Verse Distinction
    • Yes, by bigger lettering in prose
    • Yes, by smaller lettering in prose
    Layout Types (Prose)
    • Centered
    Layout Types (Verse)
    • Centered
    Scriptio Continua in verse partyes
    Abbreviations in verse partyes
    Verse Line CorrespondenceNo, but follows metrical subdivisions

Text

Function funerary inscription
Language(s)
  • Latin
Verse Type(s)
  • Dactylic pentameter
Rhythmisation Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

Architrave:
VFEpigraphic field:
TVETTIVS
TLHERMES
SEPLASIARIVS

5MATERGENVIT
MATERQRECEPI͡T
HIHORTIITAVTIOM
QVESVNTCINERIBVS
SERVITEMEISNAMCV
10RATORESSVBSTITVAM
VTIVESCANTVREXHO
RVMHORTORVMREDI
TVNATALEMEOETPER
ROSAMINPERPETVO
15HOSHORTOSNEQVEDIVI
DIVOLONEQABALIENAR͡I
Architrave:
V(ivus) f(ecit). Epigraphic field:
T(itus) Vettius,
T(iti) l(ibertus), Hermes,
seplasiarius.

5Mater genuit
Materq(ue) recepi͡t.
Hi horti ita uti o(ptimi) m(aximi)-
que sunt cineribus,
servite, meis; nam cu-
10ratores substituam,
uti vescantur ex ho
rum hortorum redi-
tu natale meo, et per
rosam in perpetuo.
15Hos hortos neque divi-
di volo neq(ue) abalienar͡i.
Architrave: V(ivus) f(ecit). Epigraphic field: T(itus) Vettius, T(iti) l(ibertus), Hermes, seplasiarius.

Mater genuit Materq(ue) recepi͡t.
Hi horti ita uti o(ptimi) m(aximi)que sunt cineribus, servite, meis; nam curatores substituam, uti vescantur ex horum hortorum reditu natale meo, et per rosam in perpetuo. Hos hortos neque dividi volo neq(ue) abalienar͡i.
Apparatus

Text follows CIL 05 and Mercando and Paci. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.
ll. 5-6: pentameter, Mercando and Paci.

Main Translation

Translation Architrave:
He made this while still alive.

Epigraphic field:
Titus Vettius Hermes, freedman of Titus, perfumes dealer.

The Mother generated him, and the Mother welcomed him.

May these greatest and best-kept gardens be used for my ashes, my servants; for I will appoint caretakers, so that they may feed off the fruits of these gardens on my birthday and celebrate with roses for ever. I give no permission for these gardens be apportioned or sold.
Citation Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Prosopographical Information

  • NameTitus Vettius Hermes
    GenderMale
    Legal StatusFreedman / Freedwoman
    ProfessionOther profession
    RoleDedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Mercando and Paci. Mennella and Zanda propose an extended dating up to and including the first half of the 2nd century AD.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze? no

Dating

Date (From) 1 AD
Date (To) 100 AD
Date (Criteria)
  • palaeography

Bibliography

Images

  • Squeeze of the stele with the epitaph of Titus Vettius Hermes.

    Squeeze of the stele with the epitaph of Titus Vettius Hermes.

    Source: EDCS-05400704 (c) Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum - BBAW

Editing History

Created 2026-08-28, by Fabio Spalla
Work Status Complete
Import Notice Imported from Epigraphic Database Roma at 2024-07-25T11:00:37, ID there: EDR010483
Revisions
  1. by Unknown
    at 2024-07-25 11:00
  2. by Anna Pokorny
    at 2024-08-30 08:38
  3. by Anna Pokorny
    at 2024-08-30 08:38
  4. by Anna Pokorny
    at 2025-03-31 12:50
  5. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-16 14:15
  6. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-16 15:04
  7. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-16 15:05
  8. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-16 15:07
  9. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-16 15:13
  10. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-10-19 13:12
  11. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2026-07-29 08:52
  12. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2026-07-29 10:11
  13. by Anna Martelli
    at 2026-08-28 13:54
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