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Inscriptions: Funerary inscription dedicated by Murranus and Decria Secunda Melusa to their children

Edit This Inscription

Identification

Reference as: MPL01425
Title Funerary inscription dedicated by Murranus and Decria Secunda Melusa to their children
Trismegistos-No. 282534

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place Sulmo (Anversa degli Abruzzi)
Find Context Anversa degli Abruzzi (L'Aquila), during the construction of the railway, 1926.
Latitude 0.0
Longitude 0.0
Current Location Sulmona (L'Aquila), Museo Civico
Inventory number
Current Location Details Garden, reused in a wall of the church of the Santissima Annunziata.
Vicinity

Object Details

Object Type cippus
Material limestone
State of Preservation incomplete
Dimensions

width: 67.8 cm

height: 124.5 cm

depth: 38.9 cm
Letter Size in cm (min) 1.5
Letter Size in cm (max) 8.5
Execution Technique chiselled
Religion Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography Inscription within moulded frame, praescriptum inscribed over the top margin, l. 43 inscribed on the bottom margin, ll. 44-48 inscribed below the frame.
Decoration Tags
  • Architecture / frame

Verse Layouts

  • Prose Verse PresenceVerse interrupted by prose
    Prose Verse Distinction
    • No distinction
    • Yes, by bigger lettering in prose
    Layout Types (Prose)
    • Left aligned
    Layout Types (Verse)
    • Left aligned
    Scriptio Continua in verse partno
    Abbreviations in verse partno
    Verse Line CorrespondenceNo
    Graphic Signs and Spaces for Easier Carmen Reading
    • To separate words - Interpunction

Text

Function funerary inscription
Language(s)
  • Latin
Verse Type(s)
  • Iambic senarius
Rhythmisation Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

Top margin:
.[---]VRRANVSETDECRI[]
SE[---]ECVNDAELMELVSASIBIET[]

SALV[]IATORQVIISTACITERFACIS
SALVOTVOCORPORECONSISTEETLEGE
5INIQVITATEORCHIQVIPERAVITSAECVLA

QVODDEBVERANTFACERE
MATRIFECERVNTMISERISPATERETMATER
FILIS
DVLCISSIMISSVISQVONIAM
POTVERVNTEXSORAREDEOSVT[]

10SVISNEQVEIPSIRETINEREPOTVERVNT
ETIAMRESTITVEREHOCQVOD[]O[]V[]:

NOMINASVORVMRESTITVERVNTADSVPEROS
PRIMIGENISEVERIPVDENTIS
POTESTATISETMISERISDERELICTIS[]LIS

15QVONIAMSPERABANTSECITIVS[]SVOS

VIVISNOMINAEODEMAD

MALOFATONATIETINIQVA
QVINONPOTVERVNTANTEC
NEQVEETIAMPERSEQVITAMCITOQVAM
20IPSICVPIVNTATNVNCMISERISDESERTIS
ANATISNOSTRIS
ROGAMVSDEOSSVPEROS
ATQVEINFEROSVTLICEATNEPOTVLVM
NOSTRVMTHIASVMQVIESTNOBISDERELICTVS
EXPVDENTEFILIOINMATVRVSQVA[]SCINTILLA
25QVAEDEIGNEEXIERITMEMORIANOSTRORV͡M

EXSVPERETNOSVIVATVALEATQVAE
IPSEEXPETET
ETNVNCTEROGAMVSNEPOTVLE
NOSTERPERTVORVMMAIORVMMISERICOR
DIAMVTTVPIETATISERVIASETHOCSEPHVL
30CRVMTVORVMTVTARISET
SIQVITEROGARITQVIHOCCOMPORTARIT
DICITO:"AVVSMEVSMVRRANVSNAMIPSA
MISERIADOCETETIAMBARBAROSSCRIBERE
MISERICORDIAS"
ETNVNCROGOVOSOMN
35ESNATOSNASCENTESQVE
VTSIQVIDLAPSVS
MEPRAETERITHOMINEMBARBARVMNATV
PANNVNIVMMVLTISVLCERISETMALIS
PERTVRBATVMIGNOSCATISROGOATNV[]
INPRECAMVSDEOSVTSIQVISHOCSEPHVLCR[]
40AVTHVNCTITVLVMLAESERITIN[]
FORTVNAMALAETQVODMER[]MSIT[]
TITVLVMQVICVMQVELEGERITAVTLEGE[]Bottom margin:
ARITALLEVETILLOSFOR[]Below frame:
SVPERIORETVALEANTSEMPER[]
45QVICVMQVEINHOCTITVLOSCRI[]
QVIETIS:"SITVOBISTERRALEVIS"ET[---]
DESPERATVMQVISVPERANT[---]
TEMPOREOBITOSIT··[---]
Top margin:
C̣[---M]urranus et Decri[a]
Se[---S]ecundae l(iberta) Melusa, sibi et [suis].

Salu[to te, v]iator, qui istac iter facis
salvo tuo corpore, consiste et lege;
5iniquitate Orchi, qui perp̣ẹṛavit saecula,

quod debuerant facere f̣ịḷịị p̣ạṭṛị ẹṭ
matri, fecerunt miseri{s} pater et mater
filis
dulcissimis suis, quoniam ṇọṇ
potuerunt ex{sorare} deos ut [parcerent?]

10suis, neque ipsi retinere potuerunt, ṇẹq̣ụẹ
etiam restituere. Hoc quod [p]o[t]u[erunt]:

nomina suorum restituerunt ad superos
Primigeni, Severi, Pudentis, C̣ạṣṭị, Ḷục̣ịḷḷạẹ ẹṭ
Potestatis, et miseri{s} derelicti{s} [a fi]lis

15quoniam sperabant se citius [anteire?] suos,

vivi{s} nomina eodem adịẹc̣ẹṛụṇṭ, ḍụṃ

malo fato nati et iniqua f̣ọṛṭụṇạ
qui non potuerunt antecẹḍẹṛẹ ṣụọṣ
neque etiam persequi tam cito quam
20ipsi cupiunt. At nunc, miseri{s} deserti{s}
a natis nostris,
rogamus deos superos
atque inferos, ut liceat nepotulum
nostrum Thiasum, qui est nobis derelictus
ex Pudente filio inmaturus, qua[lis] scintilla
25quae de igne exierit, memoria nostroru͡m,

exsuperet nos, vivat, valeat, ṣịṇṭ ịḷḷị quae
ipse expetet.
Et nunc te rogamus, nepotule
noster per tuorum maiorum misericor-
diam, ut tu pietati servias, et hocsephul-
30crum tuorum tutaris. Et
si qui<s> te rogarit qui<s> hoc comportarit
dicito: "Avus meus Murranus; nam ipsa
miseria docet etiam barbaros scribere
misericordias". -
Et nunc rogo vos omn-
35es natos nascentesque,
ut si quid lapsus
me praeterit hominem barbarum natu
Pannunium, multis ulceri<bu>s et malis
perturbatum, ignoscatis rogo. At nu[nc]
inprecamus deos ut si quis hoc sephulcr[um]
40aut hunc titulum laeserit, in[tulerit, (scil. sit) illi]
fortuna mala, et quod mer[itu]m sit, [hunc]
titulum quicumque legerit, aut lege[ntem] Bottom margin:
ạụṣc̣ụḷṭarit, allevet illos for[tuna] Below frame:
superior, et valeant semper [in aeterno]
45quicumque in hoc titulo scrip̣[ta legerit (scil. verba)]
quietis: "sit vobis terra levis"; et [---]
desperatum qui superant [---]
tempore obito, sit ++[---].
Top margin: C̣[---M]urranus et Decri[a] Se[---S]ecundae l(iberta) Melusa, sibi et [suis]. -

Salu[to te, v]iator, qui istac iter facis
salvo tuo corpore, consiste et lege;
-
iniquitate Orchi, qui perp̣ẹṛavit saecula, -

quod debuerant facere f̣ịḷịị p̣ạṭṛị ẹṭ matri,
fecerunt miseri{s} pater et mater filis
-
dulcissimis suis, quoniam ṇọṇ potuerunt ex{sorare} deos ut [parcerent?] -

suis, neque ipsi retinere potuerunt,
ṇẹq̣ụẹ etiam restituere. Hoc quod [p]o[t]u[erunt]:
-
nomina suorum restituerunt ad superos Primigeni, Severi, Pudentis, C̣ạṣṭị, Ḷục̣ịḷḷạẹ ẹṭ Potestatis, et miseri{s} derelicti{s} [a fi]lis -

quoniam sperabant se citius [anteire?] suos,
-
vivi{s} nomina eodem adịẹc̣ẹṛụṇṭ, ḍụṃ -

malo fato nati et iniqua f̣ọṛṭụṇạ
qui non potuerunt antecẹḍẹṛẹ ṣụọṣ
neque etiam persequi tam cito quam ipsi cupiunt.
At nunc, miseri{s} deserti{s} a natis nostris,
-
rogamus deos superos atque inferos, ut liceat nepotulum nostrum Thiasum, qui est nobis derelictus ex Pudente filio inmaturus, qua[lis] scintilla quae de igne exierit, memoria nostroru͡m, -

exsuperet nos, vivat, valeat, ṣịṇṭ ịḷḷị quae ipse expetet.
-
Et nunc te rogamus, nepotule noster per tuorum maiorum misericordiam, ut tu pietati servias, et hocsephul-
30crum tuorum tutaris. Et si qui<s> te rogarit qui<s> hoc comportarit dicito: "Avus meus Murranus; nam ipsa miseria docet etiam barbaros scribere misericordias". -

Et nunc rogo vos omn|(35)es natos nascentesque,
ut si quid lapsus me praeterit hominem barbarum natu Pannunium, multis ulceri<bu>s et malis perturbatum, ignoscatis rogo. At nu[nc] inprecamus deos ut si quis hoc sephulcr[um] aut hunc titulum laeserit, in[tulerit, (scil. sit) illi] fortuna mala, et quod mer[itu]m sit, [hunc] titulum quicumque legerit, aut lege[ntem] Bottom margin: ạụṣc̣ụḷṭarit, allevet illos for[tuna] Below frame: superior, et valeant semper [in aeterno] quicumque in hoc titulo scrip̣[ta legerit (scil. verba)] quietis: "sit vobis terra levis"; et [---] desperatum qui superant [---] tempore obito, sit ++[---].
Apparatus

l.2 reg., orig. Melusa
l.8 reg., orig. filis
l.14 reg., orig. a filis
l.24 reg., orig. inmaturus
l.29 reg., orig. sephulcrum
l.31 reg., orig. rogarit | reg., orig. comportarit
l.37 reg., orig. Pannunium
l.39 reg., orig. inprecamus | reg., orig. sephulcrum
l.43 reg., orig. auscultarit

Text follows CIL 09.
l. 9: [parcerent], Cugusi 1996.
l. 15: [anteire], Cugusi 1996.
l. 22: nepotulum, iambic rhythm (Cugusi 1996).
l. 38: ignoscatis rogo, iambic rhythm (Cugusi 1996).

Main Translation

Translation Gaius (?) … Murranus and Decria Se … Melusa, freedwoman of Secunda, for themselves and theirs. Greetings, wayfarer, making your way around here, free from physical afflictions, pause for a moment and read this: through the injustice of Orcus, who ruined generations, father and mother had to do for their wretched, sweetest children what had been the children’s duty towards their father and mother, for they could not persuade the gods to (save them for) them, nor could they retain them themselves, nor bring them back. What they could do is to restore the names of theirs to those who inhabit the world above, the names of Primigenius, Severus, Pudens, Castus, Lucilla, and Potestas. Those wretched, abandoned by their offspring, since they had hoped to [die?] sooner [than?] their children, added their names in the same place, still alive, while, born under ill fate and unjust fortune, unable to leave before their offspring, now cannot even follow them themselves as quickly as they were hoping to. But now, we, wretched, abandoned by our children, ask the gods above and below to permit our little grandson, Thiasus, who is left to us, by our son Pudens, of immature age, like a spark that jumps from a fire, heir of our line, to outlive us: may he live, be strong, may he have whatever he himself desires. And now we ask you, our little grandson, to serve filial duty and to look after the tomb of your ancestors, and, if someone asks you who is contained in here, you shall tell: it is Murranus, my grandfather, for misery teaches even barbarians to express compassion in writing. And now I ask you all, born in the past or more recently, if some mistake or other escaped me, a barbarian man, Pannonian by birth, hurt by many a wound and evil, to forgive me. I ask: let us implore the gods that, if anyone damages this tomb or this inscription, they may thrust ill fate on such a person and whatever else is deserved; but whoever reads this inscription or listens to someone reading it out, may a more desirable fate comfort them and may they flourish forever and ever (?): whoever reads what is written in this inscription, may you find peace and may earth be light on you.
. . . . . .
Citation P. Kruschwitz

Other Translations

Prosopographical Information

  • NameMurranus
    GenderMale
    OriginForeign
    Legal StatusRoman citizen
    RoleDedicator
  • NameDecria Se[---]
    GenderFemale
    OriginUnknown
    Legal StatusRoman citizen
    RoleDedicator
  • NameMelusa
    GenderFemale
    OriginUnknown
    Legal StatusFreedman / Freedwoman
    RoleDedicator
  • NamePrimigenius
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicatee
  • NameSeverus
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicatee
  • NamePudens
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicatee
  • NameCastus
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicatee
  • NameLucilla
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicatee
  • NamePotestas
    GenderFemale
    RoleDedicatee
  • NameThiasus
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by M. Buonocore in CIL 09.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze? no

Dating

Date (From) 201 AD
Date (To) 300 AD
Date (Criteria)
  • palaeography
  • formulae
  • language

Bibliography

Images

  • Cippus dedicated by Murranus and Decria Secunda Melusa to their sons and daughters.

    Cippus dedicated by Murranus and Decria Secunda Melusa to their sons and daughters.

    (c) E. Mattiocco 1988

  • Upper part of the cippus dedicated by Murranus and Decria Secunda Melusa.

    Upper part of the cippus dedicated by Murranus and Decria Secunda Melusa.

    (c) G. Mancini 1935

  • Bottom part of the cippus dedicated by Murranus and Decria Secunda Melusa.

    Bottom part of the cippus dedicated by Murranus and Decria Secunda Melusa.

    (c) G. Mancini 1935

Editing History

Created 2025-06-06, by Eric Andreas Kunz
Work Status Confirmed
Import Notice Imported from Epigraphic Database Roma at 2024-08-22T14:44:28, ID there: EDR114466
Revisions
  1. by Unknown
    at 2024-08-22 14:44
  2. by Eric Andreas Kunz
    at 2024-10-08 10:30
  3. by Eric Andreas Kunz
    at 2024-10-08 10:31
  4. by Eric Andreas Kunz
    at 2024-10-08 10:32
  5. by Anna Pokorny
    at 2025-01-30 12:15
  6. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-16 09:54
  7. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-16 10:36
  8. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-16 10:40
  9. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-16 11:13
  10. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-23 07:56
  11. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-23 08:03
  12. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-23 08:08
  13. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-23 09:01
  14. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-23 09:11
  15. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-23 09:12
  16. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-23 09:20
  17. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-23 09:22
  18. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-05-28 14:39
  19. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-06-05 09:50
  20. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-06-05 09:51
  21. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-06-06 10:35
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