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Inscriptions: Funerary altar of Logismus by his patron Rufinus

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Identification

Reference as: MPL01997
Title Funerary altar of Logismus by his patron Rufinus
Trismegistos-No. 510392

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place Ferentinum
Find Context Viterbo, Roccalvecce area, in a land plot near the Giardino district.
Latitude 0.0
Longitude 0.0
Current Location
Inventory number
Current Location Details Viterbo, Roccalvecce area, garden of the Costaguti castle.
Vicinity

Object Details

Object Type altar
Material marble
State of Preservation incomplete
Dimensions

width: 36.5 cm

height: 70.0 cm

depth: 27.0 cm

Letter Size in cm (min) 3.5
Letter Size in cm (max) 7.0
Execution Technique chiselled
Religion Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography Moulded frame between praescriptum and poem. The upper part of the altar is jutting out.
Decoration Tags
  • Architecture / frame

Verse Layouts

  • Prose Verse PresencePraescriptum + carmen
    Prose Verse Distinction
    • Yes, by bigger lettering in prose
    • Yes, by vacat
    Layout Types (Prose)
    • Justified
    Layout Types (Verse)
    • Justified
    Scriptio Continua in verse partno
    Abbreviations in verse partno
    Verse Line CorrespondenceNo, just uses all available space

Text

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

Inscription & Translations

Above the frame:
RVFINVS
LOGISMOLIB
     vacat Below the frame:

EPONTOMIHIGEN[]
ARTEMDOCVITME
5MVSATERPSICHOR[]
VIXIVICENNI
TEMPORISAEVO
DVMMIHIVITAFVIT
DVMFATADEVSQVE
10SINEBANT
VNIACEO[]
------
Above the frame:
Rufinus
Logismo, lib(erto).
( vac. ) Below the frame:

E Ponto mihi gen[s],
artem docuit me
5Musa Terpsichor[e].
Vixi vicenni
temporis aevo,
dum mihi vita fuit,
dum fata deusque
10sinebant.
Ṇunc̣ iaceo [⁦ - - - ⁩]
------
Above the frame:
Rufinus Logismo, lib(erto).
( vac. ) Below the frame:

E Ponto mihi gen[s], artem docuit me Musa
Terpsichor[e]. Vixi vicenni temporis aevo,
dum mihi vita fuit, dum fata deusque sinebant.
Ṇunc̣ iaceo [⁦ - - - ⁩]
------
Apparatus

Text follows T. Rovidotti 2002. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.
ll. 9-10: "dum fata deusque sinebant" echoes Vergil, Aen. VI.651.

Main Translation

Translation Above the frame:
Rufinus made this for Logismus, his freedman.

Below the frame:
I came from Ponthus, the Muse Therpsichore taught me her art. I live for the time of twenty years, when I was alive, when destiny and the gods allowed it. Now I lie here...
Citation Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Prosopographical Information

  • NameRufinus
    GenderMale
    OriginNative
    Legal StatusRoman citizen
    RoleDedicator
  • NameLogismus
    GenderMale
    Age RangeSubadult (13–20) [expression: Non-canonical, precision: high]
    OriginForeign
    Legal StatusFreedman / Freedwoman
    RoleDedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by T. Rovidotti 2002. The two parts have been recorded as separate in CIL XI. CIL XI 7470 above the frame, CIL XI 7476 below the frame. The findspot remains uncertain, with both Ferentium and Volsinii considered plausible.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze? no

Dating

Date (From) 1 AD
Date (To) 30 AD
Date (Criteria)
  • palaeography

Bibliography

Images

  • (c) T. Rovidotti 2002

Editing History

Created 2025-05-05, by Anna Pokorny
Work Status Confirmed
Import Notice Imported from Epigraphic Database Roma at 2024-08-29T13:59:14, ID there: EDR180999
Revisions
  1. by Unknown
    at 2024-08-29 13:59
  2. by Anna Pokorny
    at 2024-11-11 12:38
  3. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-02 16:04
  4. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-05-02 16:07
  5. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-05-05 11:45
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