Inscriptions: Epitaph of unknown children by their parents

Identification

Reference as:	MPL02167
Title	Epitaph of unknown children by their parents
Trismegistos-No.	442213

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Narbo Martius
Find Context	Reused in a wall of the bastion of Saint-François.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	Narbonne, Musée Narbo Via
Inventory number	4022
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2167, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2167", "long_id": "MPL02167", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "------ usta igni f\u0323idissumus atro corpora quae ra\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/N136.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of unknown children by their parents"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2063, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2063", "long_id": "MPL02063", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Part A: C\u0323(aius) Of\u0323[illi]u\u0323s\u0323 C(ai) l(ibertus) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$CIL_12_05026.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription by C. Ofillius to himself, his wife, and his son"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2064, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2064", "long_id": "MPL02064", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "[M]ortua cum fueris, fati quod lege necessest, Vst\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$CIL_12_05271.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription to unknown dedicatee"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2090, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2090", "long_id": "MPL02090", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Tu, coniux miserande, duas quoi funere plagas Obt\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db-edcs-eu.uaccess.univie.ac.at/epigr/bilder/$ILGN_00579.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription by a husband to his wife"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2162, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2162", "long_id": "MPL02162", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Hospitium tibi hoc. Invitus venio. Veniundum 5est \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/N149.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription with a dialogue from Narbonne"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2164, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2164", "long_id": "MPL02164", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Nec iussa testamento neque voce rogata, sed pia 5p\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/N135.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription from Narbo Martius"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2166, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2166", "long_id": "MPL02166", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "[Sic] tibi praeterito redeat felicior annus [sem]p\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription from Narbo Martius"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2171, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2171", "long_id": "MPL02171", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "L(uci) Octavi Silvan\u0361e, bene\u0323 quiescas. Mater \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/N145.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Lucius Octavius Silvanus by his mother"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2173, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2173", "long_id": "MPL02173", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Vinicia M(arci) l(iberta) Donata. Mac\u0323[e]r\u0323i\u0323\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$CIL_12_05244.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Vinicia Donata"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2174, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2174", "long_id": "MPL02174", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "M(arcus) Careieus M(arci) l(ibertus) Asisa\u0323 p\u0323is[t\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$ILGN_00583.jpg", "title": "Epitaph by the baker Marcus Careieus Asisa for his wife and daughter"}, {"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 29, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/29", "long_id": "MPL00029", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Aeliae Aelia[nae.] Littera qui nosti, lege casum\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ensemble-1.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Aelia Aeliana"}, {"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2161, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2161", "long_id": "MPL02161", "place": "Arelate", "text": "[Caec]i\u0323[lio] N\u0323igro fa[br](o) [nav(ali)]. [Pr\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/stele-scaled.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the faber navalis Caecilius Niger"}, {"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2175, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2175", "long_id": "MPL02175", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Flebile opus matris. Natorum h\u003ci\u003ec ossa duorum con\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Memmia-1.jpg", "title": "Epitaph by Memmia Paramone to her son and daughter"}, {"coords": [43.8432, 4.35418], "id": 50, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/50", "long_id": "MPL00050", "place": "Nemausus", "text": "Hoc monimentum maesoleumque mo-nimentorum caus{s}a\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary monument of Hostilia"}, {"coords": [41.7845, 1.29031], "id": 827, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/827", "long_id": "MPL00827", "place": "Iesso", "text": "Servilla Praepusa filiae suae Lesbiae a(nnorum) XI\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Iesso \u2013 Guissona (Hispania citerior) - HD014123"}, {"coords": [41.1849, 1.20999], "id": 828, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/828", "long_id": "MPL00828", "place": "Tarraco", "text": "Ornate ea qu(a)e linqu[it specio]se vit[ae] suae r\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Inscription from Tarraco \u2013 Tarragona (Hispania citerior) - HD014575"}, {"coords": [41.1849, 1.20999], "id": 961, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/961", "long_id": "MPL00961", "place": "Tarraco", "text": "Aspice quam subito marcet quod floruit ante aspice\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Tarraco \u2013 Tarragona (Hispania citerior) - HD046493"}, {"coords": [41.1849, 1.20999], "id": 967, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/967", "long_id": "MPL00967", "place": "Tarraco", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) Aurel(iae) Paulinae filiae. O cru-\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/t11.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Aurelia Paulina"}, {"coords": [41.1849, 1.20999], "id": 973, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/973", "long_id": "MPL00973", "place": "Tarraco", "text": "Optime magnarum [antistes] cui maxima reru[m est] \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Tarraco \u2013 Tarragona (Hispania citerior) - HD050135"}, {"coords": [41.3888, 2.15899], "id": 979, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/979", "long_id": "MPL00979", "place": "Barcino", "text": "[Ni]grinus X[---annorum] caeliti co[etu dignus] to\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Barcino \u2013 Barcelona (Hispania citerior) - HD050807"}, {"coords": [41.3888, 2.15899], "id": 980, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/980", "long_id": "MPL00980", "place": "Barcino", "text": "[Levis te vehat] unda et rade po[ntum magnum]", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Barcino \u2013 Barcelona (Hispania citerior) - HD050808"}, {"coords": [41.5347, 2.08222], "id": 944, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/944", "long_id": "MPL00944", "place": "Sant Quirze del Vall\u00e8s", "text": "Felici misero p(o)enarum pondera pelle XP(Christ)\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Votive inscription from S. Quirze de la Serra (Hispania citerior) - HD042072"}, {"coords": [44.1368, 4.80792], "id": 2074, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2074", "long_id": "MPL02074", "place": "Arausio", "text": "Amo te.", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fibula with love dedication from Arausio"}]

Object Details

Object Type	slab
Material	limestone
State of Preservation	incomplete
Dimensions	width: 61.0 cm height: 59.0 cm depth: 14.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	3.5
Letter Size in cm (max)	5.0
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence	Carmen
Layout Types (Verse)	Left aligned
Scriptio Continua in verse part	no
Abbreviations in verse part	no
Verse Line Correspondence	No
Graphic Signs and Spaces for Easier Carmen Reading	To separate words - Interpunction

Text

Function	funerary inscription
Language(s)	Latin
Verse Type(s)	Elegiac couplet
Rhythmisation	Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

------
VSTAIGNI.IDISSVMVSATRO
CORPORAQVAERAPVIT
CONDIDITHOCTVMVLO
NECSIBINECMATRINATOS
5AETASSVAPLORAT:BISSENOS
ANNOSNONHABVERESVPRA
.ETERRAALIENAIGNOTICVM
NOMINEOBISSENTHICTITVLV[]
PARVOPROLOQVITVR[]

------
usta igni f̣idissumus atro
corpora quae rapuit
condidit hoc tumulo.
Nec sibi nec matri natos
5aetas sua plorat: bis senos
annos non habuere supra.
Ṇe terra aliena ignoti cum
nomine obissent, hic titulu[s]
parvo proloquitur [lapide].

------ usta igni f̣idissumus atro
corpora quae rapuit condidit hoc tumulo.
Nec sibi nec matri natos aetas sua plorat:
bis senos annos non habuere supra.
Ṇe terra aliena ignoti cum nomine obissent,
hic titulu[s] parvo proloquitur [lapide].

Apparatus

l.1 reg., orig. fidissumus
l.6 reg., orig. habuere

Text follows CIL 12 and CLE 01073. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.
l. 1: [libertus comb]usta, Cholodniak, Häusle. [si custos pater] usta, CLE 02119.

Main Translation

Translation	... these burnt bodies, which he most faithfully took away from the gloomy pyre, he buried in this grave, not made for himself nor for their mother. His age brings him to mourn children who do not belong to him nor to their mother: they had no more than twice six years of age. This epitaph on a small stone tells of them, so that they may not fall into oblivion, unknown by their name in a foreign land.
Citation	Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Der Freigelassene, auf den man sich ganz verlassen konnte, hat die verbrannten Leiber, die er dem unheilschaffenden Feuer entrissen hat, in diesem Grabe geborgen. Weder ihm noch der Mutter Geborene beklagt ihr (jugendliches) Alter; haben sie doch nicht mehr als zweimal sechs Jahre gehabt. Auf daß sie nicht auf fremder Erde unbekannt zusammen mit ihrem Namen untergegangen seien, spricht hier von ihnen die Inschrift auf dem kleinen Stein. (German, H. Häusle)
*** los cuerpos quemados de ambos que el fidelísimo padre arrancó del funesto fuego, los enterró en esta tumba. Ni a él ni a la madre su propia edad les hace llorar a sus hijos, sino el hecho de que no han podido llegar a cumplir más de doce años. Y para que no se vean muertos en tierra ajena y con un nombre desconocido, este epitafio en una pequeña lápida os habla de ellos. (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez (nr. 1073))
[así el padre, protegiéndolos con todo cuidado], enterró en esta tumba los restos quemados que rescató del terrible fuego. Su breve existencia le hace derramar lágrimas por unos hijos que ya no son suyos ni de su madre, que no han llegado a tener más de doce años. Y para que no se extingan junto con su nombre, sin que nadie los conozca en una tierra extraña, este epitafio lo pregona en una modesta lápida. (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez (nr. 2119))
(le père, protecteur) très fidèle, a enseveli dans ce tombeau les corps brûlés qu'il a arrachés au feu noir. Son âge pleure ses enfants (qui n'existent plus) ni pour lui ni pour leur mère, ils n'avaient pas plus de douze ans. Pour que dans une terre d' autrui ils ne meurent pas inconnus avec (en même temps que) leur nom, cette inscription sur une petite pierre (vous) parle. (French , M. J. Pena)
[...] los cuerpos calcinados que fidelísimo arrancó de la pira oscura, los ocultó en este túmulo, ni para él ni para su madre. Su edad llora a sus hijos: no tenían más de dos veces seis años. Para que no desaparecieran, desconocidos en tierra extraña, junto con su nombre, esta inscripción los proclama en un modesta piedra. (Spanish, H. Belloc)

Prosopographical Information

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by O. Hirschfeld.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

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

Bibliography

CIL 12, 05276
CLE 01073
CLE 02119
J. Cholodniak, Carmina sepulcralia latina epigraphica, Petersburg 1904, 291, nr. 820. 🔗 link
H. Häusle, Das Denkmal als Garant des Nachruhms. Beiträge zur Geschichte und Thematik eines Motivs in lateinischen Inschriften, Munich 1980, 66-67, nr. 20 (with German translation) 🔗 link
C. Fernández Martínez, Poesía epigráfica latina I, Madrid 1998, 494-495, nr. 1073 (Spanish translation) 🔗 link
C. Fernández Martínez, Poesía epigráfica latina II, Madrid 1999, 320, nr. 2119 (Spanish translation) 🔗 link
É. Dellong, Carte archéologique de la Gaule 11.1: Narbonne et le Narbonnais, Paris 2003, 218, nr. 5.37. 🔗 link
M. Pena, Sur quelques carmina epigraphica de Narbonnaise, Rev. Arch. Narb. 1 36 (2003), 427-428, nr. 1.2 (with French translation) - AE 2003 🔗 link
AE 2003, 01071
E. Castelli, Titulus. Un contributo alla storia della parola nel mondo romano, Tyche 31 (2016), 65. 🔗 link
CLEO N136 (with Spanish translation) 🔗 link
EDCS-09302427 🔗 link
MQDQ (CLE 01073) 🔗 link
MQDQ (CLE 02119) 🔗 link

Images

Editing History

Created	2025-06-09, by Fabio Spalla
Work Status	Confirmed
Import Notice

Revisions

by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-06-06 09:12
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-06-06 10:13
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-06-06 12:09
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-06-06 12:12
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-06-06 12:29
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-06-09 13:46

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