Inscriptions: Epitaph of Sempronia by her husband Sextus Pompeius Apelles

Identification

Reference as:	MPL02194
Title	Epitaph of Sempronia by her husband Sextus Pompeius Apelles
Trismegistos-No.	437795

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Arelate
Find Context	FIrst seen in the church of Saint-Georges-le-Fabregolier, 17th century.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	Arles, Musée départemental Arles antique
Inventory number
Current Location Details	Depot.
Vicinity	[{"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2194, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2194", "long_id": "MPL02194", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Architrave: D\u0323(is) M\u0323(anibus). Epigraphic fiel\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ensemble-debout.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Sempronia by her husband Sextus Pompeius Apelles"}, {"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": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2179, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2179", "long_id": "MPL02179", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Tabula handles:D(is) M(anibus). Tabula: O do\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Iulia Lucina"}, {"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2180, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2180", "long_id": "MPL02180", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Spen\u0361d\u0361onti, C(aii) Stati\u003ci\u003e Patercli, Q(uintus) S\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/DSC_0660-scaled.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the slave Spendo by Quintus Statius Murranus"}, {"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2181, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2181", "long_id": "MPL02181", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Vitalis M(arci) Verati\u003ci\u003e Clari (scil. servus) ann\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ensemble.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the child slave Vitalis"}, {"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2182, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2182", "long_id": "MPL02182", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Quat valeas \u003ch\u003eabeas pascas mul-tos tu habeb\u2e22i\u2e23s a\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ensemble-net.jpg", "title": "Anonymous epitaph from Arelate"}, {"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2184, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2184", "long_id": "MPL02184", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Severo Rom[u]la ((hedera)) m\u0361a-ter. Hoc pietat\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/DSC00002-3b.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Severus by his mother Romula"}, {"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2192, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2192", "long_id": "MPL02192", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Iacet sub hoc signino dulcissima Secundilla, que r\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Secundilla"}, {"coords": [43.8432, 4.35418], "id": 2193, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2193", "long_id": "MPL02193", "place": "Nemausus", "text": "Hoc monimentum maesoleumque mo-nimentorum caus{s}a\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph dedicated by Hostilia"}, {"coords": [43.8432, 4.35418], "id": 2195, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2195", "long_id": "MPL02195", "place": "Nemausus", "text": "[------?] [--- p]atroni famam barbar[---] cuius \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Testamentary inscription of a jurisconsult"}, {"coords": [44.2404, 5.07335], "id": 806, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/806", "long_id": "MPL00806", "place": "Vasio Vocontiorum", "text": "Front \u03b5\u1f30\u03b8\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f7b\u03c7\u03b7\u03c2 \u0392\u1f75\u03bb\u1ff3 \u03a3\u1f73\u03be\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b8\u1f73\u03c4\u03bf \u03b2\u03c9-\u03bc\u1f79\u03bd,\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db-edcs-eu.uaccess.univie.ac.at/epigr/bilder/$CIL_12_01277_1.jpg", "title": "Votive inscription by Sextus on an altar to Belus"}, {"coords": [44.7524, 5.37041], "id": 848, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/848", "long_id": "MPL00848", "place": "Dea Augusta Vocontiorum", "text": "[D(is) M(anibus)] G(ai) Iuli Ica[ri?] G(aius) Iuli\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Dea Augusta Vocontiorum \u2013 Die (Narbonensis) - HD018851"}, {"coords": [43.4413, 5.37884], "id": 955, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/955", "long_id": "MPL00955", "place": "Cabri\u00e8s", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069]lli[---] amisisse [dole?]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Cabri\u00e8s (Narbonensis) - HD045453"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2063, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2063", "long_id": "MPL02063", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Part A: C\u0323(aius) Of\u0323[illi]u\u0323s\u0323 C(ai) l(ibertus) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$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": 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": 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": [45.5242, 4.87325], "id": 2093, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2093", "long_id": "MPL02093", "place": "Vienna", "text": "((palma)) ((columba)) ((chi-rho)) ((columba)) ((pa\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$RICG_15_00039.jpg", "title": "Christian funerary inscription for Foedula"}, {"coords": [45.5242, 4.87325], "id": 2198, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2198", "long_id": "MPL02198", "place": "Vienna", "text": "D(is) [M(anibus)] Aspice, praeteriens, mo[nume\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph with acrostic from Vienne"}, {"coords": [44.1368, 4.80792], "id": 2074, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2074", "long_id": "MPL02074", "place": "Arausio", "text": "Amo te.", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fibula with love dedication from Arausio"}, {"coords": [43.8766, 5.39368], "id": 2083, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2083", "long_id": "MPL02083", "place": "Apta Iulia", "text": "[Dis in]fernis memoriaeq(ue) semper habendae H[ipp\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db-edcs-eu.uaccess.univie.ac.at/epigr/bilder/$ILN-04_00032_1.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription to Hippodamia by her husband"}, {"coords": [43.5262, 5.44541], "id": 2160, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2160", "long_id": "MPL02160", "place": "Aquae Sextiae", "text": "Front: Paulo siste gradum, iuven\u0361is pie, quaeso\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$ILN-03_00041_1.jpg", "title": "Altar with epitaph of Sextus Iulius Felicissimus"}, {"coords": [45.5326, 4.86261], "id": 2163, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2163", "long_id": "MPL02163", "place": "Saint-Romain-en-Gal", "text": "Aetherius moriens dixit: \"Hic condite corpus, terr\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Aetherius"}]

Object Details

Object Type	altar
Material	marble
State of Preservation	complete
Dimensions	width: 60.0 cm height: 99.0 cm depth: 52.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	1.2
Letter Size in cm (max)	2.2
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography	Altar with moulded base and pulvinus, topped by architrave with praescritpum D(is) M(anibus) and pediment terminating in volutes. On pediment, doves eating fruit. Rosette on right volute preserved, rosette on left volute lost.
Decoration Tags	Animal / dove Architecture / Altar Architecture / Moulding Architecture / Pediment Architecture / Rosette Architecture / architrave Architecture / base Architecture / volute Plant / Fruit

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence	Praescriptum + carmen + postscriptum
Prose Verse Distinction	Yes, by bigger lettering in prose Yes, by different layout
Layout Types (Prose)	Centered Justified
Layout Types (Verse)	Justified Left aligned
Scriptio Continua in verse part	no
Abbreviations in verse part	no
Verse Line Correspondence	No, just uses all available space
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

Architrave:
..

Epigraphic field:

DEBITACONIVGIOAPELLESPIACARMINASCR͡IBIT
QVAMRAPVITMORSINIMICAVIRO
HAECDEBENTMEMORESPOSTREMAINMORTERE
5FERRE:OREQVIEMGRATAMQVAMPIACV
RADICAT[···]IVGISOFFICIVMTESTATVRCA
MINEPA[]EX[]MVMQVETIBIREFERO
MVNV[]ONIADVLCISCASTAVIRORE[]
RENS[]ELISTOTDAMNAAMISSA
10CONIVGE[]LAPISOBTESTORLE
VITERSVPER[]QVIESCASETMEDIAE
AETATINEGRAVISESS.VELIS

SEXPOMPEIVSAPELLESCONIVGI͡NCOMP

Architrave:
Ḍ(is) Ṃ(anibus).

Epigraphic field:

Debita coniugio Apelles pia carmina scr͡ibit,
quam rapuit mors inimica viro.
Haec debent memores postrema in morte re-
5ferre: o requiem gratam quam pia cu-
ra dicat. [. c. 3. Co]ṇiugis officium testatur caṛ-
mine pa[rvo], ex[tre]mumque tibi refero
munu[s, Sempr]onia dulcis, casta viro, re[ve-]
rens, [pia, kara, fid]elis. Tot damna amissa
10coniuge ị[ure fleo]. [T]ẹ, lapis, obtestor, le-
viter super [ossa] quiescas et mediae
aetati ne gravis essẹ velis.

Sex(tus) Pompeius Apelles coniug(i) i͡ncomp(arabili).

Architrave: Ḍ(is) Ṃ(anibus).

Epigraphic field:

Debita coniugio Apelles pia carmina scr͡ibit,
quam rapuit mors inimica viro.
Haec debent memores postrema in morte referre:
o requiem gratam quam pia cura dicat.
[. c. 3. Co]ṇiugis officium testatur caṛmine pa[rvo],
ex[tre]mumque tibi refero munu[s, Sempr]onia
dulcis, casta viro, re[ve]rens, [pia, kara, fid]elis.
Tot damna amissa coniuge ị[ure fleo].
[T]ẹ, lapis, obtestor, leviter super [ossa] quiescas
et mediae aetati ne gravis essẹ velis.

Sex(tus) Pompeius Apelles coniug(i) i͡ncomp(arabili).

Apparatus

l.9 reg., orig. kara

Text follows CIL 12. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.

ll. 4-5: Haec debent memores postrema in morte referre, echoing Verg. Aen. 10.491: Arcades, haec inquit memores mea dicta referte; 11.176: vadite et haec memores regi mandata referte, Hoogma.
ll. 7-8: refero munu[s Sempr]o[nia d]ulcis, CIL. munus amans refero, to obtain a pentameter, CLE.

Main Translation

Translation	Architrave: To the Manes. Apelles writes these duly devoted verses to his wife, whom hostile death snatched away form her husband. Those who remember her must repeat these verses back to her in her death: "O what pleasing rest he delivers to her with duitiful diligence!" My duty as a husband is witnessed by this brief poem, and I deliver to you my last gift, sweet Sempronia, virtuous towards her husband, respectful, devoted, beloved, faithful. I have every right to lament such great pain for my lost wife. I beg you, stone, to rest lightly on her bones, that you may not be heavy upon her middle age. Sextus Pompeius Apelles (made this) for his incomparable wife.
Citation	Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Apeles escribe estos emotivos versos dedicados a su pareja, a quien la muerte enemiga apartó de su marido. Quienes la recuerdan, deben recitar estos últimos versos a la hora de su muerte: joh, qué placentero descanso le ha procurado su ejemplar cuidado! Mi deber de esposo queda claro en este breve poema y te envío mi último homenaje, querida Sempronia, intachable con tu esposo, respetuosa, cariñosa, entrañable, fiel: lloro con justicia tantos daños sufridos al haber perdido a mi esposa. Y a ti, lápida, te ruego que descanses ingrávida sobre sus huesos, para no resultarle pesada a su lo mediana edad. (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez)

Prosopographical Information

Name Sempronia
Gender Female
Age Range Adult (21–60) [expression: Non-canonical, precision: low]
Role Dedicatee
Name Sextus Pompeius Apelles
Gender Male
Role Dedicator

Name	Sempronia
Gender	Female
Age Range	Adult (21–60) [expression: Non-canonical, precision: low]
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Sextus Pompeius Apelles
Gender	Male
Role	Dedicator

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Hirschfeld.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	101 AD
Date (To)	200 AD
Date (Criteria)	palaeography

Bibliography

CIL 12, 00861
CLE 01192
J. Cholodniak, Carmina sepulcralia latina epigraphica, Petersburg 1904, 104-105, nr. 283. 🔗 link
J. Zarker, Studies in the Carmina Latina Epigraphica, Princeton 1958, 92-93. 🔗 link
R. P. Hoogma, Der Einfluss Vergils auf die Carmina Latina epigraphica. Eine Studie mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der metrisch-technischen Grundsätze der Entlehnung, Amsterdam 1959, 124. 🔗 link
C. Fernández Martínez, Poesía epigráfica latina II, Madrid 1999, 27, nr. 1192 (Spanish translation of the elegiac couplets) 🔗 link
M. Rothé, M. Heijmans, Carte archéologique de la Gaule 13.5: Arles, Crau, Camargue, Paris 2008, 313. 🔗 link
CLEO N033 🔗 link
EDCS-08401482 🔗 link
MQDQ 🔗 link

Images

Epitaph of Sempronia by her husband Sextus Pompeius Apelles.
Source: CLEO N033 (c) Centre Camille Jullian

Editing History

Created	2025-07-16, by Fabio Spalla
Work Status	Complete
Import Notice

Revisions

by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-16 15:20
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-16 15:54
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-16 16:11
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-16 16:14
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-16 16:15
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-07-16 19:01
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-07-16 19:05
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-07-16 19:07

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