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Inscriptions: Epitaph of Iulia Filemation by his foster son Gaius Cottius Theodotus and his two freedwomen

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Identification

Reference as: MPL02197
Title Epitaph of Iulia Filemation by his foster son Gaius Cottius Theodotus and his two freedwomen
Trismegistos-No. 487470

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place Lugdunum
Find Context District of Saint-Just, found inside a well in the neighbourhood of Trion, 1886.
Latitude 0.0
Longitude 0.0
Current Location Lyon, Musée Gallo-Romain Lyon Fourvière
Inventory number AD328
Current Location Details
Vicinity

Object Details

Object Type altar
Material limestone
State of Preservation complete
Dimensions

width: 48.0 cm

height: 105.0 cm

depth: 38.0 cm

Letter Size in cm (min) 2.0
Letter Size in cm (max) 4.0
Execution Technique chiselled
Religion Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography Altar on pedestal with moulded base and pulvinus, topped by inscribed architrave and pediment terminating in volutes. On top of the altar, plinth with two holes on its ends, topped by lower part of lost decoration. D(is) ((ascia)) M(anibus) inscribed on pediment.
Decoration Tags
  • Architecture / Altar
  • Architecture / Moulding
  • Architecture / Pedestal
  • Architecture / Pediment
  • Architecture / architrave
  • Architecture / base
  • Architecture / pulvinus
  • Object / Ascia
  • Architecture / Plinth

Verse Layouts

  • Prose Verse PresenceProse interrupted by verse
    Prose Verse Distinction
    • No distinction
    Layout Types (Prose)
    • Centered
    • Justified
    Layout Types (Verse)
    • Justified
    Scriptio Continua in verse partno
    Abbreviations in verse partno
    Verse Line CorrespondenceNo, 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)
  • Dactylic rhythm
Rhythmisation Mixed scheme

Inscription & Translations

Pediment:
D ascia MArchitrave:
ETQVIETIAETER[]Epigraphic field:
⟦IV⟧IVLIAEFILEMATI
GCOTTIVSTHEODOTVS
5ALVMNVSPATRONAE
DVLCISSIM    AEPIEN
TISSIMAEETIVLIAASI
AETIVLIAEVTYCHIA
LIBEIVS
CVIVSFILEM͡A
10TIANIMAETSPECIENS
SIMVLETAETASDVLCIVS
MELLEFVIT
QVAEVIXI͡T
ANNLMIDXSINAEVL͡IV.
AN͡IMILAESIONEPON.
15NDCVRE͡TSVBASCDEDICA
VERVALANIMADVLCISSIMA
Pediment:
D(is) ((ascia)) M(anibus) Architrave:
et quieti aeter[nae] Epigraphic field:
⟦Iu⟧ Iuliae Filemati.
G(aius) Cottius Theodotus
5alumnus patronae
dulcissim( vac. 2)ae, pien-
tissimae, et Iulia Asi-
a et Iulia Eutychia
lib(ertae) eius.
Cuius Filem͡a-
10ti anima et specie{n}s
simul et aetas dulcius
melle fuit.
Quae vixi͡t
ann(is) L, m(ensibus) I, d(iebus) X, sin{a}e u<l>l͡iuṣ
an͡imi laesione. Ponẹ-
15nd(um) cur(averunt) e͡t sub asc(ia) dedica-
ver(unt). Val<e>, anima dulcissima.
Pediment: D(is) ((ascia)) M(anibus) Architrave: et quieti aeter[nae] Epigraphic field: ⟦Iu⟧ Iuliae Filemati. G(aius) Cottius Theodotus alumnus patronae dulcissim( vac. 2)ae, pientissimae, et Iulia Asia et Iulia Eutychia lib(ertae) eius.

Cuius Filem͡ati anima et specie{n}s simul et aetas dulcius melle fuit.
Quae vixi͡t ann(is) L, m(ensibus) I, d(iebus) X, sin{a}e u<l>l͡iuṣ an͡imi laesione. Ponẹnd(um) cur(averunt) e͡t sub asc(ia) dedicaver(unt). Val<e>, anima dulcissima.
Apparatus

Text follows CIL. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.

Main Translation

Translation Pediment:
To the Manes

Architrave:
and to the eternal rest

Epigraphic field:
of Iulia Filemation. Her foster son Gaius Cottius Theodotus and his freedwomen, Iulia Asia and Iulia Eutychia, (dedicate this) to a very sweet and devoted matron. The soul and beauty of Filemation, as well as her life, were sweeter than honey. She lived fifty years, one month and ten days without hurting anyone's feelings. They took care to set this up and dedicated it under the ascia. Farewell, sweetest soul.
Citation Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Prosopographical Information

  • NameIulia Filemation
    GenderFemale
    Age RangeAdult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
    RoleDedicatee
  • NameGaius Cottius Theodotus
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicator
  • NameIulia Asia
    GenderFemale
    Legal StatusFreedman / Freedwoman
    RoleDedicator
  • NameIulia Eutychia
    GenderFemale
    Legal StatusFreedman / Freedwoman
    RoleDedicator

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Fernández Martínez (CLEO).

Squeeze

Have Squeeze? no

Dating

Date (From) 171 AD
Date (To) 230 AD
Date (Criteria)
  • formulae

Bibliography

Images

  • Epitaph of Iulia Filemation by his foster son Gaius Cottius Theodotus and his two freedwomen.

    Epitaph of Iulia Filemation by his foster son Gaius Cottius Theodotus and his two freedwomen.

    Source: CLEO L012* (c) A. Bolaños Herrera

Editing History

Created 2025-08-06, by Fabio Spalla
Work Status Complete
Import Notice
Revisions
  1. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-07-22 09:57
  2. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-07-22 10:11
  3. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-07-22 10:39
  4. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-07-22 10:40
  5. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-07-22 10:42
  6. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-07-22 10:43
  7. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-07-22 10:44
  8. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-08-06 12:11
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