Inscriptions: Epitaph of Iulia Filemation by his foster son Gaius Cottius Theodotus and his two freedwomen
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 |
|
Verse Layouts
-
Prose Verse Presence Prose interrupted by verse Prose Verse Distinction - No distinction
Layout Types (Prose) - Centered
- Justified
Layout Types (Verse) - Justified
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) |
|
| Verse Type(s) |
|
| Rhythmisation | Mixed scheme |
Inscription & Translations
Pediment:
D ascia MArchitrave:
ETQVIETIAETER[]Epigraphic field:
⟦IV⟧IVLIAEFILEMATI
GCOTTIVSTHEODOTVS
5ALVMNVSPATRONAE
DVLCISSIM AEPIEN
TISSIMAEETIVLIAASI
AETIVLIAEVTYCHIA
LIBEIVSQVAEVIXI͡T
ANNLMIDXSINAEVL͡IV.
AN͡IMILAESIONEPON.
15NDCVRE͡TSVBASCDEDICA
VERVALANIMADVLCISSIMA
D ascia MArchitrave:
ETQVIETIAETER[]Epigraphic field:
⟦IV⟧IVLIAEFILEMATI
GCOTTIVSTHEODOTVS
5ALVMNVSPATRONAE
DVLCISSIM AEPIEN
TISSIMAEETIVLIAASI
AETIVLIAEVTYCHIA
LIBEIVS
CVIVSFILEM͡A
10TIANIMAETSPECIENS
SIMVLETAETASDVLCIVS
MELLEFVIT
10TIANIMAETSPECIENS
SIMVLETAETASDVLCIVS
MELLEFVIT
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. 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.
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.
10ti anima et specie{n}s
simul et aetas dulcius
melle fuit.
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.
Cuius Filem͡ati anima et specie{n}s simul et aetas dulcius melle fuit.
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
- Aux dieuy Mânes et au repos éternel de Julia Filematium; Gaius Cottius Theodotus, son alumnus, et Julia Asia et Julia Eutychia, ses affranchies, à leur patronne excellente et bien-aimée, dont le caractère, la beauté, l'âge étaient plus doux que le miel. Elle a vécu cinquante ans, un mois et dix jours, sans avoir jamais fait à personne aucune peine. Ils lui ont élevé ce tombeau et l'ont dédié sous l'ascia. - Adieu, âme chérie! (French , A. Allmer, P. Dissard)
- A los dioses Manes y al descanso eterno de Julia Filemation. Gayo Cottio Teodoto, su pupilo, Julia Asia y Julia Eutiquia, sus libertas, para su dulcísima y piadosísima patrona, cuya alma y aspecto, tanto como su vida, fueron más dulces que la miel. Ella vivió 50 años, un mes y 10 días, sin causar daño a ni una sola persona; se ocuparon de que se hiciese (esta tumba) y la dedicaron bajo el ascia. Adiós, alma dulcísima. (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez, CLEO L012*)
Prosopographical Information
-
Name Iulia Filemation Gender Female Age Range Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high] Role Dedicatee -
Name Gaius Cottius Theodotus Gender Male Role Dedicator -
Name Iulia Asia Gender Female Legal Status Freedman / Freedwoman Role Dedicator -
Name Iulia Eutychia Gender Female Legal Status Freedman / Freedwoman Role Dedicator
Further Information
Comment
Dating proposed by Fernández Martínez (CLEO).
Squeeze
| Have Squeeze? | no |
|---|
Dating
| Date (From) | 171 AD |
|---|---|
| Date (To) | 230 AD |
| Date (Criteria) |
|
Bibliography
- CIL 13, 02180
- CLEGall 00073
- A. Allmer, Revue épigraphique. Inscriptions 663 à 672, Rev. Ep. 2, 45 (1887), 294-295, nr. 672 (with French translation) 🔗 link
- A. Allmer, P. Dissard, Musée de Lyon. Inscriptions antiques, Vol. 3, Lyon 1890, 283-286, nr. 328 (with French translation) 🔗 link
- F. Bérard, Dulcius melle. À propos de quelques épitaphes lyonnaises. In: J. Champeaux (ed.), M. Chassignet (ed.), Aere perennius. Hommage à Hubert Zehnacker, Paris 2006, 23-37. 🔗 link
- A. Le Mer, C. Chomer, Carte archéologique de la Gaule 69.2: Lyon, Paris 2007, 615. 🔗 link
- N. Brancato, Una componente trasversale nella società romana: gli alumni. Inscriptiones latinae ad alumnos pertinentes commentariumque, Roma 2015, 23, nr. 21. 🔗 link
- C. Fernández Martínez, CLE de las Galias: estado de la cuestión y avances para la edición de CIL XVIII/3. In: F. Beutler (ed.), Th. Pantzer (ed.), Sprachen – Schriftkulturen – Identitäten der Antike. Beiträge des XV. Internationalen Kongresses für Griechische und Lateinische Epigraphik, Wien 28. August bis 1. September 2017: Einzelvorträge, Wiener Beiträge zur Alten Geschichte online (WBAGon), Vol. 1, Vienna 2019, 6-7 (with photo, 7, fig. 7) 🔗 link
- CLEO L012* (with Spanish translation) 🔗 link
- EDCS-10501137 🔗 link
Images
Editing History
| Created | 2025-08-06, by Fabio Spalla |
|---|---|
| Work Status | Complete |
| Import Notice |
Revisions
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by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-22 09:57 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-22 10:11 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-22 10:39 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-22 10:40 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-22 10:42 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-22 10:43 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-07-22 10:44 -
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-08-06 12:11
