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Inscriptions: Epitaph of the freedwoman Luceia Optata by her husband Terentius Nicomedes

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Identification

Reference as: MPL02208
Title Epitaph of the freedwoman Luceia Optata by her husband Terentius Nicomedes
Trismegistos-No. 237135

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place Tarraco
Find Context Paleochristian necropolis of Tarraco, 1929.
Latitude 0.0
Longitude 0.0
Current Location Tarragona, Museo Nacional Arqueológico de Tarragona
Inventory number 166
Current Location Details
Vicinity

Object Details

Object Type slab
Material limestone
State of Preservation fragmentary (adjoining fragments)
Dimensions

width: 25.3 cm

height: 25.7 cm

depth: 3.0 cm

Letter Size in cm (min) 0.6
Letter Size in cm (max) 2.3
Execution Technique chiselled
Religion Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

  • Prose Verse PresencePraescriptum + carmen + subscriptum
    Prose Verse Distinction
    • Yes, by bigger lettering in prose
    Layout Types (Prose)
    • Centered
    • Justified
    Layout Types (Verse)
    • Justified
    Scriptio Continua in verse partyes
    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)
  • Trochaic septenarius
Rhythmisation Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

D hedera M
TERENTIVSNICOMEDES
LVCEIAEOPTATAESIVE
LIBERTAESIVEVXORI

5EGOQVOMODO.O[]VIFE
CIN[]NCILIVMMEVM
TIMESTOTAFARASHABI
TASTIMVLTIDETVOGRA
TVLATISVNTPRANDIVS
10[]MITOTOTEMPORE:
[].MVS..VI.
BMF
D(is) ((hedera)) M(anibus).
Terentius Nicomedes
Luceiae Optatae, sive
libertae sive uxori.

5Ego quomodo p̣o[t]ui fe-
ci; n[u]nc ilium meum
times. Tota faras habi-
tasti. Multi de tuo gra-
tulati sunt. Prandius
10ạḷịẹṇ[u]ṣ mi toto tempore:
[su]ṃ mus ḷẹviṣ.
B(ene) m(erenti) f(ecit).
D(is) ((hedera)) M(anibus). Terentius Nicomedes Luceiae Optatae, sive libertae sive uxori.

Ego quomodo p̣o[t]ui feci; n[u]nc ilium meum times.
Tota faras habitasti. Multi de tuo gratulati sunt.
Prandius ạḷịẹṇ[u]ṣ mi toto tempore: [su]ṃ mus ḷẹviṣ.
B(ene) m(erenti) f(ecit).
Apparatus

l.3 reg., orig. Luceiae
l.7 reg., orig. faras
l.9 reg., orig. Prandius
l.10 reg., orig. mi

Text follows CIL 2 (2nd ed.). Picture checked by Spalla 2025.

Main Translation

Translation To the Manes. Terentius Nicomedes (made this) for Luceia Optata, his wife or even his freedwoman.

- I did whatever was possible for me; now you have worries about my son!
- You spent all your time out of the house! Many could enjoy their lives at your expense.
- The whole time my luncheon was paid by others: I am a fickle rat!

He put this up for that who deserves it.
Citation Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Prosopographical Information

  • NameTerentius Nicomedes
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicator
  • NameLuceia Optata
    GenderFemale
    Legal StatusFreedman / Freedwoman
    RoleDedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Dating porposed by Alföldy (CIL 02 [2nd ed.]).

Squeeze

Have Squeeze? no

Dating

Date (From) 201 AD
Date (To) 299 AD
Date (Criteria)
  • formulae
  • palaeography

Bibliography

Images

  • Epitaph of the freedwoman Luceia Optata by her husband Terentius Nicomedes.

    Epitaph of the freedwoman Luceia Optata by her husband Terentius Nicomedes.

    Source: CLEO T27 (c) Museo Nacional Arqueológico de Tarragona, G. Jové

Editing History

Created 2025-08-06, by Fabio Spalla
Work Status Complete
Import Notice
Revisions
  1. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-08-06 10:30
  2. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-08-06 12:07
  3. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-08-06 13:01
  4. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-08-06 13:04
  5. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-08-06 13:35
  6. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-08-06 13:36
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