Inscriptions: Epitaph of the freed couple Marcus Helvius Marsua and Mallia Galla

Identification

Reference as:	MPL02221
Title	Epitaph of the freed couple Marcus Helvius Marsua and Mallia Galla
Trismegistos-No.	241056

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Emerita Augusta
Find Context	First seen in the church of Don Juan de Écija, then in the church of Don Pedro del Barco, next to the monastery of San Francisco.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	unknown
Inventory number
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"coords": [38.9161, -6.3401], "id": 2221, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2221", "long_id": "MPL02221", "place": "Emerita Augusta", "text": "M(arcus) Helvius, (mulieris) lib(ertus), Mar-sua, \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the freed couple Marcus Helvius Marsua and Mallia Galla"}, {"coords": [38.9161, -6.3401], "id": 2225, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2225", "long_id": "MPL02225", "place": "Emerita Augusta", "text": "Iulia C(ai) f(ilia) Anulla hic sita est, fato p\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$Edmondson-2021_00007.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Iulia Anulla and of the freedwoman Candilia Iucunda by the freedman Lucius Iulius Felix"}, {"coords": [38.9191, -6.33871], "id": 2229, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2229", "long_id": "MPL02229", "place": "Emerita Augusta", "text": "M(arco) Cornelio M(arci) f(ilio) Pap(iria) Pollio[\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://cil2digital.web.uah.es/images/editores/directorio-epigrafias/607-CILAE/CILAE_607.2_H._Gimeno.JPG", "title": "Epitaph of Marcus Cornelius Pollio, Marcus Cornelius Urbanus and Marcus Cornelius Celer by the freedwoman Cornelia Iucunda"}, {"coords": [37.3827, -5.99629], "id": 246, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/246", "long_id": "MPL00246", "place": "Hispalis", "text": "Nome vixit anno et mensibus VIII diebus XII h(ic) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for Nome"}, {"coords": [37.3621, -6.67894], "id": 801, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/801", "long_id": "MPL00801", "place": "Ilipula", "text": "Terrenum corpus caelestis spiritus in me quo repen\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Fabatus"}, {"coords": [37.4742, -4.42594], "id": 802, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/802", "long_id": "MPL00802", "place": "Igabrum", "text": "[--?]N(?)atius L(uci) [f(ilius)---] [flame]n sacro\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Igabrum, bei \u2013 Fuente de las Piedras (Baetica) - HD001212"}, {"coords": [37.5409, -5.07995], "id": 810, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/810", "long_id": "MPL00810", "place": "Astigi", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] [---]ri(?) aliis(?) [iam\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Astigi \u2013 \u00c9cija (Baetica) - HD002943"}, {"coords": [37.5409, -5.07995], "id": 882, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/882", "long_id": "MPL00882", "place": "Astigi", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] sic nam memor[---] studi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Astigi, bei \u2013 \u00c9cija, bei (Baetica) - HD031994"}, {"coords": [37.5409, -5.07995], "id": 883, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/883", "long_id": "MPL00883", "place": "Astigi", "text": "L(ucius) Petronius L(ucii) f(ilius) Primus hic sit\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Lucius Petronius Primus by his wife"}, {"coords": [37.6886, -4.4796], "id": 813, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/813", "long_id": "MPL00813", "place": "Soricaria", "text": "T\u0323[e], l\u0323apis, obtestor, le-vite\u0323r\u0323 super ossa\u0323 re\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/co3.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the slave Graeca by her husband Iacchus and an anonymous dedicator"}, {"coords": [38.4751, -4.67948], "id": 814, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/814", "long_id": "MPL00814", "place": "Solia", "text": "[Me donec vivam dolor excruci]abit acerbu[s] [stir\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Solia, bei \u2013 Fuencaliente (Baetica) - HD003968"}, {"coords": [37.2245, -5.31238], "id": 2223, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2223", "long_id": "MPL02223", "place": "Carula", "text": "Firma ((hedera)) Epaphroditi ann(orum) ((hedera)) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Firma"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 819, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/819", "long_id": "MPL00819", "place": "Urso", "text": "Fabia Ianuaria, ann(orum) XXV, pia in suis.- Qui\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://centrocil.web.uah.es/fotos_cilii/5/cilii5,01118.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Fabia Ianuaria by her patron Fabius Venustus"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 820, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/820", "long_id": "MPL00820", "place": "Urso", "text": "Ferraria T(iti) f(ilia) Iu[---ann(orum)] XVI h(ic)\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Urso \u2013 Osuna (Baetica) - HD006398"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 878, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/878", "long_id": "MPL00878", "place": "Urso", "text": "------ C(ai) l(ibertus) Faustus, XX ann(orum), h(\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the freedman Faustus"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 880, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/880", "long_id": "MPL00880", "place": "Urso", "text": "Valeria [. l(iberta?) Crene], an(norum) XL, p(ia) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/se18.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Valeria Crene"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 881, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/881", "long_id": "MPL00881", "place": "Urso", "text": "------ L(- - -) L(- - -). XX tecum transfers non\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph to an unknown dedicatee from Urso"}, {"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 821, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/821", "long_id": "MPL00821", "place": "Corduba", "text": "Column A: [--- n]o\u0323verat unum [---]t et pia nutri\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/co15.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Festus"}, {"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 2205, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2205", "long_id": "MPL02205", "place": "Corduba", "text": "T(itus) Acclenus T(iti) f(ilius) Qui(rina) cent(ur\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$MS_CIL_02-07_00287.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Titus Acclenus, Annia Helena and Decimus Vergilius Amarantus"}, {"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 2210, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2210", "long_id": "MPL02210", "place": "Corduba", "text": "Nominibus cunctis digno laudata p\u0323u\u0323d\u0323[ore] Servil\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/co9.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Servilia from Corduba"}, {"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 2217, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2217", "long_id": "MPL02217", "place": "Corduba", "text": "Ac\u0323tius mur(millo), ((hedera)) vic(it) VI, an(n)o(\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/co11.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the gladiator Actius by his wife"}, {"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 2236, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2236", "long_id": "MPL02236", "place": "Corduba", "text": "Hirria, L(uci) f(ilia), Pa[---] hic sita est, ann[\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Hirria and of the freedwoman Petilia Marta"}, {"coords": [37.4481, -6.36364], "id": 874, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/874", "long_id": "MPL00874", "place": "Tucci", "text": "Caesia T(iti) f(ilia) Celsa an(norum) LXV h(ic) s(\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Tucci, bei \u2013 Torredelcampo (Baetica) - HD029284"}, {"coords": [38.6193, -7.40856], "id": 958, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/958", "long_id": "MPL00958", "place": "S. Miguel da Mota", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069]ir[o [---]] [---fa]ma per\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Inscription from S. Miguel da Mota (Lusitania) - HD045630"}, {"coords": [37.7073, -5.34643], "id": 2218, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2218", "long_id": "MPL02218", "place": "Celti", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum). Atimeti lib(erta) Fabia \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/se23.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Fabia Merope"}]

Object Details

Object Type	slab
Material	marble
State of Preservation	fragmentary (adjoining fragments)
Dimensions	width: 55.7 cm height: 83.6 cm depth: unknown
Letter Size in cm (min)	0.0
Letter Size in cm (max)	0.0
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Unknown

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

Text

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

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

MHELVIVS mulieris LIBMAR
SVAANNLXMALLIA mulieris
LIBGALLAVXORANN
XXXXIHSS

SVTL

5TVQVICARPISITERGRESSV
PROPERANTEVIATORSISTE
GRADVQVAESOQVODPETOPARVA
MORAEST

OROVTPRAETERIENS
DICAS:STTL

M(arcus) Helvius, (mulieris) lib(ertus), Mar-
sua, ann(orum) LX, Mallia, (mulieris)
lib(erta), Galla uxor, ann(orum)
XXXXI, h(ic) s(iti) s(unt).

S(it) v(obis) t(erra) l(evis).

5Tu qui carpis iter gressu
properante, viator, siste
gradu<m>, quaeso. Quod peto, parva
mora est.

Oro ut praeteriens
dicas: s(it) t(ibi) t(erra) l(evis).

M(arcus) Helvius, (mulieris) lib(ertus), Marsua, ann(orum) LX, Mallia, (mulieris) lib(erta), Galla uxor, ann(orum) XXXXI, h(ic) s(iti) s(unt).

S(it) v(obis) t(erra) l(evis).

Tu qui carpis iter gressu properante, viator,
siste gradu<m>, quaeso. Quod peto, parva mora est.

Oro ut praeteriens dicas: s(it) t(ibi) t(erra) l(evis).

Apparatus

l.1 reg., orig. Marsua

Text follows CIL.
ll. 1-2: inverted M for mulieris.
ll. 8-9: pentameter with extra foot.

Main Translation

Translation	Marcus Helvius Marsua, freedman of a matron, sixty years of age, and his wife Mallia Galla, freedwoman of a matron, forty-one years of age, lie here. May the earth be light on you both. You who follow your path in a haste, traveller, I beg you, stop. What I ask of you, is a little delay. I pray you say on your way past: "May the earth be light on you".
Citation	Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Tú que emprendes tu marcha con paso apresurado, caminante, deténte, te lo ruego. Lo que te pido es una breve demora. Te ruego que digas al pasar: «que no te pese la tierra». (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez)
Marcus Helvius Marsua, affranchi d’une femme, âgé de 60 ans, sa femme Mallia Galla, affranchie d’une femme, âgée de 41 ans sont enterrés ici : “que la terre vous soit légère !”. Toi qui prends la route, d’un pas pressé, voyageur, arrête ton pas, s’il te plaît, ce que je te demande c’est une petite pause ; je t’en prie, en passant dis(-moi) : “que la terre te soit légère !” (French , D. Bovet)

Prosopographical Information

Name Marcus Helvius Marsua
Gender Male
Age Range Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Legal Status Freedman / Freedwoman
Role Dedicatee
Name Mallia Galla
Gender Female
Age Range Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Legal Status Freedman / Freedwoman
Role Dedicatee

Name	Marcus Helvius Marsua
Gender	Male
Age Range	Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Legal Status	Freedman / Freedwoman
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Mallia Galla
Gender	Female
Age Range	Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Legal Status	Freedman / Freedwoman
Role	Dedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Del Hoyo Calleja, Escolà Tusset and Martínez Gázquez (CLEO).

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	71 AD
Date (To)	130 AD
Date (Criteria)	formulae language

Bibliography

CIL 02, 00558
CLE 01451
ILER 05808
ERAEmerita 00139
K. F. Smith, Some irregular forms of the elegiac distich, Am. Journ. Philol. 22, 2 (1901), 177. 🔗 link
J. Cholodniak, Carmina sepulcralia latina epigraphica, Petersburg 1904, 1, nr. 1. 🔗 link
I. Velázquez, Dobletes en la epigrafía funeraria latina: materiales para su estudio, Cuad. Filol. Clas. Lat. 11 (1996), 101. 🔗 link
C. Fernández Martínez, Poesía epigráfica latina II, Madrid 1999, 141, nr. 1451 (Spanish translation of the elegiac couplet and pentameter) 🔗 link
J. Ramírez Sádaba, Evolución de los CLE en Augusta Emerita: del paganismo a las composiciones cristianas. In: C. Fernández Martínez (ed.), M. Limón Belén (ed.) et al., Ex officina. Literatura epigráfica en verso, Seville 2013, 360-361. 🔗 link
D. Bovet, Faire littérature autrement, Itinéraires. Litératures, textes, cultures 2022, 2 (2023), 23-24 (with French translation) 🔗 link
CILAE 00319 🔗 link
CLEO BA14 (also on dating) 🔗 link
EDCS-05500569 🔗 link
HEpOl 16788 🔗 link
MQDQ 🔗 link

Images

Editing History

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

Revisions

by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-08-30 10:16
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-08-30 11:00
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-08-30 11:02
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-08-30 11:43
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-01 10:04
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-01 10:12
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-08 13:00
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-09 08:03
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-09 09:45
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-09 09:49

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