Inscriptions: Epitaph of the freedwoman Firma

Identification

Reference as:	MPL02223
Title	Epitaph of the freedwoman Firma
Trismegistos-No.	220870

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Carula
Find Context	Hermitage of San Roque, reused in a sepulchre. Then transported into the private residence of the dukes of Arcos, where it was last seen, 17th century.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	unknown
Inventory number
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"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": [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": [37.5966, -4.30846], "id": 812, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/812", "long_id": "MPL00812", "place": "Iponoba", "text": "L(ocus) p(edum) [---] P(ublius) Aeliu[s---] [t]e l\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Iponoba \u2013 Cerro del Minguillar (Baetica) - HD003146"}, {"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": [37.2466, -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": [37.8309, -4.05018], "id": 843, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/843", "long_id": "MPL00843", "place": "Batora", "text": "[---S]ex(ti) f(ilia) A[---] [hic sita in tumulo i]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Batora, bei \u2013 Mingo Lope (Baetica) - HD017866"}, {"coords": [37.8709, -4.18475], "id": 475, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/475", "long_id": "MPL00475", "place": "Obulco", "text": "M(arcus) Porcius M(arci) [f(ilius) ---] Hered\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/j15.jpg", "title": "Carmen dedicated to Marcus Porcius"}, {"coords": [37.8709, -4.18475], "id": 851, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/851", "long_id": "MPL00851", "place": "Obulco", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum) quis [---]LI[---] sed[---\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Obulco \u2013 Porcuna (Baetica) - HD020194"}, {"coords": [37.9349, -4.05478], "id": 870, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/870", "long_id": "MPL00870", "place": "Urgavo", "text": "Dextera [---] nunc SC[---] hic gracili[---] haec m\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Urgavo \u2013 Arjona (Baetica) - HD027665"}, {"coords": [37.9349, -4.05478], "id": 871, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/871", "long_id": "MPL00871", "place": "Urgavo", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] [\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Urgavo \u2013 Arjona (Baetica) - HD027668"}, {"coords": [37.9349, -4.05478], "id": 872, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/872", "long_id": "MPL00872", "place": "Urgavo", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] [---]REDE[---] [---]NINT\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Urgavo \u2013 Arjona (Baetica) - HD027671"}, {"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": [37.5911, -4.08675], "id": 875, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/875", "long_id": "MPL00875", "place": "Sosontigi", "text": "Fabia L(uci) f(ilia) Albana Ai-ungitana n(norum) X\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Sosontigi, bei \u2013 Alcaudete (Baetica) - HD029413"}, {"coords": [37.8489, -3.5603], "id": 869, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/869", "long_id": "MPL00869", "place": "Ossigi", "text": "Hic TV[---]-RE iaces [---]-nina pu{u}e[lla] qu(a)e\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Ossigi, bei \u2013 Jimena - Torres, zwischen (Baetica) - HD027503"}, {"coords": [38.0081, -3.36853], "id": 2206, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2206", "long_id": "MPL02206", "place": "Salaria", "text": "Gemina, D(ecii) Pu-blici Subici ser(va), an(norum)\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/j8.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the slave Gemina by the coppersmith Caius"}, {"coords": [36.4678, -5.92787], "id": 2207, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2207", "long_id": "MPL02207", "place": "Asido", "text": "Murcia liberta, iuvenis an(norum) XXVIII. Semp\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Murcia"}, {"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": [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"}, {"coords": [36.5293, -6.29312], "id": 2252, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2252", "long_id": "MPL02252", "place": "Cadiz", "text": "Romana c(ara) s(uis) an(norum) XX h(ic) s(ita) e(s\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Romana"}]

Object Details

Object Type	slab
Material	marble
State of Preservation	complete?
Dimensions	width: 21.0 cm height: 31.5 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)	Elegiac couplet
Rhythmisation	Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

FIRMA hedera EPAPHRODITI
ANN hedera XXIIII hedera H hedera S hedera E hedera

FIRMASATISFELIXCVMMEMEAVITAMANERET
CONIVGISOPSEQVIOCVMPIETATEFVI
5CONIVGISILLIVSQVEMVIXAEQVAREMARITI
ADFECTVPOTERINTAVTBONITATEPARI
CONLIBERTORVMVVLTVSANIMOSQVEMEORVM
PLACATOSMERVISEDVLITATEMEA
PLACATOSMERVIPERTEMAGISOMINISVTAETAS
10SANGVINEMEIVNCTAMCREDERETESSESIBI
QVITECVMPIACASTRASEQVICONSVETVSETILLE
QVEMLEXSERVITIIDISTRAHITADOMINO
HOSOMNESTIBIPROMERITISQVISIDERATORQVENT
SECVMPLACATOSSEMPERHABEREVELINT

15TRPD:STTLEVIS

Firma ((hedera)) Epaphroditi
ann(orum) ((hedera)) XXIIII ((hedera)) h(ic) ((hedera)) s(ita) ((hedera)) e(st). ((hedera))

Firma satis felix, cum me mea vita maneret,
coniugis opsequio cum pietate fui,
5coniugis illius, quem vix aequare mariti
adfectu poterint aut bonitate pari.
Conlibertorum vultus animosque meorum
placatos merui sedulitate mea,
placatos merui per te magis, ominis ut aetas
10sanguine me iunctam crederet esse sibi,
qui tecum pia castra sequi consuetus et ille
quem lex servitii distrahit a domino.
Hos omnes tibi pro meritis qui sidera torquent
secum placatos semper habere velint.

15T(e) r(ogo) p(raeteriens) d(icas): s(it) t(ibi) t(erra) levis.

Firma ((hedera)) Epaphroditi ann(orum) ((hedera)) XXIIII ((hedera)) h(ic) ((hedera)) s(ita) ((hedera)) e(st). ((hedera))

Firma satis felix, cum me mea vita maneret,
coniugis opsequio cum pietate fui,
coniugis illius, quem vix aequare mariti
adfectu poterint aut bonitate pari.
Conlibertorum vultus animosque meorum
placatos merui sedulitate mea,
placatos merui per te magis, ominis ut aetas
sanguine me iunctam crederet esse sibi,
qui tecum pia castra sequi consuetus et ille
quem lex servitii distrahit a domino.
Hos omnes tibi pro meritis qui sidera torquent
secum placatos semper habere velint.

T(e) r(ogo) p(raeteriens) d(icas): s(it) t(ibi) t(erra) levis.

Apparatus

l.4 reg., orig. opsequio

Text follows CLEBaeticae.

Main Translation

Translation	Firma, (freedwoman) of Epaphroditus, of twenty-four years, is buried here. I, Firma, while I lived, was very happy with the consideration of my husband and my obedience to him, that husband who could barely compare to other husbands in similar affection or goodness. I was deserving of the favouring looks and good will of my fellow freedmen thanks to my dutifulness; but I merited their friendly disposition more because of you, so that all of them, whatever their age, considered me to be of their own blood, both those who were accustomed to following you obediently to the camps and those whom the law of slavery separated from their master. May those who make the stars turn under their authority make them all well disposed to you thanks to your merits. I beg you, say as you pass by: ‘may the earth rest lightly on you’.
Citation	C. Cenati, P. Kruschwitz

Other Translations

Firma (esposa) de Epafrodito, de veinticuatro años, aquí está sepultada. Yo, Firma, mientras estuve en vida, fui muy feliz con el cariño y la obediencia hacia mi esposo, aquel esposo al que apenas podrán igualar los demás maridos en afecto o bondad semejante. me merecí los rostros y ánimos bien dispuestos de mis conlibertos gracias a mis desvelos; pero más merecí su buena disposición gracias a ti, de modo que todos ellos, sea cual fuese su edad, me consideraban de su propia sangre, tanto el que acostumbra a seguirte a los píos campamentos como aquel al que la ley de servidumbre lo separa de su amo. Que los que hacen girar las estrellas bajo su autoridad hagan que todos estén siempre, gracias a tus méritos, bien dispuestos hacia ti. Te ruego que dicas al pasar: "que la tierra te sea ligera". (Spanish, J. Martín Camacho (CLEBaeticae))

Prosopographical Information

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

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

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by González Fernández (CILA). Gimeno Pascual and Stylow propose a dating to the 2nd century AD, based on palaeography from a manuscript copy. Martín Camacho (CLEBaeticae) prefers to leave dating uncertain, due to lack of parameters.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	1 AD
Date (To)	200 AD
Date (Criteria)	formulae

Bibliography

CIL 02, 01399
CLE 01140
ILER 05793
CILA 02.3, 00827 (with Spanish translation; also on dating)
CLEBaeticae SE2 (with Spanish translation; also on uncertain dating)
J. Cholodniak, Carmina sepulcralia latina epigraphica, Petersburg 1904, 2, nr. 2. 🔗 link
S. Mariner Bigorra, Inscripciones hispanas en verso, Madrid 1952, 67, 77-78, 102, 204. 🔗 link
C. Fernández Martínez, Poesía epigráfica latina I, Madrid 1998, 521, nr. 1140 (Spanish translation of the elegiac couplets) 🔗 link
H. Gimeno Pascual, A. U. Stylow, Intelectuales del siglo XVII: sus aportaciones a la epigrafía de la Bética, Polis 10 (1998), 94-95, nr. 1 (also on alternative dating) 🔗 link
R. Hernández Pérez, Poesía latina sepulcral de la Hispania romana: estudios de los tópicos y sus formulaciones, Valencia 2001, 144-145, 157, 165, 178, 181, 280, 290. 🔗 link
J. Martín Camacho, Epitafio de Firma, elogio de Epafrodito. Nueva edición, comentario y problemas de CIL II 1399 (= CLE 1140). In: X. Gómez Font (ed.), C. Fernández Martínez (ed.), J. Gómez Pallarès (ed.), Literatura epigráfica. Estudios dedicados a Gabriel Sanders, Zaragoza 2009, 203-223 - HEp 2009 🔗 link
HEp 2009, 00307
C. Cenati, P. Kruschwitz, Poetic Baggage: Representations of Camp Followers in the Latin Verse Inscriptions, Electrum 31 (2024), 167-169 (with English translation) 🔗 link
CLEO SE15 🔗 link
EDCS-05501403 🔗 link
HEpOl 893 🔗 link
MQDQ 🔗 link

Images

Editing History

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

Revisions

by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-01 07:22
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-01 08:46
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-01 08:47
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-01 09:06
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-08 13:20
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-09 07:52
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-09 07:55
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-09 09:47

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