Inscriptions: Epitaph of the charioteer Aelius Hermeros by his father Hermia, a public slave

Identification

Reference as:	MPL02226
Title	Epitaph of the charioteer Aelius Hermeros by his father Hermia, a public slave
Trismegistos-No.	228807

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Valeria
Find Context	Found inside the old well of Valeria, so-called Fuente Vieja.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	Cuenca, Museo de Cuenca
Inventory number	AA74/15/2100
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"coords": [39.8112, -2.14935], "id": 2226, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2226", "long_id": "MPL02226", "place": "Valeria", "text": "Above frame: D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum). Within fra\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://cil.bbaw.de/ace/resources/PH/0020001-0025000/PH0022762.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the charioteer Aelius Hermeros by his father Hermia, a public slave"}, {"coords": [39.6781, -0.277247], "id": 815, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/815", "long_id": "MPL00815", "place": "Saguntum (Sagunto)", "text": "M(arcus) Acilius L(uci) f(ilius) Fontanus. Eri\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Marcus Acilius Fontanus"}, {"coords": [39.6781, -0.277247], "id": 866, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/866", "long_id": "MPL00866", "place": "Saguntum (Sagunto)", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] [\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Saguntum, bei \u2013 Mont\u00edver (Mont\u00edber) (Hispania citerior) - HD026147"}, {"coords": [40.0353, -0.555], "id": 826, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/826", "long_id": "MPL00826", "place": "Mont\u00e1n ", "text": "M(arcus) Marius Lascivos h(ic) s(itus) e(st) tu qu\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Mont\u00e1n (Montant) (Hispania citerior) - HD012356"}, {"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": [39.4704, -0.376813], "id": 860, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/860", "long_id": "MPL00860", "place": "Valentia", "text": "Pius pr(a)eclarus doctor alacer facundus Iustinian\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Elogium from Valentia \u2013 Valencia (Hispania citerior) - HD024284"}, {"coords": [39.4704, -0.376813], "id": 861, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/861", "long_id": "MPL00861", "place": "Valentia", "text": "Constructu(m) p[---cu]rrunt fastigium quis[--- a?]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Building/dedicatory inscription from Valentia \u2013 Valencia (Hispania citerior) - HD024287"}, {"coords": [39.4704, -0.376813], "id": 862, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/862", "long_id": "MPL00862", "place": "Valentia", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] [b?]ona liq[uet?] [---]l\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Inscription from Valentia \u2013 Valencia (Hispania citerior) - HD024293"}, {"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": [41.7823, -3.36805], "id": 952, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/952", "long_id": "MPL00952", "place": "Colonia Clunia Sulpicia", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069]at gratus venanti lo[c]us\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Colonia Clunia Sulpicia \u2013 Huerta de Rey (Hispania citerior) - HD045395"}, {"coords": [41.7823, -3.36805], "id": 2222, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2222", "long_id": "MPL02222", "place": "Colonia Clunia Sulpicia", "text": "[Mar]tialis a\u0361n(norum) XXII h(ic) ((hedera)) s(itu\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bu2.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the slave Martialis by his conservi Deuter and Seques"}, {"coords": [39.6167, -0.3], "id": 867, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/867", "long_id": "MPL00867", "place": "Saguntum (Pu\u00e7ol)", "text": "[.Vale]rius L(uci) f(ilius) Mar-[cell]us an(norum)\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Saguntum, bei \u2013 Pu\u00e7ol (Puzol) (Hispania citerior) - HD026357"}, {"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": [39.8853, -2.81302], "id": 2224, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2224", "long_id": "MPL02224", "place": "Segobriga", "text": "Above frame: [N]olet amissos post mortem quaer\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cu4-scaled.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the slave Iucunda by her mother Nigella"}, {"coords": [39.4883, -1.10044], "id": 2235, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2235", "long_id": "MPL02235", "place": "Requena", "text": "Iu[---]++ +V\u0323[---] S\u0323osi-n\u0323a++g\u0323i f(ilius) Gili-t\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$ZPE_192_306_1.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of a man killed by bandits, dedicated by his son and sons-in-law"}]

Object Details

Object Type	stele
Material	limestone
State of Preservation	incomplete
Dimensions	width: 52.0 cm height: 87.0 cm depth: 25.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	2.0
Letter Size in cm (max)	6.5
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography	Inscription within frame. D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum) engraved above the frame. Ll. 11-14 engraved below the frame.
Decoration Tags	Architecture / frame

Verse Layouts

Text

Function	funerary inscription
Language(s)	Latin
Verse Type(s)	Iambic senarius Hemiepes
Rhythmisation	Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

Above frame:
DMSWithin frame:
AELHERM͡E
ROTIA͡VRIGE
DEFVNCTO
5ILICIA͡NNXXIII
HERMIAS
RPV͡AL
F[]OIN
CONPARA
10BILI

STTL

Below frame:

FREQVENSVIATOR
SA͡EPEQVI[]RA͡NSISLEGE:
NATVSPROTESV[]

[---]··[---]·[c 1 - 2]·[---]·[---]···

Above frame:
D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum). Within frame:
Ael(io) Herm͡e-
roti, a͡urige,
defuncto
5Ilici, a͡nn(orum) XXIII.
Hermia, s(ervus)
r(ei) p(ublicae) V͡al(eriensis),
f[ili]o in-
conpara-
10bili.

S(it) t(ibi) t(erra) l(evis).

Below frame:

Frequens, viator,
sa͡epe qui [t]ra͡nsis, lege:
natus pro te su[m]

[---]++[---]+[c. 1 - 2]+[---]+[---]+++

Above frame: D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum). Within frame: Ael(io) Herm͡eroti, a͡urige, defuncto Ilici, a͡nn(orum) XXIII. Hermia, s(ervus) r(ei) p(ublicae) V͡al(eriensis), f[ili]o inconparabili.

S(it) t(ibi) t(erra) l(evis).

Below frame:

Frequens, viator, sa͡epe qui [t]ra͡nsis, lege:
natus pro te su[m

---]++[---]+[c. 1 - 2]+[---]+[---]+++

Apparatus

l.3 reg., orig. aurige
l.8 reg., orig. inconparabili

Text follows CIL 02 (2nd ed.). Picture checked by Spalla 2025.
ll. 11-13: hexameters, Hübner; Hernández Pérez 2001.

Main Translation

Translation	Above frame: Sacred to the Manes. Within frame: To the charioteer Aelius Hermeros, twenty-three years old, who died at Ilici. Hermia, public slave of Valeria, dedicated this to his incomparable son. May the earth be light upon you. Below frame: Traveller, who often walks by, read: I was born for you ...
Citation	Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Sacred to the divine Manes: for Aelius Hermes, charioteer, who died at Ilici, aged 23; Hermia, public slave of Valeria, for an incomparable son; may the earth be light upon you. Frequent wayfarer, you who often pass (me) by, read: born for you, I am [laid to rest by an unjust fate.] (English, J. B. Thigpen)
Consagración a los Dioses Manes. A Aelio Ermeroto, auriga muerto en Ilici (¿Alcudia de Elche?), de 23 años de edad. Graciano... lo dedica a su incomparable amigo(?). Que la tierra te sea leve. Habitual caminante, que tan frecuentemente pasas por aquí, lee: he nacido primero. (Spanish, A. Rodríguez Colmenero)
Consagrado a los dioses Manes. Para el auriga Aelius Hermeros, muerto en Ilici a los 23 años. Hermia, siervo de la ciudad de Valeria, a su hijo incomparable. Séate la tierra leve. Caminante, que pasas por aquí con frequencia, lee: nací... (Spanish, A. Ceballos Hornero)

Prosopographical Information

Name Aelius Hermeros
Gender Male
Age Range Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Profession Other profession
Role Dedicatee
Name Hermia
Gender Male
Legal Status Slave
Role Dedicator

Name	Aelius Hermeros
Gender	Male
Age Range	Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Profession	Other profession
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Hermia
Gender	Male
Legal Status	Slave
Role	Dedicator

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Alföldy, Gimeno Pascual and del Hoyo (CIL 02 [2nd ed.]). Hübner proposes a dating to the end of the 1st century AD, though providing no criteria. Hailey considers the reign of Hadrian as a terminus post quem for the inscription, based on the D(is) M(anibus) formula and the abbreviated name Ael(io). Caballos Hornero proposes a dating to the 3rd century AD, though providing no criteria.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	171 AD
Date (To)	230 AD
Date (Criteria)	palaeography

Bibliography

CIL 02, 03181
CLE 00123
ILER 05705
CIL 02 (2nd ed.), 00987
E. Hübner, Los más antiguos poetas de la península. In: J. Valera (ed.), Homenaje á Menéndez y Pelayo en el año vigésimo de su profesorado. Estudios de erudición española. Con un prólogo de Juan Valera, Vol. 2, Madrid 1899, 355-356 (also on alternative metre and dating) 🔗 link
J. Cholodniak, Carmina sepulcralia latina epigraphica, Petersburg 1904, 388, nr. 1063. 🔗 link
S. Mariner Bigorra, Inscripciones hispanas en verso, Madrid 1952, 13, 38. 🔗 link
A. Rodríguez Colmenero, Epigrafía. In: M. Osuna Ruiz (ed.), Valeria romana I. Memoria de los trabajos arqueológicos efectuados de 1974 a 1976, Cuenca 1978, 117. 🔗 link
A. Rodríguez Colmenero, Cuenca romana. Contribución al estudio epigráfico, Lucentum 1 (1982), 216-217, nr. 36 (with Spanish translation and photo, 241, tab. 3) 🔗 link
E. W. Haley, Foreigners in Roman imperial Spain: investigations of geographical mobility in the Spanish provinces of the Roman Empire 30 B.C.-A.D. 284, Columbia University, New York, 265, nr. 515, 360, n. 662 (also on alternative dating) 🔗 link
J. Humphrey, Roman circuses. Arenas for chariot racing, London 1986, 350. 🔗 link
G. Alföldy, Römisches Städtewesen auf der neukastilischen Hochebene: ein Testfall für die Romanisierung. Vorgetragen am 25. Oktober 1986, Heidelberg 1987, 86, 117. 🔗 link
V. Smirin, Die Sklaverei im römischen Spanien. In: E. Štaerman (ed.), Die Sklaverei in den westlichen Provinzen des Römischen Reiches im 1.-3. Jahrhundert. Übersetzung von Jaroslav Kriz unter Mitwirkung von Heinz Heinen und Elisabeth Hermann-Otto, Stuttgart 1987, 92. 🔗 link
C. Fernández Martínez, Poesía epigráfica latina I, Madrid 1998, 137, nr. 123 (Spanish translation of the iambic senarii) 🔗 link
R. Hernández Pérez, Poesía latina sepulcral de la Hispania romana: estudios de los tópicos y sus formulaciones, Valencia 2001, 200, 226 (also on alternative metre) 🔗 link
R. Hernández Pérez, La tradición de métrica yámbica en la epigrafía latina de la Hispania romana. In: J. del Hoyo (ed.), J. Gómez Pallarès (ed.), Asta ac pellege. 50 años de la ublicación de Inscripciones Hispanas en Verso, de S. Mariner, Madrid 2002, 71-72. 🔗 link
A. Ceballos Hornero, Los espectáculos en la Hispania romana. La documentación epigráfica, Vol. 2, Mérida 2004, 421-423, nr. 75 (with Spanish translation; also on alternative dating) 🔗 link
CLEO CU1 🔗 link
EDCS-05502593 🔗 link
HEpOl 9315 🔗 link
MQDQ 🔗 link

Images

Epitaph of the charioteer Aelius Hermeros by his father Hermia, a public slave.
Source: CIL/ACE KO0013630 (c) W. Kuhoff 1983

Editing History

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

Revisions

by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-05 09:02
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-05 09:04
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-05 11:06
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-05 13:26
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-05 13:27
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-05 13:28
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-05 13:50
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-08 17:57
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-08 17:59
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-09 06:15
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-09 06:19
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-09 06:27
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-09 06:33
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-09 09:54

Download

Download as XML