Inscriptions: Epitaph of the freedwoman Plotia

Identification

Reference as:	MPL02227
Title	Epitaph of the freedwoman Plotia
Trismegistos-No.	229056

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Carthago Nova
Find Context	Fragment A: unknwon location, 1870. Fragment B: found during demolition of the city hall, 1894.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location
Inventory number	Fragment A: 16.500; Fragment B: 89
Current Location Details	Fragment A: Madrid, Museo Arqueológico Nacional de España. Fragment B: Cartagena, Museo Arqueológico Municipal de Cartagena.
Vicinity	[{"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 2227, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2227", "long_id": "MPL02227", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "\|A Plotia L(uci) et F\u0323ufiae l(iberta).- Prune ha\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$CIL_02_03495.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Plotia"}, {"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 927, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/927", "long_id": "MPL00927", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "Mater, si posse[m], fili vice mortis s[---]. Nunc \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Philocalus by his mother Aucta and sister Adventa"}, {"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 928, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/928", "long_id": "MPL00928", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "Argentaria C(ai) f(ilia) Faustil(la) octavos cum i\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Carthago Nova \u2013 Cartagena (Hispania citerior) - HD037645"}, {"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 929, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/929", "long_id": "MPL00929", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "C(aius) Licinius C(ai) f(ilius) Torax hospes consi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Carthago Nova \u2013 Cartagena (Hispania citerior) - HD037760"}, {"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 930, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/930", "long_id": "MPL00930", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "M(arcus) Oppius M(arci) f(ilius) fore(n)sis ars hi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Carthago Nova \u2013 Cartagena (Hispania citerior) - HD037778"}, {"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 931, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/931", "long_id": "MPL00931", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "Filiola\u0323[m] amisit pa[trem], materque sequtast ips\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/mu5-scaled.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the household slave Salviola"}, {"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 932, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/932", "long_id": "MPL00932", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "Sicinia C(ai) f(ilia) Secunda filia cum matre est \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Carthago Nova \u2013 Cartagena (Hispania citerior) - HD037805"}, {"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 933, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/933", "long_id": "MPL00933", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "[Q(uintus) Lusius] L(uci) f(ilius) Seni[ca] [molle\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Carthago Nova, bei \u2013 Cartagena, bei (Hispania citerior) - HD037944"}, {"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 2219, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2219", "long_id": "MPL02219", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "Vinuleia L(uci) l(iberta) Calena. Heic sitast. F\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://cil.bbaw.de/ace/files/PH0001333.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Vinuleia Calena by her daughter"}, {"coords": [37.6028, -0.987953], "id": 2220, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2220", "long_id": "MPL02220", "place": "Carthago Nova", "text": "Sei quaer\u0323i\u0323s\u0323 nomen, [co]n\u0323s\u0323i\u0323s\u0323-te et percipe\u0323 \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/mu13b.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of of the freedwoman Pontiliena"}, {"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": [38.8428, 0.107511], "id": 935, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/935", "long_id": "MPL00935", "place": "Dianium", "text": "C(aius) Iul(ius) H[---] sibi et Co[rneliae] Sphr[a\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Dianium \u2013 Denia (Hispania citerior) - HD039492"}, {"coords": [38.8428, 0.107511], "id": 938, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/938", "long_id": "MPL00938", "place": "Dianium", "text": "M(arcus) Acilius Eros h(ic) s(itus) e(st), pistor.\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/v7.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the baker Marcus Acilius Eros by his freedmen and freedwomen"}, {"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	slab
Material	limestone
State of Preservation	fragmentary (adjoining fragments)
Dimensions	width: 125.0 cm height: 32.0 cm depth: 10.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	4.5
Letter Size in cm (max)	5.0
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence	Praescriptum + carmen
Prose Verse Distinction	No distinction
Layout Types (Prose)	Left aligned
Layout Types (Verse)	Left aligned
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)	Latin
Verse Type(s)	iambo-trochaic rhythm Iambic senarius
Rhythmisation	Mixed scheme

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

|^A PLOTIALET.VFIAEL

PRVNEHAEC |^B VOCI
|^A TATASTANCILLAHEICSITAST

|^A Plotia L(uci) et F̣ufiae l(iberta).-

Prune haec |^B voci-
|^A tatast ancilla, heic sitast.

|^A Plotia L(uci) et F̣ufiae l(iberta).

Prune haec |^B voci |^A tatast ancilla, heic sitast.

Apparatus

l.1 reg., orig. Prune | reg., orig. vocitatast
l.2 reg., orig. heic | reg., orig. sitast
l.5 reg., orig. salvos | reg., orig. seis

Text follows Cenati, González Bredús and Kruschwitz. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.
l. 1: L(uci Ploti), CartNova.
ll. 1-2: voc[i]tatast, CIL 01 (Pars 2), 02273; CIL 02; Cholodniak; ILLRP. vo[c]itatast, ILS; CLE 04.
l. 5: salvo[s ire], CIL 01, 01479.

Main Translation

Translation	Plotia, freedwoman of Lucius and Fufia. Prune she used to be called as a slave, she is buried here. How she was towards her patron, patroness, parent, husband: the monument is a reminder of that. Greetings: may you be well.
Citation	C. Cenati, V. González Berdús, P. Kruschwitz

Other Translations

Plotia, die Freigelassene des Lucius und der Fufia, (sie wurde als Magd Phryne gerufen), ist hier beigesetzt. - Wie sie gegenüber Patron, Patronin, Vater und Ehemann war, das zeigt das Denkmal. - Lebewohl, sei wohlauf! (German, P. Kruschwitz)
Aquí yace Plotia, liberta de L. Plotio y de Fufia, llamada Friné cuando era esclava. Este monumento da prueba de cómo fue para con su patrono, su patrona, su padre y su esposo. Salud. Que sigas bien. (Spanish, M. J. Pena 2002)

Prosopographical Information

Name Plotia
Gender Female
Legal Status Freedman / Freedwoman
Role Dedicatee

Name	Plotia
Gender	Female
Legal Status	Freedman / Freedwoman
Role	Dedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Abascal Palazón and Ramallo Asensio (CartNova). Pena 2002 prroposes a dating to the first half of the 1st century BC, though without criteria and admitting its uncertainty. Pena 2009 proposes a dating to the first half of the 1st century BC, with a terminus ante quem of the 70s BC, based on language.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	50 BC
Date (To)	1 BC
Date (Criteria)	palaeography language

Bibliography

CIL 01, 01479
CIL 02, 03495
CLE 00058 (ad.)
ILS 08417
CIL 01 (Pars 2), 02273
ILLRP 02, 00981
CartNova 03, 00163 (with photos, tabs. 146 [Fragment A] - 147 [Fragment B]; also on dating)
ELRH C45 (with photo)
CLEHisp 00157
CLE 04, 02934
J. Cholodniak, Carmina sepulcralia latina epigraphica, Petersburg 1904, 266, nr. 731. 🔗 link
M. Pena, CLE Republicanos: texto y contexto. In: J. del Hoyo (ed.), J. Gómez Pallarès (ed.), Asta ac pellege. 50 años de la publicación de Inscripciones Hispanas en Verso, de S. Mariner, Madrid 2002, 48-50, nr. 1 (with Spanish translation; also on alternative dating) - HEp 2002 🔗 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, 63 - HEp 2002 🔗 link
J. del Hoyo, La ordinatio en los CLE Hispaniae. In: J. del Hoyo, Asta ac pellege. 50 años de la publicación de Inscripciones Hispanas en Verso, de S. Mariner, Madrid 2002, 161 - HEp 2002 🔗 link
P. Kruschwitz, Zur republikanischen Carmina Latina Epigraphica (II), Zeitschr. Pap. Ep. 140 (2002), 48-50 (with German translation and photo, 48) - HEp 2002 🔗 link
HEp 2002, 00351
R. Hernández Pérez, X. Gómez Font, Carmina Latina Epigraphica Carthaginis Novae, Valencia 2006, 17-19, nr. 1 (with Spanish translation and photos, 16, figs. 1a-b) - AE 2006 🔗 link
AE 2006, 00145
P. Cugusi, Per un nuovo corpus dei Carmina Latina Epigraphica, Materiali e discussioni, Roma 2007, 62. 🔗 link
M. J. Pena, Plotia Prune (Φρυνη): de Delos a Carthago Nova (CIL I/2, 2273 = CIL II 3495), Faventia 31, 1-2 (2009), 9-23 (with Spanish translation; also on alternative dating) 🔗 link
C. Cenati, V. González Berdús, P. Kruschwitz, Ceterum censemus Carthaginem Novam esse legendam: Roman poetry as cultural history, Exemplaria classica. Journal of classical philology 28 (2024), 116-117, nr. 4 (with English translation and photo, 116) 🔗 link
CLEO MU12 🔗 link
EDCS-05502877 🔗 link
HD037782 🔗 link
HEpOl 9569 🔗 link

Images

Fragments A and B of the epitaph of the freedwoman Plotia.
Source: EDCS-05502877 (c) P. Kruschwitz 2002

Editing History

Created	2025-11-10, by Fabio Spalla
Work Status	Complete
Import Notice

Revisions

by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 07:24
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 08:26
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 08:49
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 08:59
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 09:25
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 10:05
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 10:07
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 10:10
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 10:11
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 10:12
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-08 11:11
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-08 18:02
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-10 09:37
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-09-10 14:30
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-11-10 14:15
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-11-10 14:15

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