MAPPOLA Inscriptions Search Map Data
Sign In

Inscriptions: Altar with epitaph of the charioteer Fuscus dedicated by his supporters

Edit This Inscription

Identification

Reference as: MPL02228
Title Altar with epitaph of the charioteer Fuscus dedicated by his supporters
Trismegistos-No. 229486

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place Tarraco
Find Context First seen in the southern part of teh Rambla de San Carlos, between the monastery of Santa Clara and the amphitheatre, 16th century. Then gifted to count Stanhope and transported to Chevening, Kent, 1722.
Latitude 0.0
Longitude 0.0
Current Location Chevening, Chevening House
Inventory number
Current Location Details
Vicinity

Object Details

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

width: 71.0 cm

height: 168.0 cm

depth: 45.0 cm

Letter Size in cm (min) 1.0
Letter Size in cm (max) 2.8
Execution Technique chiselled
Religion Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography Altar on pedestal with moulded base and pulvinus. Above the puvlinus, remains of pediment.
Decoration Tags
  • Architecture / Altar
  • Architecture / Moulding
  • Architecture / Pedestal
  • Architecture / Pediment
  • Architecture / base
  • Architecture / pulvinus

Verse Layouts

  • Prose Verse PresencePraescriptum + carmen + subscriptum
    Prose Verse Distinction
    • Yes, by smaller lettering in prose
    • Yes, by change in lettering type
    Layout Types (Prose)
    • Centered
    Layout Types (Verse)
    • Centered
    Scriptio Continua in verse partno
    Abbreviations in verse partno
    Verse Line CorrespondenceNo, just uses all available space
    Graphic Signs and Spaces for Easier Carmen Reading
    • To separate verses - Vacat

Text

Function funerary inscription
Language(s)
  • Greek-Latin
Verse Type(s)
  • Dactylic hexameter
  • Elegiac couplet
Rhythmisation Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

DM

FACTIONISVENETAEFVSCOSACRA
VIMVSARAMDENOSTROCERTISTV
DIOSIETBENEAMANTESVTSCI
5RENTCVNCTIMONIMENTVM
ETPIGNVSAMORISINTEGRA
FAMATIBILAVDEMCVR
SVSMERVISTICERTASTI
MVLTISNVLLVMPAVPE...MV
10ISTIINVIDIAMPASSVSSEM
PERFORTISTACVISTIPVL
CHREVIXISTIFATOMORTA
LISOBISTIQVISQVISHOMO
ESQVAERESTALEMSVBSISTE
15VIATORPERLEGESIMEMOR
ESSINOSTIQVISFVERITVIR

FORTVNAMMETVANTOMNES
DICESTAMENVNVM:FVS
CVSHABETTITVLOSMOR
20TISHABETTVMVLVM
CON
TEGITOSSALAPISBENEHABET
FORTVNAVALEBIS
FVDIMVS
INSONTILACRIMASNVNCVI
NAPRECAMVRVTIACEASPLA
25CIDENEMOTVISIMILIS
ΤΟΥΣΣΟΥΣΑΓΩΝΑΣΑΙΩΝΛΑΛΗΣΕΙ
D(is) M(anibus).

Factionis Venetae Fusco sacra-
vimus aram de nostro certi stu-
diosi et bene amantes, ut sci-
5rent cuncti monimentum
et pignus amoris. Integra
fama tibi laudem cur-
sus meruisti; certasti
multis, nullum paupeṛ ṭịmu-
10isti; invidiam passus sem-
per fortis tacuisti; pul-
chre vixisti, fato morta-
lis obisti. Quisquis homo
es, quaeres talem. Subsiste,
15viator, perlege, si memor
es, si nosti, quis fuerit vir.

Fortunam metuant omnes,
dices tamen unum: Fus-
cus habet titulos mor-
20tis, habet tumulum.
-
Con-
tegit ossa lapis, bene habet.
Fortuna, valebis.
Fudimus
insonti lacrimas, nunc vi-
na. Precamur, ut iaceas pla-
25cide. Nemo tui similis.
Τοὺς σοὺς ἀγῶνας αἰὼν λαλήσει.
D(is) M(anibus).

Factionis Venetae Fusco sacravimus aram
de nostro certi studiosi et bene amantes,
ut scirent cuncti monimentum et pignus amoris.
Integra fama tibi laudem cursus meruisti;
certasti multis, nullum paupeṛ ṭịmuisti;
invidiam passus semper fortis tacuisti;
pulchre vixisti, fato mortalis obisti.
Quisquis homo es, quaeres talem. Subsiste, viator,
perlege, si memor es, si nosti, quis fuerit vir.

Fortunam metuant omnes, dices tamen unum:
Fuscus habet titulos mortis, habet tumulum.

Contegit ossa lapis, bene habet. Fortuna, valebis.

Fudimus insonti lacrimas, nunc vina. Precamur,
ut iaceas placide. Nemo tui similis.
Τοὺς σοὺς ἀγῶνας αἰὼν λαλήσει.
Apparatus

l.5 reg., orig. monimentum
l.8 reg., orig. certasti

Text follows CIL 02 (2nd ed.). Picture checked by Spalla 2025.

Main Translation

Translation We, steadfast and devoted supporters, have from our own resources set up an altar-tomb for Fuscus of the Blue team, so that all might know the record and token of devotion. Your reputation is unsullied, you won fame for speed, you contended with many, though not rich you feared nobody, though you experienced envy you always bravely maintained silence, you lived a fine life, being mortal you died, but a natural death. Whatever sort of man you be, you will miss such a one as Fuscus; halt, traveller, read, if you remember and know who the man was. Let all men fear Fortune, yet you will make one remark: 'Fuscus has the epitaph and tomb that belong to death. The stone covers his bones. All is well with him. Away with you, Fortune. We poured out tears for this good man, now (we pour out) wine. We pray that you rest in peace. No-one is like you'.

The ages will talk of your contests.
Citation E. Courtney

Other Translations

Prosopographical Information

  • NameFuscus
    GenderMale
    Legal StatusSlave
    ProfessionOther profession
    RoleDedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Alföldy 2011. Humphrey proposes a dating to the 1st century AD. Gómez Pallarès 1998 proposes a dating to te 1st century AD, based on the possible absence of the D(is) M(anibus) formula and on the absence of formulae such as "bene merenti fecit".

Squeeze

Have Squeeze? no

Dating

Date (From) 101 AD
Date (To) 200 AD
Date (Criteria)
  • archaeology
  • formulae
  • palaeography

Bibliography

Images

  • Altar with epitaph of the charioteer Fuscus dedicated by his supporters.

    Altar with epitaph of the charioteer Fuscus dedicated by his supporters.

    Source: CLEO T5 (c) J. Gómez Pallarès

Editing History

Created 2025-09-10, by Fabio Spalla
Work Status Complete
Import Notice
Revisions
  1. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-10 09:33
  2. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-10 10:14
  3. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-10 10:58
  4. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-10 12:35
  5. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-10 12:36
  6. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-09-10 14:35
Download
Download as XML