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Inscriptions: Epitaph of the freedman Servandus by his patrons, the Valerii Lucius, Caius and Sextus

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Identification

Reference as: MPL02230
Title Epitaph of the freedman Servandus by his patrons, the Valerii Lucius, Caius and Sextus
Trismegistos-No. 425408

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place Mogontiacum
Find Context Parish of Zahlbach, site of the Roman cemetery, 1804.
Latitude 0.0
Longitude 0.0
Current Location Mainz, Landesmuseum Mainz
Inventory number S 97
Current Location Details External depot.
Vicinity

Object Details

Object Type stele
Material limestone
State of Preservation complete
Dimensions

width: 54.0 cm

height: 118.0 cm

depth: 17.0 cm

Letter Size in cm (min) 3.5
Letter Size in cm (max) 6.0
Execution Technique chiselled
Religion Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography Inscription within moulded frame. Final letters of ll. 1 (-X), 2 (-M) and 9 (-O) inscribed on frame. Above the frame, moulded tympanum and akanthus leaves sculpted on pediment.
Decoration Tags
  • Architecture / Moulding
  • Architecture / Pediment
  • Architecture / Tympanum
  • Architecture / frame
  • Plant / Acanthus leaves

Verse Layouts

  • Prose Verse PresencePraescriptum + carmen
    Prose Verse Distinction
    • Yes, by bigger lettering in prose
    Layout Types (Prose)
    • Justified
    Layout Types (Verse)
    • Centered
    • Justified
    Scriptio Continua in verse partyes
    Abbreviations in verse partno
    Verse Line CorrespondenceNo, 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)
  • Dactylic rhythm
Rhythmisation Accentuating scheme

Inscription & Translations

LETCETSEX
VALERIORVM
LSERVANDVS
ANNOXXH
5SEPATRONIPRO
MERITISPOSVERV
NT
SERVITVSMIHIN
VQVAINVIDAFVISTI:
LIBERTATENMISERO
10MORSABSTVLIT
INIQVA
L(uci) et C(ai) et Sex(ti)
Valeriorum
l(ibertus) Servandus
anno(rum) XX h(ic)
5s(itus) e(st). Patroni pro
meritis posueru-
nt.-
Servitus, mihi n-
uqua invida fuisti:
libertaten misero
10mors abstulit
iniqua.
L(uci) et C(ai) et Sex(ti) Valeriorum l(ibertus) Servandus anno(rum) XX h(ic) s(itus) e(st). Patroni pro meritis posuerunt.

Servitus, mihi nuqua invida fuisti:
libertaten misero mors abstulit iniqua.
Apparatus

l.7 reg., orig. nuqua
l.9 reg., orig. libertaten

Text follows Kruschwitz. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.
ll. 7-8: nu(n)qua(m), Selzer. nuqua, CLE.
ll. 7-10: iambic senarii, Oxé.

Main Translation

Translation Servandus, freedman of the Valerii Lucius, Caius and Sextus, lies here at the age of twenty. His patrons put this up for his merits.

I never grudged enslavement: unjust death wretchedly took freedom away from me.
Citation Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Prosopographical Information

  • NameLucius Valerius
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicator
  • NameCaius Valerius
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicator
  • NameSextus Valerius
    GenderMale
    RoleDedicator
  • NameServandus
    GenderMale
    Age RangeSubadult (13–20) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
    Legal StatusFreedman / Freedwoman
    RoleDedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Boppert (CSIR). Selzer and also Knebusch propose a dating to the broad 1st century AD. Cugusi (CLE) proposes a dating to the reign of Augustus or Tiberius specifically.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze? no

Dating

Date (From) 1 AD
Date (To) 50 AD
Date (Criteria)
  • palaeography
  • language

Bibliography

Images

  • Epitaph of the freedman Servandus by his patrons, the Valerii Lucius, Caius and Sextus.

    Epitaph of the freedman Servandus by his patrons, the Valerii Lucius, Caius and Sextus.

    Source: EDCS-11001182 (c) Institut für Alte Geschichte Osnabrück

Editing History

Created 2025-10-08, by Fabio Spalla
Work Status Complete
Import Notice
Revisions
  1. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-11 08:13
  2. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-11 08:21
  3. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-11 08:25
  4. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-11 09:04
  5. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-11 09:08
  6. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-11 14:01
  7. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-11 16:30
  8. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-11 16:59
  9. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-09-13 16:24
  10. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-15 06:05
  11. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-15 06:06
  12. by Fabio Spalla
    at 2025-09-15 09:50
  13. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-10-08 14:11
  14. by Chiara Cenati
    at 2025-10-08 14:12
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