Inscriptions: Epitaph of the imperial slave Severa by her husband
Identification
| Reference as: | MPL02241 |
|---|---|
| Title | Epitaph of the imperial slave Severa by her husband |
| Trismegistos-No. | 348731 |
Object
Provenance and Location
| Find Place | Carthago |
|---|---|
| Find Context | Byrsa, cemetery of the "officiales" of Bir-el-Djebbana, inside a masonry tomb. |
| Latitude | 0.0 |
| Longitude | 0.0 |
| Current Location | unknown |
| Inventory number | |
| Current Location Details | |
| Vicinity |
Object Details
| Object Type | slab |
|---|---|
| Material | marble |
| State of Preservation | complete |
| Dimensions |
width: 26.0 cm height: 37.0 cm depth: unknown |
| Letter Size in cm (min) | 0.0 |
| Letter Size in cm (max) | 0.0 |
| Execution Technique | chiselled |
| Religion | Pagan |
Decoration
| Decoration and Iconography | |
|---|---|
| Decoration Tags |
|
Verse Layouts
-
Prose Verse Presence Verse interrupted by prose Prose Verse Distinction - No distinction
Layout Types (Prose) - Centered
- Left aligned
Layout Types (Verse) - Left aligned
Scriptio Continua in verse part no Abbreviations in verse part yes Verse Line Correspondence No Graphic Signs and Spaces for Easier Carmen Reading - To separate words - Interpunction
Text
| Function | funerary inscription |
|---|---|
| Language(s) |
|
| Verse Type(s) |
|
| Rhythmisation | Quantitative scheme |
Inscription & Translations
TVQVICVMQPIVSVELINBENIG
NVSLEGENSEITVM Q MEOFLESAE
TATEMMAEQVAEAVTENONDEBVI
5TALEM Q LVCEMNECTALESSVPEROS
LINQVEREQVAREMQVEDICIS:FVIENIM
HOBESCAROSPONSOCVIVS Q MO
RESTIMIDASEMPRER Q CASTITATEM
VIVSQCARITATEMSERVAVIQVIA
10ETENIMISAMEMEREBATVRQVIME
TAMCASTEDILIGEBATVIXIADQSIM
PLICITERINCVIVSOPVDOREM
NEMONECIACTARENEQAPVTCARO
MARITOINODIARIPOTVI
OQCVM
15QTVSANCTAFEMINAPOTVERIS
TAMCASTEVIVERESCIOENIMPOS
SETECAREDILIGISIMEO Q RITOCAS
TITATIVIVASQVIAEGOPOSTMEVM Q
OBITVMMVLTORVMANNORVM
20MEMORIAMARITORELI
15QTVSANCTAFEMINAPOTVERIS
TAMCASTEVIVERESCIOENIMPOS
SETECAREDILIGISIMEO Q RITOCAS
TITATIVIVASQVIAEGOPOSTMEVM Q
OBITVMMVLTORVMANNORVM
20MEMORIAMARITORELI
SEDAGO
SVPERISGRATIAS
SVPERISGRATIAS
QVODDVMQEO
VIVERENILVOLVPTATIBVSMEIS
NEGAVITQVIAETIPSAMERVERA
SEVERAAVGSERVAPIAVIXANXX
25IIIIMVIDIEXI HSE
FECITMERENTICONIVX
VIVERENILVOLVPTATIBVSMEIS
NEGAVITQVIAETIPSAMERVERA
SEVERAAVGSERVAPIAVIXANXX
25IIIIMVIDIEXI HSE
FECITMERENTICONIVX
Tu, quicumq(ue) pius vel inbenig-
nus, legens eit<ul>um ((Q)) meo, fles ae-
tatem maequae aute<m> non debui
5talem ((Q)) lucem nec tales superos
linquere, quare{m}que dicis: fui enim
hobes caro sponso, cuius ((Q)) mo-
res timida, semp{r}er ((Q)) castitatem
<h>uiusq(ue) caritatem servavi; quia
10{et}enim is a me merebatur; qui me
tam caste diligebat. Vixi ad q(uem) sim-
pliciter, in cuius O pudorem
nemo nec iactare, neq(ue) aput caro
marito inodiari potui. -
O q(uae)cum-
15q(ue) tu, sancta femina, potueris
tam caste vivere. Scio enim pos-
se te care diligi, si meo ((Q)) rito cas-
titati<s> vivas, quia ego post meum ((Q))
obitum multorum annorum
20memoria<m> marito reli<qui>;
15q(ue) tu, sancta femina, potueris
tam caste vivere. Scio enim pos-
se te care diligi, si meo ((Q)) rito cas-
titati<s> vivas, quia ego post meum ((Q))
obitum multorum annorum
20memoria<m> marito reli<qui>;
sed ago
superis gratias,
superis gratias,
quod dum q(u)eo
vivere, nil voluptatibus meis
negavit, quia et ipsa meruera<m>.
Severa, Aug(usti) serva, pia, vix(it) an(nos) XX-
25IIII, m(enses) VI, die(s) XI. (vac. 2) H(ic) s(ita) e(st). (vac. 3)
(vac. 4) Fecit merenti coniux.
vivere, nil voluptatibus meis
negavit, quia et ipsa meruera<m>.
Severa, Aug(usti) serva, pia, vix(it) an(nos) XX-
25IIII, m(enses) VI, die(s) XI. (vac. 2) H(ic) s(ita) e(st). (vac. 3)
(vac. 4) Fecit merenti coniux.
Dis M(anibus) s(acrum).
Tu, quicumq(ue) pius vel inbenignus,
legens eit<ul>um ((Q)) meo,
fles aetatem maequae aute<m>
non debui talem ((Q)) lucem
nec tales superos
linquere, quare{m}que dicis:
fui enim hobes caro sponso,
cuius ((Q)) mores timida, semp{r}er ((Q))
castitatem <h>uiusq(ue) caritatem servavi;
quia {et}enim is a me merebatur;
qui me tam caste diligebat.
Vixi ad q(uem) simpliciter,
in cuius O pudorem nemo nec iactare,
neq(ue) aput caro marito inodiari potui.
O q(uae)cumq(ue) tu, sancta femina, potueris tam caste vivere. Scio enim posse te care diligi, si meo ((Q)) rito castitati<s> vivas, quia ego post meum ((Q)) obitum multorum annorum memoria<m> marito reli<qui>;
sed ago superis gratias,
quod dum q(u)eo vivere, nil voluptatibus meis negavit, quia et ipsa meruera<m>. Severa, Aug(usti) serva, pia, vix(it) an(nos) XXIIII, m(enses) VI, die(s) XI. (vac. 2) H(ic) s(ita) e(st). (vac. 3) (vac. 4) Fecit merenti coniux.
Apparatus
l.3 meo orig., reg. meum
l.4 maequae orig., reg. meque
l.7 hobes orig., reg. opes
l.13 aput orig., reg. apud | caro orig., reg. carum
l.14 marito orig., reg. maritum
l.17 rito orig., reg. ritu
l.22 nil orig., reg. nihil
l.26 coniux orig., reg. coniunx
Text follows Butini. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.
l. 3: leges, Bianchi. fles, Bianchi.
ll. 3-4: ae/tat[e]m meque. A[n]te, CIL.
l. 4: mae(stus), CLE; ILTun. mae(am), Hamdoune.
l. 6: Qua re<m>?, CIL. quaeris?, CLE; ILTun. Qua re{m}?, Bianchi.
l. 7: hob(oedi)e(n)s, CIL. {h}o⌜p⌝es, Hamdoune.
l. 8: et castitatem, Bianchi.
l. 11: advixi, CIL. vixi ad que(m)?, CLE. atque vixi, Bianchi. ad(ae)q(ue), Hamdoune.
l. 12: pudore, Bianchi.
ll.14-15: Q(uae)cum/q(ue) tu (es), CIL.
l. 16: Scito, CLE; Bianchi.
l. 17: ritu, Bianchi.
l. 20: reli(nquo), Hamdoune.
ll. 21-22: dum e[g]o viver[em], CIL; Bianchi. dum q(um) eo / viver(em), Hamdoune.
{Q} and {O}: paragraphoi. {Q} could represent hederae, Hamdoune.
Main Translation
| Translation |
(This monument is) sacred to the Dei Manes. Whoever you are, good or un-benevolent, that while reading my inscription mourn for my age because I shouldn’t have left such life and such living ones, and say “why”: I was indeed the treasure of (my) dear husband of which I, being fearful of him, have preserved the habits, the chastity, and his affection; and this is exactly because, he was deserving me, he who loved me so chastely (sc. I have made this because he was deserving it since he loved me…). I lived honestly beside him, (so that) nobody (could) publicly speak against his modesty, and I could not be hated at the (solely) presence of (my) dear husband. O whoever you are, pious woman (sc. taking my place beside my husband), may you live as chastely (as me). In fact, I know that you (too) could be loved dearly if you follow my ritual of chastity, because, after my death, I left to (my/your?) husband a memory of many years; by the way, I thank the upper gods because as long as I could live, he never denied anything to my pleasures, because I was deserving it myself. Severa slave of the emperor, pious, lived twenty-four years, six months, eleven days. Here she lies. (Her) husband made (this tomb) up for her since she deserved it. |
|---|---|
| Citation | M. Butini |
Other Translations
- C(onsagrado) a los dioses m(anes). Tú, quienquiera que seas, bueno o malo, al leer mi epitafio llorarás por la suerte de mi vida -pues no debí abandonarla, ni tampoco a mis seres queridos- y te preguntarás las circunstancias; fui un buen punto de apoyo para mi querido esposo y, siempre prudente en mi conducta, le he guardado fidelidad y dedicado lo mi cariño, pues lo merecía de mi parte, él que me amaba tan fielmente. Viví junto a él sin problemas, acerca de cuya honradez nadie ha podido hablar mal, ni encontrar motivo alguno en mi marido capaz de moverlo al odio. Quienquiera que seas tú, santa mujer, ojalá puedas vivir tan castamente, pues has de saber que puedes llegar a ser amada como yo, si logras vivir conservando mi misma castidad; yo, tras mi muerte, dejo a mi marido el recuerdo de los muchos años que hemos compartido y le doy gracias a los dioses porque, mientras he vivido con él, no ha dicho que no a ninguno de mis deseos, considerando que también yo lo merecía. Severa, esclava fiel de Augusto, vivió veinticuatro años, seis meses y once días. Aquí está enterrada. Su esposo lo hizo para la que lo merecía. (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez)
- Consacré aux dieux Mânes. Que tu sois pieux ou insensible, en lisant mon inscription, tu vas pleurer sur ma jeunesse ; je n'aurais pas dû quitter le bonheur de la lumière ni la bienveillance des dieux d'en haut. Pourqoi ? dis-tu. Parce que j'ai été un trésor pour mon cher époux, dont j'ai su conserver par ma constante réserve les égards, la fidélité et l'affection. En effet, puisqu'il méritait mon estime, lui qui m'amait si fidèlement, j'ai mené une vie droite et nul n'a pu faire la moindre critique contre ma pudeur ni me rendre odieuse à mon cher époux. Qui que tu sois, vénérable femme, tu peux vivre aussi chastement. En effet, je suis sûre que tu peux être aimée tendrement, si tu adoptes mes principes de fidélité, car après ma mort je laisse mon souvenir à mon mari pour de nombreuses annèes. Mais je remercie les dieux, parce que, tant que j'ai vécu avec lui, il n'a rien refusé pour me faire plaisir: je l'avais bien mérité. Severa, esclave impériale, a vécu pieusement vingt-trois ans, six mois et onze jours. Elle se trouve ici. Son époux a fait ce tombeau en hommage à ses mérites. (French , C. Hamdoune)
Prosopographical Information
-
Name Severa Gender Female Age Range Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high] Legal Status Slave Role Dedicatee
Further Information
Comment
Dating proposed by Lassère.
Squeeze
| Have Squeeze? | no |
|---|
Dating
| Date (From) | 101 AD |
|---|---|
| Date (To) | 200 AD |
| Date (Criteria) |
|
Bibliography
- CIL 08, Suppl. 01, 13134
- CLE 01606
- ILTun 00915
- A. L. Delattre, Musée Lavigerie de Saint-Louis de Carthage, Vol. 2. Époque romaine, Paris 1899, 82-83 (with photo, tab. 20, fig. 2) 🔗 link
- J. Cholodniak, Carmina sepulcralia latina epigraphica, Petersburg 1904, 79, no. 216. 🔗 link
- E. Bianchi, Carmina Latina Epigraphica Africana, Stud. It. Filol. Class. 18 (1910), 70. 🔗 link
- J. Poukens, Syntaxe des inscriptions latines d'Afrique, Leuven 1912, 260. 🔗 link
- J.-M. Lassère, Recherches sur la chronologie des épitaphes païennes de l'Africa, Ant. Afr. 7 (1973), 139 (on dating) 🔗 link
- D. Pikhaus, Répertoire des inscriptions latines versifiées de l'Afrique romaine (Ier-VIe siècles), Vol. 1. Tripolitaine, Byzacène, Afrique Proconsulaire, Bruxelles 1994, 67, no. A25. 🔗 link
- C. Fernández Martínez, Poesía epigráfica latina II, Madrid 1999, 209, no. 1606 (Spanish translation) 🔗 link
- C. Hamdoune, Vie, mort et poésie dans l'Afrique romaine d'après un choix de Carmina Latina Epigraphica, Bruxelles 2011, 88-90, nr. 42 (with French translation and photo, tab. 13, fig. 13) 🔗 link
- M. Butini, The Carmina Latina Epigraphica of Carthage. Edition, translation, and commentary, Seville 2024, 127-150, no. 4 (with English translation and photos, 132-133, figg. 28-30) 🔗 link
- EDCS-25002134 🔗 link
- SIRAR 3307 🔗 link
Images
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Epitaph of the imperial slave Severa by her husband.
Source: EDCS-25002134 (c) Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum - BBAW
Editing History
| Created | 2026-09-07, by Fabio Spalla |
|---|---|
| Work Status | Complete |
| Import Notice |
Revisions
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by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-13 08:42 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-13 08:59 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-13 09:34 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-13 09:54 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-13 09:56 -
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-10-19 13:40 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-11-11 10:39 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-11-11 10:46 -
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-11-11 10:47 -
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-11-18 13:33 -
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-11-18 13:38 -
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-11-18 13:38 -
by Anna Martelli
at 2026-09-07 08:39