Inscriptions: Epitaph of the verna Philo by his father Vibius Gemellus

Identification

Reference as:	MPL02244
Title	Epitaph of the verna Philo by his father Vibius Gemellus
Trismegistos-No.	337856

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Caesarea
Find Context	Rue des bains, on the edge of a private property, 1840.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	unknown
Inventory number
Current Location Details	In the museum in Algiers at the time of CIL and CLE.
Vicinity	[{"coords": [36.6073, 2.18683], "id": 2244, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2244", "long_id": "MPL02244", "place": "Caesarea", "text": "Philo, L(uci) Vibi Secundi vern(a). Vibius Gemellu\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the verna Philo by his father Vibius Gemellus"}, {"coords": [36.6073, 2.18683], "id": 807, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/807", "long_id": "MPL00807", "place": "Caesarea", "text": "Iuliae reg\u0323[is [---] l(ibertae) Calloni] C(aius) I\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://ccj-epicherchel.huma-num.fr/interface/phototheque/125/112988_det.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Iulia Callo by her husband C.Iulius, freedwoman and freedman of king Juba"}, {"coords": [36.6073, 2.18683], "id": 808, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/808", "long_id": "MPL00808", "place": "Caesarea", "text": "[Hic eg]o quae iaceo fatis sum rapta sinistris. [S\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$AE_1985_00958.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of an unknown girl from Caesarea"}, {"coords": [36.6073, 2.18683], "id": 809, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/809", "long_id": "MPL00809", "place": "Caesarea", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] n(um) X [---] dolere nol\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Caesarea \u2013 Cherchell (Mauretania Caesariensis) - HD002885"}, {"coords": [36.6073, 2.18683], "id": 2239, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2239", "long_id": "MPL02239", "place": "Caesarea", "text": "Salvius. Duo. Bis denos vitae qu[i compleverat\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://books.openedition.org/efr/file/3201/tei/img-2.jpg/download/1500", "title": "Epitaph of the slave Salvius"}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 210, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/210", "long_id": "MPL00210", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "Hic iacet egregia meritis et gratia morum, nobilis\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$ER_CLE_01836.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Astania"}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 388, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/388", "long_id": "MPL00388", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "Si quis ut vivat quaerit addisc-cere semper, hic l\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$EDCS-26500017.jpg", "title": "Mosaic inscription from a baptistery "}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 391, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/391", "long_id": "MPL00391", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "Vivite felices quibu[s] haec sunt condita tecta, s\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Didactic mosaic from Tipasa"}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 397, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/397", "long_id": "MPL00397", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "Resurrectionem carnis futuram esse qui credit. Ang\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder.php?s_language=it\u0026bild=$Zarker_00073.jpg", "title": "Mosaic inscription on the Resurrection"}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 398, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/398", "long_id": "MPL00398", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "Quisquis es Christianus ad sublimia vere qui tendi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Mosaic inscription on the importance of charity"}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 399, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/399", "long_id": "MPL00399", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "Suscipit eximium sublimis regia caeli Basilium mer\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Basilius"}, {"coords": [36.7245, 3.55632], "id": 400, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/400", "long_id": "MPL00400", "place": "beni A\u00efcha hill", "text": "EPIDOC IS INVALID; UPDATE WITH WELL-FORMED XML", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "The inscription from the beni A\u00efcha hill"}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 403, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/403", "long_id": "MPL00403", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "Alexander episcopu[s l]egibus ipsis altaribus natu\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the bishop Alexander"}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 405, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/405", "long_id": "MPL00405", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "Qui potuit cunctos operum superare labores explici\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Mosaic inscription about some work of rearrangement in Tipasa"}, {"coords": [36.241, 1.64184], "id": 406, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/406", "long_id": "MPL00406", "place": "Tigava", "text": "Memorie Aurelie Tistciae, qui istitit sepultura. E\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Aurelia Tistcia"}, {"coords": [36.1444, 3.69127], "id": 411, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/411", "long_id": "MPL00411", "place": "Auzia", "text": "Sumptibus e propriis Felix Calvusque gratantes han\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "An altar to Phoebus"}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 412, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/412", "long_id": "MPL00412", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "\u039c\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u03ce\u03bd\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03ae\u03bd\u03b4\u1fbd(\u03b5)\u03b9-\u03c3\u03bf\u03c1\u1fb7\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f14\u03bd\u03b5\u03bd\u03ba\u03b1\u03bd \u03b3-\u03bd\u03af[\u03c3]\u03b9\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Maxima"}, {"coords": [36.5942, 2.44192], "id": 798, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/798", "long_id": "MPL00798", "place": "Tipasa", "text": "Alto labsa loco, casu defuncta nefando. Primis rap\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$JL_AE_1982_00984.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Fidentia by her father Fidentius"}, {"coords": [36.2964, 3.66993], "id": 855, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/855", "long_id": "MPL00855", "place": "A\u00efn-Bessem", "text": "Balnea rura domus fec[it C]onstantius auctor et fe\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Inscription from A\u00efn-Bessem, bei (Mauretania Caesariensis) - HD023151"}]

Object Details

Object Type	unknown
Material	marble
State of Preservation	incomplete
Dimensions	width: 46.0 cm height: 74.0 cm depth: unknown
Letter Size in cm (min)	1.0
Letter Size in cm (max)	2.0
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Unknown

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence Praescriptum + carmen
Scriptio Continua in verse part no
Abbreviations in verse part no
Verse Line Correspondence No, but follows metrical subdivisions

Prose Verse Presence	Praescriptum + carmen
Scriptio Continua in verse part	no
Abbreviations in verse part	no
Verse Line Correspondence	No, but follows metrical subdivisions

Text

Function	funerary inscription
Language(s)	Latin
Verse Type(s)	Elegiac couplet
Rhythmisation	Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

PHILOLVIBISECVNDIVERN
VIBIVSGEMELLVSFILIOSVOF

HICLAPISOSSATEGITMISERICOLLECTAPHILONISQVEMVASIIDLSHICIIA[···]
CVMMISERINQVINTVM[··]V[·]IR[···]VENERATANN[··]O[·]INCLO[···]AC[···]SVI[···]
5QVEMPARVOMINV[·]CATII[····]SERIPVEREI[··]NIMII[····]IIGREMIOM[·········]
PERLEGEVERSVCVLOS[····]NITVS[·········]IICIICOLO[·]SS[············]

Philo, L(uci) Vibi Secundi vern(a).
Vibius Gemellus filio suo f(ecit).

Hic lapis ossa tegit miseri collecta Philonis, quem VASIIDLS hic IIA[...]
cum miser in quintum [..]V[.]IR[...] venerat ann[um ..]O[.]inclo[...]ac[...] sui [...]
5quem parvom inu[.]catii[. 4.]S eripuere I[..]nimii[. 4.]ii gremio M[. 9.]
perlege versuculos [. 4.]nitus [. 9.] IICIICOLO[.]SS[. 12.]

Philo, L(uci) Vibi Secundi vern(a). Vibius Gemellus filio suo f(ecit).

Hic lapis ossa tegit miseri collecta Philonis,
quem VASIIDLS hic IIA[...]
cum miser in quintum [..]V[.]IR[...] venerat ann[um]
[..]O[.]inclo[...]ac[...] sui [...]
quem parvom inu[.]catii[. 4.]S eripuere
I[..]nimii[. 4.]ii gremio M[. 9.]
perlege versuculos [. 4.]nitus [. 9.]
IICIICOLO[.]SS[. 12.]

Apparatus

l.5 reg., orig. parvom | reg., orig. eripuere
l.6 reg., orig. versuculos

Text follows CIL and CLE.
l. 3: ossa...miserico...s...ab...hlc, Renier. quem [par]va sedes hic t[enet exanimem], Cholodniak.
l. 4: miserinou..., Renier. cum miser in quintum [n]u[p]er [per]venerat ann[um]. [h]o[c v]inclo [fr]ac[to] su[stinuit Lachesin], Cholodniak.
l. 5: qumaparvo..., Renier. quem parvom im[pia f[at[a parentibu]s eripuere [exa]nim[em e] gremio m[atris itemque patris], Cholodniak.
l. 6: frteceupersuculoscro..., Renier. perlege versuculos [mo]nitus [quicumque viator, et lecto dica]s: «s[it tibi terra levis!»], Cholodniak.

Main Translation

Translation	Philo, household slave of Lucius Vibius Secundus. Vibius Gemellus put this up for his son. This stone covers the piled bones of poor Philo, who ... here ... When he, poor thing, was reaching his fifth year ... little child who ... snatched away from the lap ... read through these short verses ...
Citation	Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

Esta lápida cubre todos los huesos del desgraciado Filón, a quien aquí, *** cuando el pobre acababa de cumplir su quinto año, *** a quien demasiado pequeño arrancaron del seno de su madre *** lee estos breves versos *** (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez)

Prosopographical Information

Name Philo
Gender Male
Age Range Infant (0–12) [expression: Non-canonical, precision: undetermined]
Legal Status Slave
Role Dedicatee
Name Lucius Vibius Secundus
Gender Male
Legal Status Roman citizen
Rank Ordo equester
Profession Imperial and municipal staff
Name Vibius Gemellus
Gender Male
Legal Status Freedman / Freedwoman
Role Dedicator

Name	Philo
Gender	Male
Age Range	Infant (0–12) [expression: Non-canonical, precision: undetermined]
Legal Status	Slave
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Lucius Vibius Secundus
Gender	Male
Legal Status	Roman citizen
Rank	Ordo equester
Profession	Imperial and municipal staff

Name	Vibius Gemellus
Gender	Male
Legal Status	Freedman / Freedwoman
Role	Dedicator

Further Information

Comment

Dating based on the name of Lucius Vibius Secundus, procurator in Mauretania Caesariensis around the year 60 AD (PIR).

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	51 AD
Date (To)	100 AD
Date (Criteria)	prosopography

Bibliography

CIL 08, 09508
CLE 01234
PIR 00398 (on Lucius Vibius Secundus as dating criterion)
L. Renier, Inscriptions romaines de l'Algérie, Paris 1855, 486, nr. 3990. 🔗 link
J. Cholodniak, Carmina sepulcralia latina epigraphica, Petersburg 1904, 182, nr. 510. 🔗 link
C. Fernández Martínez, Poesía epigráfica latina II, Madrid 1999, 44, nr. 1234 (Spanish translation of ll. 3-6) 🔗 link
S. J. Heyworth, Hard verses and soft books: the materials of elegy. In: A. Petrovic (ed.), I. Petrovic (ed.), E. Thomas, The materiality of text - Placement, perception, and presence of inscribed texts in Classical Antiquity, Boston and Leiden 2019, 207, n. 10 (with English translation of l. 3) 🔗 link
EDCS-25100212 🔗 link
MQDQ 🔗 link

Images

Editing History

Created	2025-11-18, by Fabio Spalla
Work Status	Complete
Import Notice

Revisions

by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-21 09:20
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-21 09:42
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-21 09:42
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-11-18 14:09

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