Inscriptions: Epitaph of the imperial freedman Severus by his son Severianus

Identification

Reference as:	MPL02246
Title	Epitaph of the imperial freedman Severus by his son Severianus
Trismegistos-No.	205235

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Lambaesis
Find Context	Two kilometres South of the Capitolium, 1939.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	unknown
Inventory number
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"coords": [35.4897, 6.25484], "id": 2246, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2246", "long_id": "MPL02246", "place": "Lambaesis", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum). Severus, Aug(usti) l`i\u00b4b\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the imperial freedman Severus by his son Severianus"}, {"coords": [35.4897, 6.25484], "id": 421, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/421", "long_id": "MPL00421", "place": "Lambaesis", "text": "In-vide viv-[e] et vid-e et possis 5plura videre.", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Mosaic with an apotropaic inscription"}, {"coords": [35.4897, 6.25484], "id": 877, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/877", "long_id": "MPL00877", "place": "Lambaesis", "text": "Moenia qui Risinni Aeacia qui colis arcem Delmatia\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Votive inscription from Lambaesis"}, {"coords": [35.4897, 6.25484], "id": 890, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/890", "long_id": "MPL00890", "place": "Lambaesis", "text": "Moenia quisq(ue) dolet nova condere successori inc\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Building/dedicatory inscription from Lambaesis \u2013 Tazoult-Lamb\u00e8se (Numidia) - HD033601"}, {"coords": [35.4042, 8.12231], "id": 222, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/222", "long_id": "MPL00222", "place": "Theveste", "text": "[Hic iac]es extinc-[ta, Pat]ri gratissi-[ma] virgo\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Urbica"}, {"coords": [35.4852, 6.46822], "id": 387, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/387", "long_id": "MPL00387", "place": "Thamugadi", "text": "Ales homo, nume(n) virtus et gloria pal(mae) Romul\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Statue base dedicated to Victoria"}, {"coords": [36.75, 4.75], "id": 401, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/401", "long_id": "MPL00401", "place": "Fundus Petrensis", "text": "Praesidium aeternae firmat Prudentia pacis, rem qu\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "The inscription of the Praedium Sammacis"}, {"coords": [36.1921, 5.40418], "id": 413, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/413", "long_id": "MPL00413", "place": "Sitifis", "text": "(H)ic Pacate sedem locas baptis-mate purus quartum\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder.php?s_language=it\u0026bild=$AE_1966_00587.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Pacatus"}, {"coords": [36.1921, 5.40418], "id": 414, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/414", "long_id": "MPL00414", "place": "Sitifis", "text": "Invida sidereo rumpantur pectora visu cedat et in \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Mosaic inscription with the god Ocean and the Nereids"}, {"coords": [36.1921, 5.40418], "id": 417, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/417", "long_id": "MPL00417", "place": "Sitifis", "text": "Victoris biarci patris pietas et dolor. Victori fi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Victor"}, {"coords": [36.1921, 5.40418], "id": 418, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/418", "long_id": "MPL00418", "place": "Sitifis", "text": "Si par vivendi reparatur gratia, Manes, en qui per\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Secundus"}, {"coords": [35.4852, 6.46822], "id": 419, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/419", "long_id": "MPL00419", "place": "Thamugadi", "text": "Dignis digna me-rent[ibus] [corona]. 5[L]eg[as et]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "A mosaic inscription from Thamugadi"}, {"coords": [36.3177, 5.73668], "id": 420, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/420", "long_id": "MPL00420", "place": "Cuicul", "text": "[gentes t]empus erit omnes in fonte [lavari].", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "A mosaic inscription from Cuicul"}, {"coords": [35.5038, 6.0773], "id": 422, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/422", "long_id": "MPL00422", "place": "Lambiridi", "text": "Invide vive et vid-e, ut possis plura vi-5dere.", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Mosaic with an apotropaic inscription "}, {"coords": [35.4042, 8.12231], "id": 424, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/424", "long_id": "MPL00424", "place": "Theveste", "text": "Invide, vive et vi-de, u\u003ct\u003e plu-ra po[ss]eis vi-5d\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Apotropaic inscription from the territory of Theveste"}, {"coords": [36.8825, 7.75127], "id": 426, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/426", "long_id": "MPL00426", "place": "Hippo Regius", "text": "Semper bene! Invide di-sce.", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Apotropaic inscription from the territory of Hippo Regius"}, {"coords": [36.8825, 7.75127], "id": 427, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/427", "long_id": "MPL00427", "place": "Hippo Regius", "text": "Donatistarum crudeli caede peremptum Infossum hic \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Nabor"}, {"coords": [36.8825, 7.75127], "id": 428, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/428", "long_id": "MPL00428", "place": "Hippo Regius", "text": "Hic corpus iacet pueri nominandi, o benedicte puer\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Renatus"}, {"coords": [36.1978, 7.65238], "id": 430, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/430", "long_id": "MPL00430", "place": "Thubursicum Numidarum", "text": "Hortaris in vitam, miscens adversa sec(un)-dis. Cl\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Base of a statue for Fortuna in Thubursicum Numidarum"}, {"coords": [36.0776, 7.90229], "id": 431, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/431", "long_id": "MPL00431", "place": "Madauros", "text": "Saepae sacrum sanctis Mauris facias libens.", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Inscription refering to the Dii Mauri"}, {"coords": [36.8825, 7.75127], "id": 432, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/432", "long_id": "MPL00432", "place": "Hippo Regius", "text": "Pa\u003ct\u003ee\u003cr\u003e ne vivas cum tuis. In(vid)e, vive et vid\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Christian apotropaic inscription from Hippo Regius"}, {"coords": [36.0776, 7.90229], "id": 433, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/433", "long_id": "MPL00433", "place": "Madauros", "text": "Fidelis in pace sita castissima virgo. [---] Tumu[\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of a young girl from Madauros"}, {"coords": [36.8825, 7.75127], "id": 441, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/441", "long_id": "MPL00441", "place": "Hippo Regius", "text": "Quisquis amat dictis absentum rodere vitam, hanc m\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Moralising maxim on a communal table at Hippo Regius"}, {"coords": [36.8825, 7.75127], "id": 1646, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1646", "long_id": "MPL01646", "place": "Hippo Regius", "text": "Euticius quem genu[it---] [---remo]to in [l]oco qu\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Euticius"}, {"coords": [36.8814, 6.90558], "id": 247, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/247", "long_id": "MPL00247", "place": "Rusicade", "text": "Pompeia Chia v(ixit) a(nnos) XXV h(ic) s(ita) e(st\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for Pompeia Chia"}, {"coords": [36.8814, 6.90558], "id": 2243, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2243", "long_id": "MPL02243", "place": "Rusicade", "text": "Within frame: Pax sibi vivos homo posuit Anton\u0361\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Antonius Pax on an altar to himself"}, {"coords": [36.3681, 6.6133], "id": 248, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/248", "long_id": "MPL00248", "place": "Cirta", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) M(arcus) Mundicius Saturninus v(ix\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for Umbria Matronica"}, {"coords": [36.3681, 6.6133], "id": 249, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/249", "long_id": "MPL00249", "place": "Cirta", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) memoriae Iulia Sidonia felix de no\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Altar for Iulia Sidonia"}, {"coords": [36.3681, 6.6133], "id": 250, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/250", "long_id": "MPL00250", "place": "Cirta", "text": "Casta pudica fui Mnesithea [b]ona marito in fide q\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Aurelia Mnesithea"}, {"coords": [35.4852, 6.46822], "id": 251, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/251", "long_id": "MPL00251", "place": "Thamugadi", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum) Berula morigero sine crim\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Berula"}, {"coords": [36.1921, 5.40418], "id": 836, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/836", "long_id": "MPL00836", "place": "Sitifis", "text": "In[m]atura quidem mortis honore dotata ist[a su]is\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Inscription from Sitifis \u2013 S\u00e9tif (Mauretania Caesariensis) - HD016652"}, {"coords": [36.6676, 4.84622], "id": 811, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/811", "long_id": "MPL00811", "place": "Tubusuctu", "text": "Ter senos an-nos natus in flo-re iuventae hunc tum\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Tubusuctu \u2013 El-Kseur (Tiklat) (Mauretania Caesariensis) - HD002999"}]

Object Details

Object Type	altar
Material	limestone
State of Preservation	complete
Dimensions	width: 48.0 cm height: 101.0 cm depth: 43.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	2.5
Letter Size in cm (max)	6.0
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography	Inscription within moulded frame.
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence	Praescriptum + carmen + subscriptum
Prose Verse Distinction	Yes, by bigger lettering in prose Yes, by different layout Yes, by vacat
Layout Types (Prose)	Centered Left aligned
Layout Types (Verse)	Left aligned
Scriptio Continua in verse part	no
Abbreviations in verse part	no
Verse Line Correspondence	No
Graphic Signs and Spaces for Easier Carmen Reading	To separate verses - Hedera

Text

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

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

DMS
SEVERVS
AVGL`I´B hedera VIXIT
ANNISLXXV

5MONTESVBHOC
LAPIDVMTEGI
TVRHISIPSESEPVL
TVS hedera NOCTEVIATV
TVTVSCARPEVIATOR
10ITER

SEVERIA
NVSAVGLIB hedera PATRI
ETMATRICARISSI
MISPOSVIT

D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum).
Severus,
Aug(usti) l`i´b(ertus), ((hedera)) vixit
annis LXXV.

5Monte sub hoc
lapidum tegi-
tur his ipse sepul
tus ((hedera)) nocte via<m> tu-
tutus carpe viator
10iter.

( vac. 2) -

Severia-
nus Aug(usti) lib(ertus) ((hedera)) patri
et matri carissi-
mis posuit.

D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum). Severus, Aug(usti) l`i´b(ertus), ((hedera)) vixit annis LXXV.

Monte sub hoc lapidum tegitur his ipse sepul | tus ((hedera))
nocte via<m> tututus carpe viator iter.

( vac. 2)

Severianus Aug(usti) lib(ertus) ((hedera)) patri et matri carissimis posuit.

Apparatus

Text follows Arena. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.
l. 7: his instead of hic for reasons of quantity, Leschi; Lassère; Arena. his meaning lapidibus, Courtney. his instead of is or hic, or referred to lapidum (l. 6), CLE.
ll. 5-10: reference to Vergil, Monte sub hoc lapidum tegitur Ballista sepultus / nocte die tutum carpe viator iter, from Suetonius' "Life of Vergil".

Main Translation

Translation	Severus, freedman of the emperor, lived secenty-five years. He himself, buried beneath this mount of stones, is covered by them. By night (and day), traveller, journey in safety. Severianus, freedman of the emperor, erected this to his dear father and mother.
Citation	E. Courtney

Other Translations

Agli dèi Mani consacrato. Severus, liberto imperiale, settantacinque anni ha vissuto. Sotto questo cumulo di pietre sepolto, questi è da esse custodito. Nella notte sicuro della via, viandante, procedi. Severianus, liberto imperiale, al padre ed alla madre carissimi pose. (Italian, M. E. Arena)

Prosopographical Information

Name Severus
Gender Male
Age Range Senile (61+) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Legal Status Freedman / Freedwoman
Role Dedicatee
Name Severianus
Gender Male
Legal Status Freedman / Freedwoman
Role Dedicator

Name	Severus
Gender	Male
Age Range	Senile (61+) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Legal Status	Freedman / Freedwoman
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Severianus
Gender	Male
Legal Status	Freedman / Freedwoman
Role	Dedicator

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Leschi.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	171 AD
Date (To)	230 AD
Date (Criteria)	names

Bibliography

CLEAfr 00128
CLE 02838
L. Leschi, Bulletin archéologique du Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques. 12 mai 1941. Séance de la Commission de l'Afrique du Nord, Bull. Arch. Com. Trav. Hist. 1941-1942 (1941), 95-98, nr. 1 (also on dating) - AE 1941 🔗 link
AE 1941, 00043
J. W. Zarker, Studies in the Carmina Latina Epigraphica, Princeton 1958, 213, nr. 109. 🔗 link
J.-M. Lassère, Sentiments et culture d'après les épitaphes latines d'Afrique, Bull. Ass. Budé 1965, 2 (1965), 223-224. 🔗 link
J. W. Zarker, A possible Vergilian parody of the Carmina Latina Epigraphica, Helikon 8 (1968), 392-398 (with photo, 397) 🔗 link
J. W. Zarker, A possible Vergilian parody of the Carmina Latina Epigraphica. In: Acta of the Fifth International Congress of Greek and Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge 1967, Oxford 1971, 451-453. 🔗 link
E. Courtney, Musa lapidaria. A selection of Latin verse inscriptions, Atlanta 1995, 80-81, 281-282, nr. 62b (with English translation) 🔗 link
D. Cherry, Frontier and society in Roman North Africa, Oxford 1998, 206, 223. 🔗 link
P. Cugusi, Carmina Latina Epigraphica e novellismo. Cultura di centro e cultura di provincia: contenuti e metodologia di ricerca, Mat. Disc. An. testi Clas. 53 (2004), 152-153. 🔗 link
P. Cugusi, Per un nuovo corpus dei Carmina Latina Epigraphica, Materiali e discussioni, Roma 2007, 150. 🔗 link
M. E. Arena, Praeteritae carmina vitae. Pietre e parole di Numidia, Rome 2011, 222-225, nr. N_38_L_20 (with Italian translation, photo and facsimile, 222) 🔗 link
J. Velaza, In Ballistam. Entre la literatura y la epigrafía. In: J. A. Beltrán Cebollada (ed.), A. Encuentra Ortega (ed.) et al., Otium cum dignitate. Estudios en homenaje al profesor José Javier Iso Echegoyen, Zaragoza 2013, 777-781 - AE 2015 🔗 link
AE 2015, 00074
EDCS-15700076 🔗 link
HD021222 🔗 link
MQDQ 🔗 link

Images

Editing History

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

Revisions

by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-29 08:55
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-29 09:54
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-29 11:43
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-10-29 11:44
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-11-18 14:16

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