Inscriptions: Funerary inscription for Aelia Aeliana

Identification

Reference as:	MPL00029
Title	Funerary inscription for Aelia Aeliana
Trismegistos-No.	437676

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Arelate
Find Context
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	Arles, Musée départemental Arles antique
Inventory number
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 29, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/29", "long_id": "MPL00029", "place": "Arelate", "text": "Aeliae Aelia[nae.] Littera qui nosti, lege casum\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ensemble-1.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Aelia Aeliana"}, {"coords": [43.6776, 4.6308], "id": 2161, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2161", "long_id": "MPL02161", "place": "Arelate", "text": "[Caec]i\u0323[lio] N\u0323igro fa[br](o) [nav(ali)]. [Pr\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/stele-scaled.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the faber navalis Caecilius Niger"}, {"coords": [43.8432, 4.35418], "id": 50, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/50", "long_id": "MPL00050", "place": "Nemausus", "text": "Hoc monimentum maesoleumque mo-nimentorum caus{s}a\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary monument of Hostilia"}, {"coords": [44.2404, 5.07335], "id": 806, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/806", "long_id": "MPL00806", "place": "Vasio Vocontiorum", "text": "Front \u03b5\u1f30\u03b8\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f7b\u03c7\u03b7\u03c2 \u0392\u1f75\u03bb\u1ff3 \u03a3\u1f73\u03be\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b8\u1f73\u03c4\u03bf \u03b2\u03c9-\u03bc\u1f79\u03bd,\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db-edcs-eu.uaccess.univie.ac.at/epigr/bilder/$CIL_12_01277_1.jpg", "title": "Votive inscription by Sextus on an altar to Belus"}, {"coords": [44.7524, 5.37041], "id": 848, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/848", "long_id": "MPL00848", "place": "Dea Augusta Vocontiorum", "text": "[D(is) M(anibus)] G(ai) Iuli Ica[ri?] G(aius) Iuli\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Dea Augusta Vocontiorum \u2013 Die (Narbonensis) - HD018851"}, {"coords": [43.4413, 5.37884], "id": 955, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/955", "long_id": "MPL00955", "place": "Cabri\u00e8s", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069]lli[---] amisisse [dole?]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Cabri\u00e8s (Narbonensis) - HD045453"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2063, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2063", "long_id": "MPL02063", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Part A: C\u0323(aius) Of\u0323[illi]u\u0323s\u0323 C(ai) l(ibertus) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$CIL_12_05026.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription by C. Ofillius to himself, his wife, and his son"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2064, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2064", "long_id": "MPL02064", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "[M]ortua cum fueris, fati quod lege necessest, Vst\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$CIL_12_05271.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription to unknown dedicatee"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2090, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2090", "long_id": "MPL02090", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Tu, coniux miserande, duas quoi funere plagas Obt\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db-edcs-eu.uaccess.univie.ac.at/epigr/bilder/$ILGN_00579.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription by a husband to his wife"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2162, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2162", "long_id": "MPL02162", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Hospitium tibi hoc. Invitus venio. Veniundum 5est \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/N149.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription with a dialogue from Narbonne"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2164, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2164", "long_id": "MPL02164", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "Nec iussa testamento neque voce rogata, sed pia 5p\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/N135.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription from Narbo Martius"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2166, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2166", "long_id": "MPL02166", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "[Sic] tibi praeterito redeat felicior annus [sem]p\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription from Narbo Martius"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2167, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2167", "long_id": "MPL02167", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "------ usta igni f\u0323idissumus atro corpora quae ra\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/N136.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of unknown children by their parents"}, {"coords": [43.1836, 3.0042], "id": 2171, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2171", "long_id": "MPL02171", "place": "Narbo Martius", "text": "L(uci) Octavi Silvan\u0361e, bene\u0323 quiescas. Mater \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/N145.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Lucius Octavius Silvanus by his mother"}, {"coords": [45.5242, 4.87325], "id": 2093, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2093", "long_id": "MPL02093", "place": "Vienna", "text": "((palma)) ((columba)) ((chi-rho)) ((columba)) ((pa\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$RICG_15_00039.jpg", "title": "Christian funerary inscription for Foedula"}, {"coords": [44.1368, 4.80792], "id": 2074, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2074", "long_id": "MPL02074", "place": "Arausio", "text": "Amo te.", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fibula with love dedication from Arausio"}, {"coords": [43.8766, 5.39368], "id": 2083, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2083", "long_id": "MPL02083", "place": "Apta Iulia", "text": "[Dis in]fernis memoriaeq(ue) semper habendae H[ipp\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db-edcs-eu.uaccess.univie.ac.at/epigr/bilder/$ILN-04_00032_1.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription to Hippodamia by her husband"}, {"coords": [43.5262, 5.44541], "id": 2160, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2160", "long_id": "MPL02160", "place": "Aquae Sextiae", "text": "Front: Paulo siste gradum, iuven\u0361is pie, quaeso\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$ILN-03_00041_1.jpg", "title": "Altar with epitaph of Sextus Iulius Felicissimus"}, {"coords": [45.5326, 4.86261], "id": 2163, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2163", "long_id": "MPL02163", "place": "Saint-Romain-en-Gal", "text": "Aetherius moriens dixit: \"Hic condite corpus, terr\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Aetherius"}]

Object Details

Object Type	slab
Material	marble
State of Preservation	fragmentary (adjoining fragments)
Dimensions	width: 61.3 cm height: 39.7 cm depth: 1.5 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	1.8
Letter Size in cm (max)	2.5
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence	Verse interrupted by prose
Prose Verse Distinction	Yes, by bigger lettering in prose
Layout Types (Prose)	Centered
Layout Types (Verse)	Left aligned
Scriptio Continua in verse part	no
Abbreviations in verse part	no
Verse Line Correspondence	Yes
Graphic Signs and Spaces for Easier Carmen Reading	To separate words - Interpunction

Text

Function	funerary inscription
Language(s)	Latin
Verse Type(s)	Dactylic hexameter
Rhythmisation	Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

AELIAEAELIA[]

LITTERAQVINOSTILEGECASVMETD[]
MVLTISARCOPHAGVMDICVNTQVODCONS[]
SETCONCLVSADECENSAPIBVSDOMVSISTA[]
5ONEFASINDIGNVMIACETHICPRAECLA[]
HOCPLVSQVAMDOLORESTRAPTAESTSPECIOS[]
PERVIXITVIRGOVBIIAMMATVRAPLACEBAT
NVPTIASINDIXITGAVDEBANTVOTAPARENTES

VIXITENIMANNXVIIETMENSESVIIDIESQVEXVIII

10OFELICEPATREMQVINONVIDITTALEDOLOREM
HERETETINFIXOPECTOREVOLNVSDIONYSIADIMATRI
ETIVNCTAMSECVMGERONPATERTENETIPSEPVELLAM

Aeliae Aelia[nae.]

Littera qui nosti, lege casum et d[ole puellae].
Multi sarcophagum dicunt quod cons[umit artus],
Set conclusa decens apibus domus ista [vocanda est].
5O nefas indignum, iacet hic praecla[ra puella],
Hoc plus quam dolor est, rapta est specios[a puella].
Peruixit virgo; ubi iam matura placebat,
Nuptias indixit, gaudebant vota parentes.

Vixit enim ann(os) XVII et menses VII diesque XVIII.

10O felice patrem qui non vidit tale dolorem
H(a)eret et in fixo pectore volnus Dionysiadi matri
Et iunctam secum Geron pater tenet ipse puellam.

Aeliae Aelia[nae.]

Littera qui nosti, lege casum et d[ole puellae].
Multi sarcophagum dicunt quod cons[umit artus],
Set conclusa decens apibus domus ista [vocanda est].
O nefas indignum, iacet hic praecla[ra puella],
5Hoc plus quam dolor est, rapta est specios[a puella].
Peruixit virgo; ubi iam matura placebat,
Nuptias indixit, gaudebant vota parentes.

Vixit enim ann(os) XVII et menses VII diesque XVIII.

O felice patrem qui non vidit tale dolorem
H(a)eret et in fixo pectore volnus Dionysiadi matri
10Et iunctam secum Geron pater tenet ipse puellam.

Apparatus

Main Translation

Translation	For Aelia Aeliana. You, who know the letters, read of a girl’s fate and feel the pain: many call a sarcophagus what consumes the limbs: but one must call this a house for bees, shut, and proper. Oh, here lies – an unworthy sacrilege! – a beautiful girl: this is more than just pain, an attractive girl has been snatched away. The girl lived to enjoy aspects of maturity, she announced her marriage, the parents were delighted over the pledge: for she lived 17 years, 7 months, and 18 days. Oh lucky father, who did not get to see such pain. Dionysias, the mother, has a wound tacked onto her heart, and, united with himself, Geron, the father, himself holds the girl.
Citation	Peter Kruschwitz

Other Translations

Tú que conoces el alfabeto, lee y lamenta la suerte de esta niña. Muchos lo llaman sarcófago porque consume los miembros, pero esta especie de nicho adecuado a las abejas, debe ser llamado casa. iOh crimen indigno!, aquí yace una ilustre muchacha, esto es más que un simple dolor, una preciosa muchacha ha sido arrebatada. Vivió hasta el final doncella; cuando ya mayorcita empezaba a agradar, anunció su boda y sus padres se alegraron de su compromiso. Vivió, pues, diecisiete años, siete meses y dieciocho días. iOh, afortunado su padre, porque no vio un dolor tan grande! Pero la herida se ha quedado grabada en el corazón de su madre Dionisíade, y, unida a él, tiene ahora consigo a la niña su padre Gerón. (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez 1998)

Prosopographical Information

Name Aelia Aeliana
Gender Female
Age Range Subadult (13–20) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Origin Native
Legal Status Roman citizen
Role Dedicatee
Name Dionysia
Gender Female
Name Geron
Gender Male

Name	Aelia Aeliana
Gender	Female
Age Range	Subadult (13–20) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Origin	Native
Legal Status	Roman citizen
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Dionysia
Gender	Female

Name	Geron
Gender	Male

Further Information

Comment

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	1 AD
Date (To)	200 AD
Date (Criteria)	names formulae

Bibliography

CIL 12, 00743
CLE 00454
J. Cholodniak, Carmina sepulcralia latina epigraphica, Petersburg 1904, 617. 🔗 link
https://institucional.us.es/cleo/index.php/inscripcion/n036/?lang=es#bibliografia|CLEO N036 🔗 link
https://www.mqdq.it/textsce/CE|ce|0454 🔗 link

Images

Funerary inscription for Aelia Aeliana
CLEO N036. Photo: H. Belloc.

Editing History

Created	2025-03-31, by Denisa Murzea
Work Status	Confirmed
Import Notice

Revisions

by Denisa Murzea
at 2023-09-06 15:55
by Denisa Murzea
at 2023-09-06 15:57
by Denisa Murzea
at 2023-09-06 16:09
by Denisa Murzea
at 2023-09-06 16:10
by Denisa Murzea
at 2023-09-06 16:19
by Denisa Murzea
at 2023-09-06 16:23
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 09:07
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 09:09
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 09:10
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 09:12
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 09:20
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 09:28
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 09:29
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 09:29
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-03-19 12:03

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