Inscriptions: Funerary stele of L. Spurennius Rufus

Identification

Reference as:	MPL00342
Title	Funerary stele of L. Spurennius Rufus
Trismegistos-No.	191431

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Obedinenie
Find Context	Found in the ancient necropolis north of the village
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	Obedinenie
Inventory number
Current Location Details	in the village over the cattle waterer
Vicinity	[{"coords": [43.35, 25.5], "id": 342, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/342", "long_id": "MPL00342", "place": "Obedinenie", "text": "D(is) M(anibus). Si modo sunt Ma-nes, sentiant\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary stele of L. Spurennius Rufus"}, {"coords": [44.1726, 24.3924], "id": 818, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/818", "long_id": "MPL00818", "place": "Romula", "text": "D(is)M(anibus) s(acrum.) L(ucius) Annius Octavius \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription of L. Annius Octavius Valerianus"}, {"coords": [44.1742, 24.3972], "id": 97, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/97", "long_id": "MPL00097", "place": "Romula", "text": "D(is) M(anibus). Ael(io) Iul(io) Iuliano dec(urion\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://cil.bbaw.de/ace/id/KO0035564", "title": "Funerary inscription for Aelius Iulius Iulianus"}, {"coords": [44.0478, 26.6139], "id": 236, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/236", "long_id": "MPL00236", "place": "Transmarisca", "text": "D(is) [M](anibus). Hic ego qui iacior Va[leri\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary stele of Valeria"}, {"coords": [43.704, 24.4739], "id": 203, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/203", "long_id": "MPL00203", "place": "Oescus", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) S(extus) Vibius Valen[s] immere(n)\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary stele of S. Vibius Valens"}, {"coords": [43.704, 24.4739], "id": 204, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/204", "long_id": "MPL00204", "place": "Oescus", "text": "------ [---]M[---] [---ex]imio construxit [---] v\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fragmentary funerary inscription on a column"}, {"coords": [43.704, 24.4739], "id": 206, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/206", "long_id": "MPL00206", "place": "Oescus", "text": "------ [---]am debe[---] [---] tibi fatis ia[---]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fragmentary funerary stele from Oescus"}, {"coords": [43.7053, 24.8952], "id": 207, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/207", "long_id": "MPL00207", "place": "Nikopol", "text": "[D](is) [ M(anibus?)] et b(onae) m(emoriae). Front\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Sarcophagus of Aelia dedicated by the dispensator Augustorum Fronto"}, {"coords": [43.6072, 25.394], "id": 208, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/208", "long_id": "MPL00208", "place": "Novae", "text": "I(ovi) O(ptimo) M(aximo) Depulsori pro salute d(om\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Dedication to Iuppiter Depulsor set up by the C. Baienius Ianuarius"}, {"coords": [43.6072, 25.394], "id": 218, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/218", "long_id": "MPL00218", "place": "Novae", "text": "\u0398(\u03b5\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2) \u039a(\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03c7\u03b8\u03bf\u03bd\u03af\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2). \u039f\u1f54\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03ac \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 \u0392\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03cd\u03c2 \u03ba\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary stele of Basileus"}, {"coords": [43.3, 25.2667], "id": 209, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/209", "long_id": "MPL00209", "place": "Nedan", "text": "[Hanc mortis sedem exstr]uxit sibi vivus amicus qu\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription of Muciana and Aurelius Dizze"}, {"coords": [44.1191, 27.2601], "id": 237, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/237", "long_id": "MPL00237", "place": "Durostorum", "text": "------ [aq]uae form[am] [prox]umo com[pito] [l]ap\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription of Valens, centurion of the legio XI Claudia"}, {"coords": [43.45, 27.1333], "id": 238, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/238", "long_id": "MPL00238", "place": "Vojvoda", "text": "------ -[ipse ag]ilem [po]stquam rate[m agens per\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Honorific slab mentioning a Pontic harbour"}, {"coords": [43.3167, 24.0667], "id": 2, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2", "long_id": "MPL00002", "place": "Chomakovtsi", "text": "D(is) M(anibus). Have viator. Si stu-diosus es sis\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary stele of the praetorian soldier Aurelius Longinus"}, {"coords": [43.4, 24.2], "id": 263, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/263", "long_id": "MPL00263", "place": "Glava", "text": "Tu viator qui tr -ansis, rest(a), leg(e) tit(ulu\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary stele by the veteran Valerius Tzita"}, {"coords": [43.2425, 24.036], "id": 303, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/303", "long_id": "MPL00303", "place": "Reselets", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) [Resta,] viator, et [hoc (?) l]ege\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary stele set up by P. Aelius Firmus"}, {"coords": [43.35, 24.1333], "id": 306, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/306", "long_id": "MPL00306", "place": "Koynare", "text": "[D(is) M(anibus)]. Viator qui trans-[is, r]est(a),\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary stele set up by Maximus"}, {"coords": [43.25, 25.0], "id": 341, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/341", "long_id": "MPL00341", "place": "Melta / Chavdartsi ", "text": "D(is) M(anibus). Siste viator iter animum[que \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription made by Florens for his wife"}, {"coords": [43.525, 26.5231], "id": 343, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/343", "long_id": "MPL00343", "place": "Abrittus", "text": "------ [---]yir[---] ann[---] [---]NITPIREO tetr\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription from Abrittus"}, {"coords": [43.525, 26.5231], "id": 345, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/345", "long_id": "MPL00345", "place": "Abrittus", "text": "Romulianus p(rae)p(ositus) eqq(uitum) Dalm(atarum)\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/20851-2.jpg", "title": "Funerary stele of Romula, daughter of Romulianus and Flavia Maxima"}, {"coords": [43.1833, 26.8667], "id": 346, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/346", "long_id": "MPL00346", "place": "Veliki Preslav", "text": "------ -[---]niam primus [---] [---] hanc macu[l]a\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fragmentary verse inscription from Veliki Preslav"}, {"coords": [43.35, 27.2], "id": 347, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/347", "long_id": "MPL00347", "place": "Novi Pazar", "text": "R(esta) viator et lege Var(ius) Sudicintis milex v\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Varius Sudicenthus"}, {"coords": [42.7042, 23.7711], "id": 830, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/830", "long_id": "MPL00830", "place": "Gorna Malina", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) Hic ego ia-cio (sic) infelix no-m\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Gorna Malina (Thracia) - HD014687"}, {"coords": [42.1893, 25.5538], "id": 1038, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1038", "long_id": "MPL01038", "place": "Pizus", "text": "\u1f00\u03b3\u03b1\u03b8\u1fc6\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f7b\u03c7\u03b7\u03b9 \u03c3\u03b5 \u03a0\u03b1\u03b9\u1f70\u03bd \u03a0\u03b9\u03b6\u03b7\u03bd\u03b5 \u1fec\u03bf\u03b9\u03bc\u03b7\u03c4\u1f71\u03bb\u03ba\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u1f71\u03c4\u03c9\u03c1 \u1f10\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Votive inscription from Pizus \u2013 \u010cirpan (Thracia) - HD065152"}]

Object Details

Object Type	stele
Material	limestone
State of Preservation	complete
Dimensions	width: 105.0 cm height: 244.0 cm depth: 63.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	5.0
Letter Size in cm (max)	10.0
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography
Decoration Tags	Object / Pilum

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence Prose + Verse + Prose
Scriptio Continua in verse part no
Abbreviations in verse part no
Verse Line Correspondence No

Prose Verse Presence	Prose + Verse + Prose
Scriptio Continua in verse part	no
Abbreviations in verse part	no
Verse Line Correspondence	No

Text

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

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

SIMODOSVNTMA
NESSENTIANT:SPESVI
TENOSTREFVERASNV
5CQVISVBIIACEASINDI
CATISTELAPIS

LSPVRENI
VSHERCVLANVSFRATERET
FLPAVLAMATERLSPVREN
NIORVFOBCHRMATTIA
10CORVMMILITANTIANXX
BENEMERENTIPOSVE
RVNTVALETEVIATORES

D(is) M(anibus).

Si modo sunt Ma-
nes, sentiant: spes vi-
t<a>e nostr<a>e fueras, nu-
5<n>c quis ubi iaceas, indi-
cat iste lapis.

L(ucius) Spuren<n>i-
us Herculanus frater et
Fl(avia) Paula mater L(ucio) Spuren-
nio Rufo b(ucinatori) c(o)h(o)r(tis) Mattia-
10corum militanti an(nis) XX
bene merenti posue-
runt. Valete viatores.

D(is) M(anibus).

Si modo sunt Manes, sentiant: spes vit<a>e nostr<a>e fueras,
nu<n>c quis ubi iaceas, indicat iste lapis.

L(ucius) Spuren<n>ius Herculanus frater et Fl(avia) Paula mater L(ucio) Spurennio Rufo b(ucinatori) c(o)h(o)r(tis) Mattiacorum militanti an(nis) XX bene merenti posuerunt. Valete viatores.

Apparatus

Text follows Cenati and González Berdús

Main Translation

Translation	To the Spirits of the Departed. If the spirits of the Underworld exist, let them listen to us: you had been the hope of our life, but now, who you are and where you are buried, this gravestone indicates it. The brother Lucius Spurennius Herculanus and the mother Flavia Paula set up this monument to Lucius Spurennius Rufus, trumpeter of the cohors Mattiacorum, who served 20 years in the army and well deserved (this tribute). Farewell travellers.
Citation	Cenati, González Berdús

Other Translations

To the spirits of the departed.
If the spirits of the departed exist in any way, they can feel: you had been the hope of our life.
Now the stone itself indicates who you were and where you lie.
Lucius Spurenius Herculanus, his brother, and [name missing] Paula, his mother, put [this] up for Lucius Spurennius Rufus, bucinator of the cohors Mattiacorum; he served for 20 years. They put this up, [for their brother and son, for whom it was] well deserved. Farewell, passers-by! (English, Faithful, P., War and Peace. Military Lives and Identities in Latin Verse Inscriptions, p. 658.)

Prosopographical Information

Name Lucius Spurennius Herculanus
Gender Male
Romans 1by1 Link http://romans1by1.com/rpeople/12697
Role Dedicator
Name Flavia Paula
Gender Female
Romans 1by1 Link http://romans1by1.com/rpeople/12698
Role Dedicator
Name Lucius Spurennius Rufus
Gender Male
Profession Military staff
Romans 1by1 Link http://romans1by1.com/rpeople/12699
Role Dedicatee

Name	Lucius Spurennius Herculanus
Gender	Male
Romans 1by1 Link	http://romans1by1.com/rpeople/12697
Role	Dedicator

Name	Flavia Paula
Gender	Female
Romans 1by1 Link	http://romans1by1.com/rpeople/12698
Role	Dedicator

Name	Lucius Spurennius Rufus
Gender	Male
Profession	Military staff
Romans 1by1 Link	http://romans1by1.com/rpeople/12699
Role	Dedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	201 AD
Date (To)	250 AD
Date (Criteria)

Bibliography

CIL 03, 12437
CLE 01323
ILBulg 00395
CLEMoes 00025
S. Conrad, Die Grabstelen aus Moesia inferior. Untersuchungen zur Chronologie, Typologie und Ikonografie, Leipzig 2004, no. 328 🔗 link
MQDQ 🔗 link
P. Faithfull, War and Peace. Military Lives and Identities in Latin Verse Inscriptions., Vienna 2024, 658. 🔗 link
HD042091 🔗 link
C. Cenati, V. González Berdús, Latin verse inscriptions from the Limes of Moesia inferior, Studia Academica Šumenensia 10 (2023), 98-148, T23. 🔗 link

Images

Editing History

Created	2026-01-20, by Chiara Cenati
Work Status	Complete
Import Notice

Revisions

by Chiara Cenati
at 2023-03-30 17:41
by Chiara Cenati
at 2023-03-30 17:45
by Chiara Cenati
at 2023-03-30 17:49
by Chiara Cenati
at 2023-03-30 18:11
by Anna Pokorny
at 2025-10-08 09:22
by Anna Pokorny
at 2025-10-08 09:22
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-10-10 11:45
by Anna Pokorny
at 2026-01-20 11:20
by Anna Pokorny
at 2026-01-20 11:23
by Anna Pokorny
at 2026-01-20 11:25
by Anna Pokorny
at 2026-01-20 11:30
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-01-20 17:27
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-01-20 17:30

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