Inscriptions: Funerary inscription for Aelia Sabina

Identification

Reference as:	MPL00069
Title	Funerary inscription for Aelia Sabina
Trismegistos-No.	404908

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Aquincum
Find Context	Discovered in 1881 in the Roman – late antique necropolis of Aquincum.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	Budapest, Aquincumi Múzeum
Inventory number	63.10.138
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 69, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/69", "long_id": "MPL00069", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Clausa iacet lapidi coninux pia cara Sabina. Artib\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/3025-1.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Aelia Sabina"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 53, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/53", "long_id": "MPL00053", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Hic sita sum matrona, genus nomen-que Veturia Fort\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/3019-2.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Veturia"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 59, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/59", "long_id": "MPL00059", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Memoriae Q(uinti) [Ael](ii) [ Apoll]oni mil(itis) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/2908-3.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Q. Aelius Apollonius"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 846, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/846", "long_id": "MPL00846", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "[Par]vus et exiguam lucem frunitus iniquae Parcae \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Aquincum \u2013 Budapest (Pannonia inferior) - HD018818"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 865, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/865", "long_id": "MPL00865", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) hic iacet ecce vides pupa sine fi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Aquincum \u2013 Budapest (Pannonia inferior) - HD024858"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 906, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/906", "long_id": "MPL00906", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "[---]\u03b9\u03b5 [---] [---]\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b4\u0027 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9 [---] [---]\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b6\u03b1\u03b8\u03b5\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Aquincum \u2013 Budapest (Pannonia inferior) - HD035863"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 907, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/907", "long_id": "MPL00907", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Front: D(is) M(anibus) C(aio) Val(erio) Papirian\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/0294-3.jpg", "title": "Sarcophagus of C. Valerius Papirianus"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 908, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/908", "long_id": "MPL00908", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "\u039b\u1f73\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u1f05 \u03b8\u1f73\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03bb\u03b5\u03b3\u1f73\u03c4\u03c9\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03bf\u1f50 \u03bc\u1f73\u03bb\u03b9 \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c5\u03c6\u1f77\u03bb\u03b9 \u03bc\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Identification inscription from Aquincum \u2013 Budapest (Pannonia inferior) - HD035889"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 1060, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1060", "long_id": "MPL01060", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) et perpetu(a)e securitatem (sic) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Aquincum \u2013 Budapest (Pannonia inferior) - HD068507"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 1061, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1061", "long_id": "MPL01061", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Francus ego cives Romanus miles in armis egregia v\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Aquincum \u2013 Budapest (Pannonia inferior) - HD068602"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 1062, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1062", "long_id": "MPL01062", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Q(uintus) Frendull-us Rufus Vicetinus vix(it) n(os\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Aquincum \u2013 Budapest (Pannonia inferior) - HD068603"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 1063, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1063", "long_id": "MPL01063", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum) Iovine fili quan-tos mi \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Aquincum \u2013 Budapest (Pannonia inferior) - HD068609"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 2073, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2073", "long_id": "MPL02073", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Amore amanti s[i a]mas pignus.", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fibula with love dedication found near Budapest "}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 2183, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2183", "long_id": "MPL02183", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Hic qu(i)escunt duas matres duas filias numero tre\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/3024-1.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription set up by the veteran Iulius Herculanus"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 2211, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2211", "long_id": "MPL02211", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Roma tibi subi[to moti-][bus ib]it a\u27e6mor\u27e7 Rotas\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Aquincum%2C_SATOR-Quadrat_aus_dem_Statthalterpalast.jpg", "title": "Sator square from Aquincum"}, {"coords": [47.5641, 19.0495], "id": 2253, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2253", "long_id": "MPL02253", "place": "Aquincum", "text": "Grate, qui fotues Gr(a)e\u2e22c\u2e23a(m) ancilla(m) Lupi op\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Graffito from Aquincum"}, {"coords": [47.6668, 19.064], "id": 840, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/840", "long_id": "MPL00840", "place": "Ulcisia Castra", "text": "Lubrica quassa levis [fragilis bona vel mala falla\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/D3164_G2.jpg", "title": "Epitaph by the poet Lupus"}, {"coords": [46.7655, 17.248], "id": 799, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/799", "long_id": "MPL00799", "place": "Valcum (Volgum)", "text": "Arma virumqua (sic) arma vi", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Vergilian quote on a tile"}, {"coords": [47.7133, 18.7885], "id": 800, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/800", "long_id": "MPL00800", "place": "Solva", "text": "Adque ea diversa penitus dum parte Irim de caelo m\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Literary quote on a brick"}, {"coords": [46.2531, 17.1006], "id": 1081, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1081", "long_id": "MPL01081", "place": "Csurg\u00f3", "text": "------ S]aturne [---disc]ipulus ni(hi)l (a)era [mi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Identification inscription from Csurg\u00f3 (Pannonia superior) - HD074881"}, {"coords": [47.7343, 18.1936], "id": 936, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/936", "long_id": "MPL00936", "place": "Brigetio", "text": "D(is) M(anibus). Val(erius) Ursinus ducenarius, q-\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/3493-1.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Valerius Ursinus and others"}, {"coords": [47.7343, 18.1936], "id": 937, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/937", "long_id": "MPL00937", "place": "Brigetio", "text": "Heu simul hic nata et genetrix functaeq(ue) sitaeq\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Brigetio \u2013 Kom\u00e1rom (Pannonia superior) - HD039614"}, {"coords": [47.7343, 18.1936], "id": 1078, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1078", "long_id": "MPL01078", "place": "Brigetio", "text": "Vitula dulcis amor [se]mper suspiri nostri quod 5p\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Acclamation from Brigetio \u2013 Kom\u00e1rom (Pannonia superior) - HD074495"}, {"coords": [47.7343, 18.1936], "id": 2213, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2213", "long_id": "MPL02213", "place": "Brigetio", "text": "Leg(io) I Ad[iutrix ---]. Hoc die felice[s fra\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Christian inscription on a tile"}, {"coords": [46.1567, 17.8345], "id": 970, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/970", "long_id": "MPL00970", "place": "Szentl\u00e1szl\u00f3", "text": "1 R(ecensitum) (scil. opus est) idemq(ue) [probat\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$SEBarc_10_p234.jpg", "title": "Verse inscription on a brick"}, {"coords": [47.4983, 19.0404], "id": 971, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/971", "long_id": "MPL00971", "place": "Campona", "text": "[---]a[e] m\u0361emoria\u0361e [---] Hoc iacet in lapid\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/F2785_G1.jpg", "title": "Sarcophagus of Aurelia Marcellina"}, {"coords": [45.6661, 17.4333], "id": 976, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/976", "long_id": "MPL00976", "place": "Aquae Balissae", "text": "Tartareis ruptus fornac[ibus implicat om]nem perpe\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Aquae Balissae, bei \u2013 \u0110ulovac (Pannonia superior) - HD050387"}, {"coords": [46.9169, 17.519], "id": 977, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/977", "long_id": "MPL00977", "place": "Mogetiana", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] [---]E(?)E[---] [qua?]m \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Mogetiana, bei \u2013 Hegyesd (Pannonia superior) - HD050390"}, {"coords": [47.09, 18.4205], "id": 884, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/884", "long_id": "MPL00884", "place": "Gorsium", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) tu qui festinas pe-dibus consiste \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Gorsium \u2013 T\u00e1c (Pannonia inferior) - HD032224"}, {"coords": [47.09, 18.4205], "id": 2212, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2212", "long_id": "MPL02212", "place": "Gorsium", "text": "D(is) [M(anibus)]. Hic iacet in tumu-lo Aur(e\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/D3587_G1.jpg", "title": "Funerary stele of Aurelia Sabina"}, {"coords": [46.0733, 18.2281], "id": 885, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/885", "long_id": "MPL00885", "place": "Sopianae", "text": "Ius ad iustitiam revocare aequ(u)mque tueri Dalmat\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Honorific inscription from Sopianae?, aus \u2013 Magyarb\u00f3ly, bei (Pannonia inferior) - HD032256"}, {"coords": [46.9755, 18.937], "id": 925, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/925", "long_id": "MPL00925", "place": "Intercisa", "text": "Hoc lapide tegitur Aurel(ia) Pia piissima con[iux]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Intercisa \u2013 Duna\u00fajv\u00e1ros (Pannonia inferior) - HD037297"}, {"coords": [46.9755, 18.937], "id": 926, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/926", "long_id": "MPL00926", "place": "Intercisa", "text": "[Ha]ec quoq(ue) nomine Kara[---] [---]i post lustr\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Intercisa \u2013 Duna\u00fajv\u00e1ros (Pannonia inferior) - HD037385"}, {"coords": [46.9755, 18.937], "id": 2214, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2214", "long_id": "MPL02214", "place": "Intercisa", "text": "Utere felex, Severe, coni(ux) du(lcissime), somnis\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/9739-1.jpg", "title": "Funerary text on an anepigraphic slab"}, {"coords": [46.9755, 18.937], "id": 2215, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2215", "long_id": "MPL02215", "place": "Intercisa", "text": "------ -[---] optamus cunc-ti sit tibi terra levi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/3584-2.jpg", "title": "Fragmentary funerary inscription from Intercisa"}, {"coords": [47.9406, 17.0694], "id": 2129, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2129", "long_id": "MPL02129", "place": "Nickelsdorf", "text": "Si me amas spes amor.", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fibula with love dedication from Nickelsdorf"}]

Object Details

Object Type	sarcophagus
Material	limestone
State of Preservation	complete
Dimensions	width: 207.0 cm height: 65.0 cm depth: 83.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	3.8
Letter Size in cm (max)	4.5
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography	The text is placed inside an oddly shaped tabula ansata.
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence Carmen + postscriptum
Prose Verse Distinction
No distinction
Scriptio Continua in verse part no
Abbreviations in verse part no
Verse Line Correspondence No

Prose Verse Presence	Carmen + postscriptum
Prose Verse Distinction	No distinction
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)	Dactylic hexameter Dactylic pentameter
Rhythmisation	Quantitative scheme

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

CLAVSAIACETLAPIDICONINVXPIACARASABINA
ARTIBVSEDOCTASVPERABATSOLAMARITV
MVOXEIGRATAFVITPVLSABATPOLLICECORDAS
SETCITORAPTASILETTERDENOSDVXERATANNOSHE
5VMALEQVINQVEMINVSSETPLVSTRESMESESHABEBAT
BISSEMPTEMQVEDIESVIXITHECIPSASVPERSTESSPECTATAINPO
PVLOHYDRAVLAGRATAREGEBATSISFELIXQVICVMQVELEGESTE
NVMINASERVENTETPIAVOCECANE:AELIASABINAVALETAELIVSTVS
HYDRAVLARIVSSALARIARIVSLEGIIADCONIVGIFACIENDVMCVRAVIT

Clausa iacet lapidi coninux pia cara Sabina.
Artibus edocta superabat sola maritu-
m. Vox ei grata fuit pulsabat pollice cordas.
Set cito rapta silet. Ter denos duxerat annos, he-
5u male quinque minus set plus tres me(n)ses habebat,
bis se{m}ptemque dies vixit. H(a)ec ipsa superstes spectata in po-
pulo hydraula grata regebat. Sis felix quicumque leges, te
numina servent, et pia voce cane: Aelia Sabina vale. T(itus) Ael(ius) Iustus,
hydraularius salariarius leg(ionis) II Ad(iutricis) coniugi faciendum curavit.

Clausa iacet lapidi coninux pia cara Sabina.
Artibus edocta superabat sola maritum.
Vox ei grata fuit pulsabat pollice cordas.
Set cito rapta silet. Ter denos duxerat annos,
5heu male quinque minus set plus tres me(n)ses habebat,
bis se{m}ptemque dies vixit. H(a)ec ipsa superstes
spectata in populo hydraula grata regebat.
Sis felix quicumque leges, te numina servent,
et pia voce cane: Aelia Sabina vale. T(itus) Ael(ius) Iustus, hydraularius salariarius leg(ionis) II Ad(iutricis) coniugi faciendum curavit.

Apparatus

l.4 reg., orig. Set
l.5 reg., orig. set

Picture checked by Murzea 2024.

Main Translation

Translation	Enclosed by this stone lies the venerable and beloved wife, Sabina. Educated in all arts, she alone surpassed her husband. Her voice was charming to him, she plucked the strings with her fingers, but now way too quickly, she is silent. Thrice ten years old was she, alas! minus five (=25 years), but with three months added, and she lived two times seven days (=14 days) more. While she was still alive, she was admired as a magnificent organist, she was at the head of all. ‘You, whoever read this, be happy and may the gods protect you, and sing with pious voice: farewell, Aelia Sabina.’ Titus Aelius Iustus, salaried water-organ player of the Legio II Adiutrix, had made this for his wife.
Citation	Denisa Murzea

Other Translations

Encerrada bajo esta lápida yace Sabina, mi querida y amada esposa. Instruida en tantas habilidades, que fue la única que logró superar a su marido. Tuvo una hermosa voz y tocaba los instrumentos de cuerda con sus dedos. Pero, arrebatada rápidamente, guarda silencio. Veinticinco años 5 había vivido, ¡ay!, y tres meses y catorce días. Ella misma, mientras seguía con vida, admirada como una magnífica organista, estaba a la cabeza de todos. Tú, quienquiera que lo leas, que seas feliz y que los dioses te guarden. Y canta con voz piadosa: «Adiós, Elia Sabina». (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez 1998)
A pious, dear wife, Sabina, lies here, confined in stone.
Only she, instructed in the arts, surpassed her husband.
Her voice was dear to him, she struck the strings with her thumb,
but she, having been suddenly seized, is silent. Alas, she lived,
ailed for five years less than thirty, but she had three months
and fourteen days more. This woman, when she was still alive,
was watched by the people: she enchanted them agreeably with her water organ. May you be lucky, you, whoever reads this, may the gods watch over you,
and sing with a pious voice, “farewell, Aelia Sabina!”
Titus Aelius Justus, hydraularius salariarius of the Legio II Adiutrix, had this made for his wife. (English, Faithful, P., War and Peace. Military Lives and Identities in Latin Verse Inscriptions, p. 659.)

Prosopographical Information

Name Aelia Sabina
Gender Female
Age Range Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Profession Other profession
Role Dedicatee
Name Titus Aelius Iustus
Gender Male
Profession Other profession
Role Dedicator

Name	Aelia Sabina
Gender	Female
Age Range	Adult (21–60) [expression: Canonical, precision: high]
Profession	Other profession
Role	Dedicatee

Name	Titus Aelius Iustus
Gender	Male
Profession	Other profession
Role	Dedicator

Further Information

Comment

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

Date (From)	201 AD
Date (To)	250 AD
Date (Criteria)	archaeology formulae history

Bibliography

CIL 03, 10501
CLE 00489
CLEPann 00036
TitAq 02, 00519
MQDQ 🔗 link
HD068458 🔗 link
E. Courtney, Musa lapidaria. A selection of Latin verse inscriptions, Atlanta 1995, 115 (with English translation) 🔗 link
https://lupa.at/3025 🔗 link
B. Kuntić-Makvić, Carmina Epigraphica Latina Pannoniae inferioris, Latina et Graeca 7 (1976), 54-55. 🔗 link
C. Cenati, P. Kruschwitz, Poetic Baggage: Representations of Camp Followers in the Latin Verse Inscriptions, Electrum 31 (2024), 170-171 (with English translation) 🔗 link
P. Faithfull, War and Peace. Military Lives and Identities in Latin Verse Inscriptions., Vienna 2024. 🔗 link

Images

Editing History

Created	2025-10-08, by Denisa Murzea
Work Status	Complete
Import Notice

Revisions

by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 11:49
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:03
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:21
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:22
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:25
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:26
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:30
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:30
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:32
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:35
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 12:40
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 13:39
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 13:41
by Denisa Murzea
at 2024-03-01 13:42
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-03-19 13:05
by Anna Pokorny
at 2025-10-08 09:38

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