Inscriptions: Epitaph of Festus

Identification

Reference as:	MPL00821
Title	Epitaph of Festus
Trismegistos-No.	223746

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Corduba
Find Context	Quarter of the Judería, calle Deanes, found during foundation works for the restaurant "El Caballo Rojo", 1970.
Latitude	0.0
Longitude	0.0
Current Location	Córdoba, in situ
Inventory number
Current Location Details	Reused in the northern wall of one of the patios.
Vicinity	[{"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 821, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/821", "long_id": "MPL00821", "place": "Corduba", "text": "Column A: [--- n]o\u0323verat unum [---]t et pia nutri\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/co15.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Festus"}, {"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 2205, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2205", "long_id": "MPL02205", "place": "Corduba", "text": "T(itus) Acclenus T(iti) f(ilius) Qui(rina) cent(ur\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$MS_CIL_02-07_00287.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Titus Acclenus, Annia Helena and Decimus Vergilius Amarantus"}, {"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 2210, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2210", "long_id": "MPL02210", "place": "Corduba", "text": "Nominibus cunctis digno laudata p\u0323u\u0323d\u0323[ore] Servil\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/co9.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Servilia from Corduba"}, {"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 2217, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2217", "long_id": "MPL02217", "place": "Corduba", "text": "Ac\u0323tius mur(millo), ((hedera)) vic(it) VI, an(n)o(\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/co11.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the gladiator Actius by his wife"}, {"coords": [37.8847, -4.77917], "id": 2236, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2236", "long_id": "MPL02236", "place": "Corduba", "text": "Hirria, L(uci) f(ilia), Pa[---] hic sita est, ann[\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Hirria and of the freedwoman Petilia Marta"}, {"coords": [38.9191, -6.33871], "id": 2229, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2229", "long_id": "MPL02229", "place": "Emerita Augusta", "text": "M(arco) Cornelio M(arci) f(ilio) Pap(iria) Pollio[\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://cil2digital.web.uah.es/images/editores/directorio-epigrafias/607-CILAE/CILAE_607.2_H._Gimeno.JPG", "title": "Epitaph of Marcus Cornelius Pollio, Marcus Cornelius Urbanus and Marcus Cornelius Celer by the freedwoman Cornelia Iucunda"}, {"coords": [37.3827, -5.99629], "id": 246, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/246", "long_id": "MPL00246", "place": "Hispalis", "text": "Nome vixit anno et mensibus VIII diebus XII h(ic) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for Nome"}, {"coords": [37.3621, -6.67894], "id": 801, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/801", "long_id": "MPL00801", "place": "Ilipula", "text": "Terrenum corpus caelestis spiritus in me quo repen\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Fabatus"}, {"coords": [37.4742, -4.42594], "id": 802, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/802", "long_id": "MPL00802", "place": "Igabrum", "text": "[--?]N(?)atius L(uci) [f(ilius)---] [flame]n sacro\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Igabrum, bei \u2013 Fuente de las Piedras (Baetica) - HD001212"}, {"coords": [37.5409, -5.07995], "id": 810, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/810", "long_id": "MPL00810", "place": "Astigi", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] [---]ri(?) aliis(?) [iam\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Astigi \u2013 \u00c9cija (Baetica) - HD002943"}, {"coords": [37.5409, -5.07995], "id": 882, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/882", "long_id": "MPL00882", "place": "Astigi", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] sic nam memor[---] studi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Astigi, bei \u2013 \u00c9cija, bei (Baetica) - HD031994"}, {"coords": [37.5409, -5.07995], "id": 883, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/883", "long_id": "MPL00883", "place": "Astigi", "text": "L(ucius) Petronius L(ucii) f(ilius) Primus hic sit\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Lucius Petronius Primus by his wife"}, {"coords": [37.5966, -4.30846], "id": 812, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/812", "long_id": "MPL00812", "place": "Iponoba", "text": "L(ocus) p(edum) [---] P(ublius) Aeliu[s---] [t]e l\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Iponoba \u2013 Cerro del Minguillar (Baetica) - HD003146"}, {"coords": [37.6886, -4.4796], "id": 813, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/813", "long_id": "MPL00813", "place": "Soricaria", "text": "T\u0323[e], l\u0323apis, obtestor, le-vite\u0323r\u0323 super ossa\u0323 re\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/co3.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the slave Graeca by her husband Iacchus and an anonymous dedicator"}, {"coords": [38.4751, -4.67948], "id": 814, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/814", "long_id": "MPL00814", "place": "Solia", "text": "[Me donec vivam dolor excruci]abit acerbu[s] [stir\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Solia, bei \u2013 Fuencaliente (Baetica) - HD003968"}, {"coords": [37.2245, -5.31238], "id": 2223, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2223", "long_id": "MPL02223", "place": "Carula", "text": "Firma ((hedera)) Epaphroditi ann(orum) ((hedera)) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Firma"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 819, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/819", "long_id": "MPL00819", "place": "Urso", "text": "Fabia Ianuaria, ann(orum) XXV, pia in suis.- Qui\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://centrocil.web.uah.es/fotos_cilii/5/cilii5,01118.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Fabia Ianuaria by her patron Fabius Venustus"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 820, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/820", "long_id": "MPL00820", "place": "Urso", "text": "Ferraria T(iti) f(ilia) Iu[---ann(orum)] XVI h(ic)\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Urso \u2013 Osuna (Baetica) - HD006398"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 878, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/878", "long_id": "MPL00878", "place": "Urso", "text": "------ C(ai) l(ibertus) Faustus, XX ann(orum), h(\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the freedman Faustus"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 880, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/880", "long_id": "MPL00880", "place": "Urso", "text": "Valeria [. l(iberta?) Crene], an(norum) XL, p(ia) \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/se18.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Valeria Crene"}, {"coords": [37.2466, -5.09928], "id": 881, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/881", "long_id": "MPL00881", "place": "Urso", "text": "------ L(- - -) L(- - -). XX tecum transfers non\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph to an unknown dedicatee from Urso"}, {"coords": [37.8309, -4.05018], "id": 843, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/843", "long_id": "MPL00843", "place": "Batora", "text": "[---S]ex(ti) f(ilia) A[---] [hic sita in tumulo i]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Batora, bei \u2013 Mingo Lope (Baetica) - HD017866"}, {"coords": [37.8709, -4.18475], "id": 475, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/475", "long_id": "MPL00475", "place": "Obulco", "text": "M(arcus) Porcius M(arci) [f(ilius) ---] Hered\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/j15.jpg", "title": "Carmen dedicated to Marcus Porcius"}, {"coords": [37.8709, -4.18475], "id": 851, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/851", "long_id": "MPL00851", "place": "Obulco", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum) quis [---]LI[---] sed[---\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Obulco \u2013 Porcuna (Baetica) - HD020194"}, {"coords": [37.9349, -4.05478], "id": 870, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/870", "long_id": "MPL00870", "place": "Urgavo", "text": "Dextera [---] nunc SC[---] hic gracili[---] haec m\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Urgavo \u2013 Arjona (Baetica) - HD027665"}, {"coords": [37.9349, -4.05478], "id": 871, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/871", "long_id": "MPL00871", "place": "Urgavo", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] [\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Urgavo \u2013 Arjona (Baetica) - HD027668"}, {"coords": [37.9349, -4.05478], "id": 872, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/872", "long_id": "MPL00872", "place": "Urgavo", "text": "[\u2066 - - - - - - - - - - \u2069] [---]REDE[---] [---]NINT\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Urgavo \u2013 Arjona (Baetica) - HD027671"}, {"coords": [37.4481, -6.36364], "id": 874, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/874", "long_id": "MPL00874", "place": "Tucci", "text": "Caesia T(iti) f(ilia) Celsa an(norum) LXV h(ic) s(\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Tucci, bei \u2013 Torredelcampo (Baetica) - HD029284"}, {"coords": [37.5911, -4.08675], "id": 875, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/875", "long_id": "MPL00875", "place": "Sosontigi", "text": "Fabia L(uci) f(ilia) Albana Ai-ungitana n(norum) X\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Sosontigi, bei \u2013 Alcaudete (Baetica) - HD029413"}, {"coords": [37.8489, -3.5603], "id": 869, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/869", "long_id": "MPL00869", "place": "Ossigi", "text": "Hic TV[---]-RE iaces [---]-nina pu{u}e[lla] qu(a)e\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Ossigi, bei \u2013 Jimena - Torres, zwischen (Baetica) - HD027503"}, {"coords": [38.0081, -3.36853], "id": 2206, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2206", "long_id": "MPL02206", "place": "Salaria", "text": "Gemina, D(ecii) Pu-blici Subici ser(va), an(norum)\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/j8.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the slave Gemina by the coppersmith Caius"}, {"coords": [36.4678, -5.92787], "id": 2207, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2207", "long_id": "MPL02207", "place": "Asido", "text": "Murcia liberta, iuvenis an(norum) XXVIII. Semp\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Murcia"}, {"coords": [38.9161, -6.3401], "id": 2221, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2221", "long_id": "MPL02221", "place": "Emerita Augusta", "text": "M(arcus) Helvius, (mulieris) lib(ertus), Mar-sua, \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of the freed couple Marcus Helvius Marsua and Mallia Galla"}, {"coords": [38.9161, -6.3401], "id": 2225, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2225", "long_id": "MPL02225", "place": "Emerita Augusta", "text": "Iulia C(ai) f(ilia) Anulla hic sita est, fato p\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/bilder/$Edmondson-2021_00007.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of Iulia Anulla and of the freedwoman Candilia Iucunda by the freedman Lucius Iulius Felix"}, {"coords": [37.7073, -5.34643], "id": 2218, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2218", "long_id": "MPL02218", "place": "Celti", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) s(acrum). Atimeti lib(erta) Fabia \u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://institucional.us.es/cleo/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/se23.jpg", "title": "Epitaph of the freedwoman Fabia Merope"}, {"coords": [36.5293, -6.29312], "id": 2252, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2252", "long_id": "MPL02252", "place": "Cadiz", "text": "Romana c(ara) s(uis) an(norum) XX h(ic) s(ita) e(s\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph of Romana"}]

Object Details

Object Type	block
Material	marble
State of Preservation	incomplete
Dimensions	width: 116.0 cm height: 26.5 cm depth: 50.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	3.5
Letter Size in cm (max)	4.0
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Unknown

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography
Decoration Tags

Verse Layouts

Prose Verse Presence	Carmen
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

Column A:[---]VERATVNVM
[---]TETPIANVTRIX
[---]EPITETVNVS
[---]FIANT
5[---]ATERHABEBITColumn B:SVMGENEREMACEDONSETINARVISBAETICAEPARTVS
QVINTVSPOSTDECEMVMREVOLVTVSFVGERATANNVS
ETIAMIAMQVEVIROTOGASESOCIAREPARABAT
DEFICIVNTFATATOTVSLABOREXCIDITHORA
10HICEGOSVMPOSITVSFESTVSDENOMINEFESTI

Column A: [--- n]ọverat unum
[---]t et pia nutrix
[---c]ọepit et unus
[---]ạ fiant
5[--- m]ater habebit. Column B: Sum genere Macedon, set in arvis Baeticae partus.
Quintus post dec⸢i⸣mum revolutus fugerat annus,
et iam iamque viro toga se sociare parabat.
Deficiunt fata, totus labor excidit hora.
10Hic ego sum positus festus de nomine Festi.

Column A:
[--- n]ọverat unum
[---]t et pia nutrix
[---c]ọepit et unus
[---]ạ fiant
[--- m]ater habebit. Column B:
Sum genere Macedon, set in arvis Baeticae partus.
Quintus post dec⸢i⸣mum revolutus fugerat annus,
et iam iamque viro toga se sociare parabat.
Deficiunt fata, totus labor excidit hora.
Hic ego sum positus festus de nomine Festi.

Apparatus

l.6 reg., orig. set
l.7 i

Text follows CLEBetica. Picture checked by Spalla 2025.
l. 2: [---]ạt, CIL.
l. 5: ...ater, Mellado and Vila.
l. 7: decimum, Mellado and Vila; AE 1972; CIL; Gómez Pallarès; CLEHisp; Mellado Rodríguez; CLE.

Main Translation

Translation	Column A: ... only knew ... and his devoted wetnurse ... began, and he alone ... happen ... his mother will have. Column B: I am a Macedonian by stock, but was born in the fields of Baetica. My fifth year had passed, slipping away after the tenth, and the toga was just ready to join me in my manhood. Destiny deserts me, all trouble disappears in a moment. I lie here, joyous as by my name Festus.
Citation	Fabio Spalla

Other Translations

A. *...* Sólo lo conocía a él. *...* también su piadosa nodriza*... *empezó y sólo él*...* ocurran*...* lo tendrá su madre.

B. Soy macedonio de origen, pero nacido en los campos de la Bética. Mi decimoquinto año, ya transcurrido, se había marchado, y la toga estaba a punto de asociarse a mí, hecho ya un hombre varón. Me abandonan los hados; todo el esfuerzo se ha desvanecido en un momento. Aquí estoy yo enterrado, feliz de acuerdo a mi nombre: "Festo". (Spanish, C. Fernández Martínez, R. Carande Herrero)

Prosopographical Information

Name Festus
Gender Male
Age Range Subadult (13–20) [expression: Non-canonical, precision: high]
Origin Foreign
Role Dedicatee

Name	Festus
Gender	Male
Age Range	Subadult (13–20) [expression: Non-canonical, precision: high]
Origin	Foreign
Role	Dedicatee

Further Information

Comment

Dating proposed by Stylow (CIL). Thigpen proposes an earlist dating to the 1st or 2nd century AD, based on metrical features and the reference to Festus' Macedonian origins.

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

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

Bibliography

CIL 02 (2nd ed.), 07, 00389 (with photo, tab. 14, fig.6; also on dating)
CLEBEtica CO3 (with Spanish translation and photos, 144)
CLEHisp 00027
CLE 02339
J. Mellado, J. M. Vila, Una inscripcion romana hallada en Córdoba, Habis 3 (1972), 321-324 (with Spanish translation) - AE 1972 🔗 link
AE 1972, 00276 (Column B), 00277 (Column A)
E. W. Haley, Foreigners in Roman imperial Spain: investigations of geographical mobility in the Spanish provinces of the Roman Empire 30 B.C.-A.D. 284, New York 1986, 154. 🔗 link
J. B. Thigpen, A literary analysis of Latin epitaphs from Roman Spain which contain creative biographical discourse, Chapel Hill 1995, 88-91, nr. 14 (with English translation of Column B; also on alternative dating) 🔗 link
R. Hernández Pérez, Poesía latina sepulcral de la Hispania romana: estudios de los tópicos y sus formulaciones, Valencia 2001, 8-10, 56-57, 191. 🔗 link
J. Gómez Pallarès, Humor "negro": el diálogo entre vivos y muertos en la poesía epigráfica latina, Exemplaria classica. Journal of classical philology 11 (2007), 177-178. 🔗 link
S. Medina Quintana, Mujeres y economía en la Hispania romana. Oficios, riqueza y promoción social, Oviedo 2014, 88. 🔗 link
J. Mellado Rodríguez, Acerca del epitafio latino de El Caballo Rojo, Boletín de la Real Academia de Córdoba 166 (2017), 273-288 (with Spanish translation of Column B and photos, 284, fig. 1, 287, fig. 5) 🔗 link
CLEO CO15 🔗 link
EDCS-09000410 🔗 link
HD009235 🔗 link
HEpOl 3970 🔗 link
MQDQ 🔗 link

Images

Epitaph of Festus.
Source: CLEO CO15 (c) A. U. Stylow

Editing History

Created	2025-10-19, by Eric Andreas Kunz
Work Status	Complete
Import Notice	Imported from Epigraphische Datenbank Heidelberg at 2024-07-11T12:00:14, ID there: HD009235

Revisions

by Unknown
at 2024-07-11 12:00
by Eric Andreas Kunz
at 2024-07-28 18:06
by Eric Andreas Kunz
at 2024-07-28 18:06
by Anna Pokorny
at 2025-01-29 14:55
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-29 07:32
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-29 07:59
by Fabio Spalla
at 2025-09-29 08:40
by Chiara Cenati
at 2025-10-19 12:23

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