Inscriptions: Epitaph from Napoca – Cluj-Napoca (Dacia)

Identification

Reference as:	MPL00949
Title	Epitaph from Napoca – Cluj-Napoca (Dacia)
Trismegistos-No.	179903

Object

Provenance and Location

Find Place	Napoca
Find Context	Found in the Constantin Brâncuși street within a necropolis from late antiquity in 1987.
Latitude	46.7735
Longitude	23.5942
Current Location	Cluj-Napoca, Muzeul Național de Istorie a Transilvaniei, Lapidarium
Inventory number	36.430
Current Location Details
Vicinity	[{"coords": [46.7735, 23.5942], "id": 949, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/949", "long_id": "MPL00949", "place": "Napoca", "text": "D(is) M(anibus). Tu qui reciprocam se-mitam v\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/15113.jpg", "title": "Epitaph from Napoca \u2013 Cluj-Napoca (Dacia) "}, {"coords": [46.0667, 23.5723], "id": 934, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/934", "long_id": "MPL00934", "place": "Apulum", "text": "D(is) M(anibus). Quinque hic annorum aetatis \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary Inscription for Aemilia Plotia from Apulum"}, {"coords": [46.6307, 24.88], "id": 953, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/953", "long_id": "MPL00953", "place": "Eremitu", "text": "[Inmatur]a quidem iu-venes for[tu]na peremit sed [\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph for two brothers"}, {"coords": [45.9133, 22.8152], "id": 956, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/956", "long_id": "MPL00956", "place": "Micia (Chimindia)", "text": "[\u2066------\u2069] quondam Pompo[ni---] et in bellis cor\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fragmentary funerary inscription from Micia, H\u0103r\u0103u (Dacia) "}, {"coords": [45.9358, 23.1557], "id": 959, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/959", "long_id": "MPL00959", "place": "Germisara", "text": "[Hanc ti]bi marmoreo caesam de monte d[icavi] regi\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Votive inscription from Germisara \u2013 Geoagiu (Dacia) "}, {"coords": [45.4582, 22.1867], "id": 964, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/964", "long_id": "MPL00964", "place": "Tibiscum", "text": "[------] [quem Nilotica ripa suu]m patriaque nota\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://edcs.hist.uzh.ch/bilder/ID/IDR_03_01_00174.jpg", "title": "Epitaph from Tibiscum \u2013 Caransebe\u015f (Dacia)"}, {"coords": [47.02, 23.9], "id": 2264, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2264", "long_id": "MPL02264", "place": "Gherla", "text": "Perpetuam fa[mam maternae] gloriae semper pro[sequ\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription from Gherla"}, {"coords": [47.0198, 23.8999], "id": 1, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/1", "long_id": "MPL00001", "place": "Gherla", "text": "Ael(ia) Ingenua F\u0323[---]-inis Iris. Hic iac[et ---]\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://mappola.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MPL-RO-001-2-scaled.jpg", "title": "Funerary Inscription for Aelia Ingenua"}, {"coords": [45.5167, 22.7853], "id": 131, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/131", "long_id": "MPL00131", "place": "Sarmizegetusa", "text": "D(is) M(anibus). Hic pietatis honos, haec sunt p\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Marcellina"}, {"coords": [45.5167, 22.7853], "id": 140, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/140", "long_id": "MPL00140", "place": "Sarmizegetusa", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) His tegitur terris Antonia, quam g\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Funerary inscription for Antonia"}, {"coords": [45.9083, 22.8065], "id": 136, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/136", "long_id": "MPL00136", "place": "Micia (Ve\u021bel)", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) Aelia Hygia vixit annos XVIII Ael(\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://mappola.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MPL-RO-013-4-scaled.jpg", "title": "Funerary inscription for Aelia Hygia"}, {"coords": [45.5147, 22.7853], "id": 853, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/853", "long_id": "MPL00853", "place": "Colonia Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) his tegitur terris Antonia quam ge\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Colonia Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa \u2013 Sarmizegetusa (Dacia) - HD021008"}, {"coords": [45.5147, 22.7853], "id": 951, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/951", "long_id": "MPL00951", "place": "Colonia Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa", "text": "Caelestis mul-sa ((interpunct)) propria placabitu\u0361\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://mappola.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fig.-2-orig-scaled.jpg", "title": "Votive altar for Caelestis"}, {"coords": [45.5147, 22.7853], "id": 965, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/965", "long_id": "MPL00965", "place": "Colonia Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) hic pietatis honos haec sunt pia d\u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Epitaph from Colonia Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa \u2013 Sarmizegetusa (Dacia) - HD047545"}, {"coords": [45.5147, 22.7853], "id": 966, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/966", "long_id": "MPL00966", "place": "Colonia Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa", "text": "1 [---]NDA[---] [---]A fas est [---] [---] Seve\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://heidicon.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/api/v1/objects/uuid/d610f89a-2ce7-4146-8365-d79056a5cd88/file/id/772493/file_version/name/small", "title": "Epitaph from Colonia Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa"}, {"coords": [45.8971, 23.1644], "id": 2263, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2263", "long_id": "MPL02263", "place": "Germisara", "text": "Sunt Getici fontes divina Nympha creati, cui formo\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://edcs.hist.uzh.ch/bilder/AE/AE_2015_01186_1.jpg", "title": "Prayer to the Nymphs of Germisara"}, {"coords": [45.4663, 22.1892], "id": 962, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/962", "long_id": "MPL00962", "place": "Tibiscum", "text": "[D(is) M(anibus)?] Publi Aeli Ulpi [v]et(erani) e\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://mappola.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/MPL-RO-006-39-Kopie-scaled.jpg", "title": "Funerary monument of the veteran P. Aelius Ulpius"}, {"coords": [45.0, 21.0], "id": 963, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/963", "long_id": "MPL00963", "place": "Tibiscum", "text": "D(is) M(anibus) terra te-net corpus no-men la\u2026", "thumbnail_url": "https://lupa.at/img/17552.jpg", "title": "Epitaph from Tibiscum \u2013 Caransebe\u015f (Dacia) "}, {"coords": [47.1792, 23.157], "id": 2272, "item_url": "https://db.mappola.eu/r/Inscriptions/show/2272", "long_id": "MPL02272", "place": "Porolissum", "text": "D(is) [M(anibus)] Aelia Ca[- - -[--- me di?-]xere \u2026", "thumbnail_url": null, "title": "Fragmentary funerary inscription"}]

Object Details

Object Type	cippus
Material	limestone
State of Preservation	fragmentary
Dimensions	width: 102.0 cm height: 61.0 cm depth: 22.0 cm
Letter Size in cm (min)	4.5
Letter Size in cm (max)	5.7
Execution Technique	chiselled
Religion	Pagan

Decoration

Decoration and Iconography	Frame decorated with vegetal motives. The right and left sides is decorated with rows of palm leaves
Decoration Tags	Plant / Laurel leaves Plant / Palm Plant / branch

Verse Layouts

Text

Function	funerary inscription
Language(s)	Latin
Verse Type(s)	Mixed
Rhythmisation

Inscription & Translations

Diplomatic Interpretative Verse Visualisation

TVQVIRECIPROCAMSE
MITAMVOTOSVBIS
MORAREPAVLVMVITAM
5COGNOSCISTVAM
HICSVMVSEXPOSITIMOR
TALIAMVNERAFVNCTI
[------]

D(is) M(anibus).

Tu qui reciprocam se-
mitam voto subis,
morare paulum, vitam
5cognoscis tuam.
hic sumus expositi mor-
talia munera functi.
[------]

D(is) M(anibus). -

Tu qui reciprocam semitam voto subis,
morare paulum, vitam cognoscis tuam.
hic sumus expositi mortalia munera functi. [------]

Apparatus

Autopsy MAPPOLA Team 2021.

I. Hica and R. Ardevan believe that from verses 6-7 the metre is hexameter, while the others are iambic, but are unsure of the exact nature of the verses. They argue that this varied metre show the intellectual and cultural knowledge of the people in this region in the 3rd century AD.

"L'importance de l'inscription discutée ci-dessus est plutôt culturelle que littéraire. Elle fait preuve de la circulation et de l'assimilation de la littérature de l'époque dans cette ville daco-romaine, et également du raccord de l'élite locale à la mode du temps et au mode de vie romain, ainsi que de l'appréciation pour la culture littéraire dans ce milieu social.” (R. Ardevan, I. Hica)

Main Translation

Translation	"To the spirits of the departed. You, who are on a path that leads you back and forth for a vow, rest a little. You know your life. Here we are exposed, we who have fulfilled our mortal duties…"
Citation	MAPPOLA Team 2021.

Other Translations

"Aux dieux Mânes. Toi, qui suis avec espoir (?) le sentier dans la direction opposée, attarde-toi un peu. Tu connais ta (propre) vie. Nous sommes déposés ici, (nous) qui avons accompli nos devoirs de mortels - - -" (French , Ardevan, Hica 2000)
"Zeilor Mani. Tu, cel care urmezi cu speranță cărarea reciprocă, întârzie puțin. Îți cunoști viața. Aici suntem așezați noi, cei care ne-am îndeplinit îndatoritorile de muritori." (Romanian, C. C. Petolescu (ILD 00565))

Prosopographical Information

Further Information

Comment

Squeeze

Have Squeeze?	no

Dating

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

Bibliography

R. Ardevan, I. Hica, Inscriptions de Napoca, Acta Musei Napocensis: ACTA MN 37-1 (2000), 243-252 - AE 2000 🔗 link
AE 2000, 01242
ILD 00565
CLE 02692
EDCS-20900023 🔗 link
MQDQ 🔗 link
Lupa 🔗 link
HD043650 🔗 link

Images

Cluj - National Museum of Transylvania, Foto: Ortolf Harl 2012 Dez. (Lupa)

Editing History

Created	2026-07-28, by Andreea Petricioiu
Work Status	Complete
Import Notice	Imported from Epigraphische Datenbank Heidelberg at 2024-07-11T12:13:11, ID there: HD043650

Revisions

by Unknown
at 2024-07-11 12:13
by Eric Andreas Kunz
at 2024-08-13 21:16
by Eric Andreas Kunz
at 2024-08-13 21:17
by Anna Pokorny
at 2025-01-29 15:25
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-09 11:23
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-09 11:35
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-09 11:37
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-09 11:42
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-09 11:42
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-09 11:48
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-09 12:26
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-09 12:26
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-09 12:26
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-07-23 10:52
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-28 12:49
by Andreea Petricioiu
at 2026-07-28 12:50
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-07-28 13:20
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-07-28 13:21
by Chiara Cenati
at 2026-07-28 13:21

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