WP 0005

IRT2021
Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania 2021

0876. Christian funerary inscription

Description: block (w: 0.80 x h: 0.49 x d: 0.13) of brown limestone.
Text: Inscribed on one face within a recessed tabella ansata (die, w: 0.50 x h: 0.46).
Letters: Local fourth to fifth centuries CE capitals, between horizontal guide-lines: av. 0.045. For the unusual form of the G (J) see also 255 and 261 (39).

Date: Fourth to fifth centuries CE (lettering)

Findspot: Eastern Jabal: From the ruins of a ditched tower at Sidi bu Laaba, near Bir et-Tuta, 3 km. North East of Breviglieri village (map ref, M 036195)
Original location: Unknown
Last recorded location: Lepcis Museum.

Interpretive

Fl(auius) Gaudentius
bono tuo proce-
das et i(n) nomine
<C>hristi omnes genus
5Seberi bibant Ὠ(μέγα) ((Chi-Rho))Ἄ(λφα) ua(le)
hec turis fabric-
ata est ANOTAP LSA
ETRAULIHORD et fol(les) XXX

Diplomatic

FLGAUDENTIUS
BONOTUOPROCE
DASETINOMINE
HRISTIOMNESGENUS
5SEBERIBIBANTΩ ΑUA
HECTURISFABRIC
ATAESTANOTAPLSA
ETRAULIHORDETFOLXXX

5: The second E of Seberi is a later insertion.
7: LSA Or LGA. The beginning of line 5 and the ends of line 4 and 6 are inscribed on the ansae; the end of line 8 on the border. The position in relation to the rest of the text of the three letters here shown at the end of line7 is not certain.

English translation

Translation by: J. M. Reynolds

Flavius Gaudentius, may you proceed in your good fortune; and in the name of Christ may the whole family of Severi live (omega and alpha on either side of a monogram cross); fareweline This tower was built[ at a cost of---] and 30 folles.

Bibliography: IRT, 1952, 876, whence Elmayer, 1997, 26, IRT, 2009, 876, whence EDH 059722; Goodchild, 1951 a.3, whence mentioned AE 1954.181; for BSR images see BSR Digital Collections.

Images

   Fig. 1. Ward-Perkins, 1946 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 46.XVIII.30)