WP 0005

IRT2021
Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania 2021

1151. Christian funerary text (Ain Zara cemetery)

Description: Tomb of rubble, with a plaster surface, w: 1.55 x h: 0.52 x d: 0.47, supported on a plinth w: 0.18. Fragments: a: w: 0.31 x h: 0.21; b: w: 0.10 x h: 0.18; c: w: 0.18 x h: 0.12; d: w: 0.16 x h: 0.11.
Text: Inscribed i, lines 1-3 on the south face of the coffin and line 4 on the plinth beneath; ii on the west face, cut below a cross, on either side of the vertical; iii on associated fragments of plaster.
Letters: No measurements

Date: Fifth-sixth century CE (context, lettering)

Findspot: Tripoli: Ain Zara, cemetery, Tomb 11
Original location: Findspot
Last recorded location: Findspot (1911-1914)

Interpretive

i
------
[c. 4]ỊOT [c. 18 abst-]
ulit; b[i]x̣it in [pake plus] ṃịṇụṣ ạ[nnos ...]; [re-]
[k]ẹṣ[i]ṭ [d]ẹ ọḳ ṣẹḳụlo ṣ[u]ḅ ḍị[e] ṃ[e]ṇṣ(is) ỊỊ[---]
Rẹquieṃ ẹṭẹṛnam dẹṭ ṭibi D(omi)n(u)s ẹṭ lux perpetua lukeat tiḅị
ii
((crux))
s(an)k(tu)s | inm(ortalis)
misere | re mei
iii
a
------
[---]ỊỊ[---]
[---sui]ṣ amabiḷịṣ[---]
[---q]ụẹṃ atr[a dies---]
------
b
------
[---]RUṢ[---]
------
c
------
[---]ṂO[---]
[---][---]
------
d
------
[---]SẠ[---]
------

Diplomatic

i
------
[····].OT[··················....-]
ULITB[.].ITIN[........]......[....···..-]
[.]..[.].[.].......LO.[.]...[.].[.]....[---]
R.QUIE.....NAMD...IBIDNS..LUXPERPETUALUKEATTI..
ii

SKS | INM
MISERE | REMEI
iii
a
------
[---]..[---]
[---...].AMABI...[---]
[---.]...ATR[.....---]
------
b
------
[---]RU.[---]
------
c
------
[---].O[---]
[---].[---]
------
d
------
[---]S.[---]
------

English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

(i): . . . ] took away. He lived in peace for more or less ? years; he left this world on the [ . . . ]. May the Lord grant you rest eternal, and may light perpetual shine for you.

(ii): Holy, Immortal. Have mercy on me.

(iii.a):. . . ] lovable to his own [ . . . ] whom a black day [ . . .

(iii.b, c, d): (Not usefully translatable.)

Bibliography: Aurigemma, 1932, 11 and figs.37, 38, 39; mentioned and indexed IRT, 1952, 261, whence mentioned IRT, 2009, 261

Images

   Fig. 1. i: Drawing (Luigi Turba)

   Fig. 2. ii: Drawing (Stefani)

   Fig. 3. iii: Drawing (Luigi Turba)