WP 0005

IRT2021
Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania 2021

0840. Christian funerary inscription

Description: Square marble slab (w: 0.90 x h: 0.98), re-used.
Text: Inscribed when the slab was already cracked. The text concludes with a spray ending in a cross.
Letters: 0.045-0.065; capitals, with uncial D in the last line.

Date: Fifth century CE (context)

Findspot: Lepcis Magna: Forum Vetus, in situ beside 835.
Original location: Findspot
Last recorded location: Findspot

Interpretive

((Chi-Rho)) Hic requiesciet fili-
us Stefani loci s-
erbatori(s) in(n)ocens
nomine Long(i)n-
5us bixit dies
sebte(m) men-
se Septem-
ber ind(ic)t(ione) XI
((palm))

Diplomatic

HICREQUIESCIETFILI
USSTEFANILOCIS
ERBATORIINOCENS
NOMINELONGN
5USBIXITDIES
SEBTEMEN
SESEPTEM
BERINDTXI

English translation

Translation by: J. M. Reynolds

(Monogram cross) Here lies the son of Stephanus, the guardian of this place, an innocent named Longinus. He lived for seven days in the month of September in the eleventh indiction.

Commentary

Line 2-3. Stefanus locus serbator. See also 834, 835, 839, 843.

Bibliography: Bartoccini, 1931, 46, no.5 , fig 11; IRT, 1952, 840, whence IRT, 2009, 840, whence EDH 059691; for BSR images see BSR Digital Collections.

Images

   Fig. 1. Ward-Perkins, 1946 (Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR 46.XXI.12)

   Fig. 2. Ward-Perkins Archive, BSR (Sopr. B. 1542)

   Fig. 3. Tantillo (2004)