Inscriptions from the time of the Roman Republic, translated by E.H.Warmington (1940). The numbers in red refer to the Latin text in the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum.
A golden brooch made by Manius. Seventh or sixth century B.C. The inscription is in Greek characters (running from right to left) which show the Greek alphabet undergoing a change to fit the needs of Praenestine Latin.
Manius made me for Numasios {= Numerius}.
(i) A bronze toilet-casket made by Novius for Dindia Macolnia. c. 250-235 B.C.
On the lid.
[a] Dindia Macolnia gave this to her daughter.
[b] Novius Plautius made me at Rome.
Under one of the legs.
[c] Maqolnia ?
(ii) Another bronze casket, depicting a rustic kitchen-scene; c.250-235 B.C. Two (or more?) slave-cooks preparing a savoury meal. The inscriptions run partly from right to left. It is usually assumed that half a dozen people are preparing one dish, but it seems to me there are two people only preparing several dishes for one meal. I have called the two persons A and B and have added what they appear to me to be doing.
[A] {who is cutting up a fish} Prepare the fish !
[B] {taking down the lower part of a pig} I've made the garlic patties thick.
. . .
[B] {with a dish of fish?-cakes in one hand and a knife in the other} I've prepared it.
[A] {holding out a dish to B} Beat it up with a leek !
. . .
[B] {stirring and addressing a large cauldron} Boil for me royally !
[A] {prodding or stirring the food in the cauldron and holding in his left hand a plate of seven cakes} Well then, mix away!
. . .
[B] {walking away and perhaps announcing to invisible diners} The roast in hand I bring.
(iii) Another casket, depicting Castor, Pollux, a dwarf, and companions. Now in the British Museum. Reads partly from right to left.
[a] Castor.
[b] Father of dwarfs.
(i) Depicting a boy and a girl playing on a gaming-board.
Because of that, I'll win against you.
(ii) Depicting Marsyas dancing with Little Pan.
[a] Marsyas.
[b] Little Pan.
[c] Vifius Philippus engraved this.
(iii) Depicting Lycurgus, threatening Philonicus and a rescuer.
[a] Thaseus.
[b] Lycurgus.
[c] Philonicus son of Thaseus.
(iv) In the Lewis collection, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Depicting domestic life. Girl Fasia on Metios' knee. Acila stands near.
[a] Metios.
[6] Fasia.
[c] Acila {or handmaid}.
[d] Ceisia Lucilia Fata and Iunios Setios Atos . . .
(1) A small weasel, with base and handle. Praeneste.
Caress me. Property of Lucia Cornelia, daughter of Lucius.
(ii) Found near Corchiano, Faliscan territory.
Me Lucilius made.
(i) On a number of paterae.
Made by Lucius Canuleius of Cales, son of Lucius.
(ii) On paterae found at Tarquinii.
I, Retus Gabinius, slave of Gaius, made you at Cales.
(iii) On a patera bought at Naples.
Kaeso Serponius made this at Cales, in the Esquiline quarter. A slave of Gaius.
(iv) On a mould for paterae, found a Capua: now in the British Museum.
I am from the workshop of Lucius Canuleius.
(v) On a clay vessel. Rome?
Marcus? a household slave; at Cales.
(i) Ointment-pot? Found by the Tiber. Has apex, 'Fláca' (?).
Love gave me to Flacca.
(ii) Small pitcher, Esquiline necropolis.
Rustius asked Rustia to take this.
(iii) Clay dish. Rome.
[a] I Fulfios, made it.
[b] {on the inside, in another hand:} Marcus' (?) slave.
(iv) Pot. Esquiline necropolis. Under one foot.
Statia possesses this pot.
(v) Round the funnel of an ink-well. Rome.
The property of Philotimus, slave of Lucius Lucretius.
(vi) Lamp. Esquiline necropolis.
For Claudius. I am not yours.
(vii) Lamp. Esquiline necropolis.
Do not touch; I am not yours; I am Marcus'.
(viii) Lamp. Velitrae.
Do not touch me. I am Gemucius'.
(ix) Lamp. Esquiline necropolis.
I am Sota's. Touch me not.
(x) Lamp. Esquiline.
Statia, our bailiff's wife.
(xi) Lamp. Esquiline necropolis.
Placed by Spurius Helvius for Titus Ivilius of the Stellatine tribe.
(xii) On the neck of a bronze bust of Medusa. Found at Rome?
Made by Gaius Ovius of the Ufentine tribe.
(xiii) On the cloak of a bronze status of Jupiter. District of Orvieto.
The work of Gaius Pomponius, of the Quirine tribe.
(xiv) On a vessel of Umbrian origin. Found on the Esquiline.
Gaius Paconius, son of Gaius, grandson of Quintus.
On a bronze vessel of Campanian origin. Now in the British Museum.
Quintus Luenius, praefect, son of Quintus, made this in the name of his tribes.
On a bronze disk. The letters are formed by punctured dots. From Picenum.
To Vibius Avilius son of Vibius, and Vibius Alfienus son of Publius out of the traffic revenue of the hamlet.
On a chalk lid of a well? Esquiline.
I, Gaius Antonius, made it.
(i) Piece of a fat bronze fish found at Fundi. Between 222 and 153 B.C.
Unanimously resolved: the Senators on the Roll. Titus Fa . . . the praefects and all the praefecture of Fundi have established a bond of guestship with Tiberius {Claudius?}. We entrust all of us to his good faith and in it meet together. We all choose him as a patron. In the consulship of Marcus Claudius son of Marcus and . . .
(ii) Half of a halved bronze ram's head. Trasacco.
Titus Manlius, son of Titus.
Guest.
Titus Staiodius, son of Numerius.
(i) Esquiline, 102 B.C.
Falernian-Massic. In the consulship of Quintus Lutatius and Gaius Marius.
(ii) Between Viminal and Esquiline, 102 B.C.
Falernian. In the consulship of Quintus Lutatius and Gaius Marius.
(iii) By the Ostian Way, 101 B.C.
Falernian-Opimian. In the consulship of Manius Aquilius.
(iv) By the Ostian Way, 97 B.C. Both [a] and [b] are on the same jar.
[a] Waxed Arvisian of Gaius Domitius.
[b] In the consulship of Gnaeus Cornelius and Publius Licinius.
(v) Found somewhere in Rome. 129 B.C.?
[a] Vergilian estate. Gaius Sempronius and Quintus Fabricius.
[b] Formian.
(i) On a brick. Velitrae.
Gaius Tossius and Lucius Tossius, sons of Gaius; Gaius Tossius, freedman of Gaius.
(ii) On a cask found near Orvieto.
The pottery of Lucius Tettius Balbus.
Antiochus, slave of Tossius Sextus made it.
(iii) On a small earthen equipoise {counterbalance}. Near Mantua.
I, Antiochus, modelled you.
(iv) Clay tile. Cortona?
Made by Lucius Quintius Au. (?), slave of Statius.
(v) On the plinth of a statuette. Origin unknown.
Modelled by Gaius Rufius, statuette-maker.
(vi) Under the foot of an 'Arretine' vessel. Rome.
Do not filch me. I belong to Helvetius.
(vii) On a bronze dish. Origin unknown.
From Aula Septunolena, as a gift to Petro Maesius.
(viii) On some pigs of lead found in a mine near Cartagena in Spain.
Marcus Roscius and Publius Roscius, sons of Marcus, of the Maecian tribe.
On sling-shots found at Castro Giovanni (Henna) in Sicily. 133 B.C.
Lucius Piso consul, son of Lucius.
[i] [a] The Italians. [b] Titus Lafrenius, praetor.
[ii] Hit Pompeius!
[iii] Bring safety for Pompeius !
[iv] Hit a Pie !
[v]A gift for the Asculans.
[vi] Runaways, you are done for!
[vii] There's hell for you, damn you!
[viii] [a] Swallow the bull, and go to hell! [b] Yet you will belch up the lot!
(i) Rome? 96 B.C.
Inspected by Capito slave of Memmius, in the month of November, in the consulship of Gnaeus Domitius and Gaius Cassius.
(ii) Origin unknown. 94 B.C.
Inspected by Phuloxenus, servant of associate ironsmiths, on the 5th of April in the consulship of Gaius Coelius and Lucius Domitius.
(iii) Near Tarracina. 93 B.C.
Inspected by Menophulus, slave of Lucius Abius, in the consulship of Gaius Valerius and Marcus Herennius.
(iv) Near Capua? 86 B.C. Spurious?
Inspected by Dardanus, slave of Babius, on the 5th of Feb., in the consulship of Lucius Cornelius and Lucius Valerius.
(v) Origin unknown. Now in the British Museum. 85 B.C.
Inspected by Cocero, slave of Fafinius, on the 5th of Oct. in the consulship of Lucius Cinna and Gnaeus Papirius.
(vi) Rome? 80 B.C.
Inspected by Bato, slave of Attalenius, on the 4th of Mar. in the consulship of Lucius Sulla and Quintus Metellus.
Private notice of voting-place of a guild. Bronze plate for hanging up. Found at Rome.
Place reserved for the free-born who go down to give their votes.
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