Funerary Inscription (Primary Title)
Inscribed Tablet (Alternate Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Roman society was particularly open to freed men and women, former slaves whose children held citizenship. This tablet, which commemorates a group of freed persons and two freeborn but illegitimate children, was probably part of a family tomb. Though letter forms can date some inscriptions, here they are too generic; however, since the mention of free status becomes less popular after the mid-1st century, it is likely that this inscription dates to the late Republic or early Imperial period (ca. 50 BC-AD 50). The inscription includes a number of abbreviations (e.g., “L” for libertus/liberta, “freedman/woman”) and dots between words.
The inscription, in two columns, reads:
Aulus Livius Hialrus, freedman of a woman.
Gnaeus Quintius Stephaus, freedman of Gnaeus
Quintia Heraclea, freedwoman of Aulus and Livius
Aulus Livius Isidorus, freedman of Aulus, Gneaus and Quintus
Qulus Livius Isa, freedman of Aulus and Quitntia
Quintia Heraclea, freedwoman of Aulus and Livius
Livia Cara, illegitimate daughter
Quintia Isias, freedwoman of Gnaeus
Aulus Livius felix, freedman of Aulus and Quintia
Quintia Egloge, freedwoman of a woman
Aulus Livius Pietas, illegitimate son
Livia Hilara, freedwoman of Aulus and Quintia
Aulus Livius Apollonius, freedman of Aulus and Quintia
Aulus Livius Statius, freedman of Aulus, Aulus and two women, of Quintia
Quintia Philaenis, freedwoman of a woman and Aulus
Aulus Livius Primigenius, freedman of Aulus, Aulus and Quintia
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