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Graffiti - public version

Category
Description
Alphabet

The beginning of the Greek alphabet.

Alphabet

Part of the Greek alphabet.

Photograph

Alphabet

Part of the Greek alphabet?

Photograph

Alphabet

The Greek alphabet on lines 3 and 4.

Amphitheatre and circus

A gladiator with arm outstretched.

Photograph

Amphitheatre and circus

Androm(achus) iii ca(lendas) Apr(iles) | Bal(erianus) iiii non(as) Mai(as).

It has been suggested that this graffito is about gladiators. The dates are March 30 and May 4.

Amphitheatre and circus

A quadriga.

Photograph

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker - taking the picture after the discovery.

Amphitheatre and circus

A gladiator.

Photograph.

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker - the discovery by Simon Bakker.

Amphitheatre and circus

QV SECVNDA FORMOSA
BINII QUII BIN
TVA
FACIIS AGITANTI PRASINI
CRIS
PI

The first part seems to be about a beautiful girl, Secunda. For line 3 cf. Suetonius, Nero 22: prasinum agitatorem, a Green charioteer in the games at the circus. The factio prasina was the party of charioteers who dressed in green. The graffito brings to mind the paintings of charioteers in the building.

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5407 (centre)

Amphitheatre and circus



According to the excavator "... two gladiators in combat, one of which fully armed with fasciae, manica, galea and a rectangular shield. Above the figure the name TAVRVS ..."

Others suggest that the drawing is of a judge and a victorious gladiator (retiarius), and read above the drawing the inscription:

GLAPHYRINVS / BAETICVS TAVR[VS]

Photograph.

Amphitheatre and circus



A gladiator looking towards his left.

Photograph

Animals

Perhaps about the sale of pigs (porci).

Animals

The head of an animal.

Animals

A ram's head.

Photograph

Animals

An elephant showing 'criss-cross' markings, a technique frequently used with drawings of animals. Several deer are drawn like this at Herculaneum, as is a horse at Dura Europus.

Photograph.

Animals

A snake with a comb on its head.

Photograph

Animals

A horse's head.

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5387 (small, towards the left, legs also visible)

Photograph ICCD N5388 (small, towards the bottom, legs also visible)

Animals

A horse's head.

Photograph

Animals

Photograph

Animals

A horse or cow?

Photograph.

Animals

MII/\I VIS . OVIIS NATI

About the birth of sheep?

Animals.

A two-headed horse or wolf?.

Photograph

Commercial texts

accepti (denarii) XXV K(alendis) Decenb(ribus)

About money received on December 1st.

Commercial texts

PANIIM A VIII
LIGNA A V

About the purchase of bread and wood (or a wooden writing-tablet), paid with a(sses).

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5248 (right part only)

Commercial texts

PRIMODIII
* VII
S
ECVNDO NISV
* VII
I
NTIIRTIO
* X

Apparently the registration of the payment of denarii on the first, second and third day.

Photograph

Commercial texts

* III
A VIII
A VIII

* = denarii, A = asses.

Commercial texts

DIINARIOS XXVII

A text referring to money. Next to a drawing of a lizard.

Commercial texts

IIII BYTIRRI
OLEVM X FRVMII

The graffito mentions butter, oil and grain (frume[ntum]).

Commercial texts

COIIMIAXCFVDI RIVA

Perhaps Coemi a(ssibus) XC, fudi riva[lem]: "I bought it for 90 asses, I beat my rival", referring to an auction.

Complex structures

A grid.

Photograph

Complex structures

Drawing.

Photograph.

Complex structures

A map or a machine?

Photograph.

Complex structures

A grid or gaming board.

Photograph

Complex structures

A rectangular shape with (partly inscribed) lines.

Photograph.

Complex structures

A structure and perhaps a human figure.

Photograph.

Complex structures

Long and short lines.

Photograph.

Complex structures

Concentric circles and a few straight lines.

Photograph.

Complex structures

A map?

The first photo is in reality also above the second one. The two photos partly overlap.

Photographs

Photographs by Jan Theo Bakker

Overview
Top part
Central part
Lower part

Complex structures

Profile of an object.

The architrave of a temple or public building?

Photograph.

Complex structures

A plan of two buildings?

Photograph

Complex structures

Photograph

Complex structures

Lines.

Photograph

Complex structures

A structure looking like a millstone in a bakery.

Photograph

Complex structures

Lines.

Photograph

Complex structures

X I I I I I I I I I and lines.

Photograph

Complex structures

Photograph

Dates

Tallymarks and dates (February 13, March 18).

Photographs

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker

Photographs ICCD:

N5261 (tallymarks, part of IDVS FEB)
N5262 (tallymarks, IDVS FEB, XV K APR)
N5263 (tallymarks and dates)
N5264 (tallymarks, IDVS FEB, XV K APR)
N5265 (tallymarks and dates)

Dates

III NONAS APRILIIS

April 3rd.

Dates

K VX IVNIVS | IVLIAS

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5420

Photograph ICCD N5421

Dates

M CAVIO SQUILLA GALLICANO
SEX CARMINIO VETERE
[co(n)s(ulibus)]

A consular date: 150 AD.

Dates

III K

Photograph

Dates

XII K

Photograph

Dates

XII K__L
XII

Photograph

Dates

V K A . . . A

Photograph

Dates

III K

Photograph

Dates

III N DIICIIMBRIIS
SPANILLA P[---]XXIX
MOD MAFA[---]TV

December 3rd.

Dates

II KAL MAR

February 29.

Dates

Imp(eratore) Antonino III
e(t) Comazonte II co(n)s(ulibus)
VIII Idus Aug(ustas)

August 6, 220 AD.

Photograph ICCD E40880 (turned 90 degrees)

Dates

V IDVS MARTIAS

March 11.

Photograph

Photograph

Dates

V K OCT VIINIT

K = KAL. About the arrival of someone on September 28.

Photograph

Dates

VII ID IVN

June 7th.

Photograph.

Dates


VII Kal Commodas.

Commodus had introduced a month called Commodus (August or perhaps September). After his death the original name was restored. Cf. CIL XIV, 2113 (Lavinium).

Photograph.

Dates

Many dates can be read (apparently January 18-26 and March 26 in the first column, February 11 in the second). The word centenarium refers to something consisting of or relating to one hundred, such as a pistrinum centenarium, a bakery for which a minimum investment was needed or which handled a minimum amount of grain.

Dates

IV IDVS

Photograph

Dates

Photographs:

Details:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H1 | H2

All these graffiti represent dates:

A. III NON(ae) IVLIVS i.e July 5
B. V NONAS XX
C. ?NON(ae) OCT MCX
D. IIII NON(ae) IIII
E. XII K(alendae) MA??
F. CERIA (Cerialis, a consul of 215 AD?)
G. XII K(alendae)
H. PRI(die) NON(ae) SEPTEM[bri]S i.e. September 4

Overviews: Details ABCD | Details CDEF | Details GH

Photograph ICCD E40903

Erotica Ego memini quemda(m) crissasse puella(m),
cuius cineres aurea terra tegat

"I remember touching the buttocks of a certain girl,
whose ashes the golden earth covers".

From a tomb.

Erotica


Two graffiti, one on top of the other.

Hic ad Callin[i]cum
futui orem anum (palma)
amicom [---] re nolite r
in aedi ( or: [c]inaede) [---]

"Here I had oral and anal intercourse with my friend in the inn of Callinicus (or: with my sea-going friend Callinicus?). Do not ...". This graffito was written first. Callinicus was probably the owner (vilicus) of the building.

Livius me cunus
lincet Tertulle cunnu ov[---]
Efesius Terpsilla amat.

"Livius licks my c**t (or: Livius, that faggot, licks me?). Tertullus ... c**t (or: faggot?) ... Efesius loves Terpsilla (or: Terisius?)". This is the second graffito.

Photograph

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5385

Photograph ICCD N5386

Erotica

[---]IANVARIA NUGAS ES
VIDVS SCRIPSIT
[---]IMISS[---]VIISTI NII IIOVS
C R O V
IIST
AMATOR
[---]AII NIIVA[---]IIS
[--]AC
[---]N

About a frivolous girl, Ianuaria, and a lover.

Lines 2, 4 and 5 were written in the right half of the graffito.

Photograph

Erotica



According to the excavator: Agathopus et Prima et Epaphroditus tres convenientes.
Others suggests: Agathopus et Prima et (four deleted letters) Mod(e)stus tres convenientes.

"Agathopus and Prima (or: Primus?) and Epaphroditus (or: Modestus) had a threesome".

Photographs.

Erotica


According to the excavator: Cepholus et Musice duo conve | nientes.
Others suggests: Nicephorus et Musice duo convenientes.

"Cepholus (or: Nicephorus?) and Musice came together".

Photograph.

Erotica

A phallus.

Photograph

Erotica

COLONICV(S)
LINGIT SET QUIT
LINGIT NESSCIO CVNNV[---]

Apparently about licking a c**t. Above an erotic drawing (phallus).

Photograph

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker

Erotica

LVCILA FORMOSA
TIBI IIS N
ITA
NIS SIS AMA

About a beautiful girl, Lucilla.

Photograph

Erotica

A phallus and the text CVNNILINGVS.

Photograph

Erotica

PVPA V(ale) SAL(utem)

"Darling (doll), hello, greetings!"

Erotica

M/\MIVS SALIVS
FORMOS
VS

About a beautiful man.

Line 2 was written in the right half of the graffito.

Photograph

Erotica

CRVSEROS AMAS ADAMA
APELLA CRVSIDE . IVSTVS IANVAR[---]VS
PLVRIMA

"Chrysis, you love Chryseros, but he loves Apella. Many greetings from Iustus Ianuarius".

Line 3 was written in the right half of the graffito.

Erotica


Hermadion cinaedus.

"You are a faggot, Hermadion".
Erotica

HICAMOR
HABITAT

"Love lives here".

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5250 (at left end)

Famous buildings

A temple, or public building.

Photograph

Famous buildings - Lighthouse of Portus

The lighthouse in Portus, next to Trajan's column. The upper left part has recently disappeared.

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5281

Famous buildings - Lighthouse of Portus

The lighthouse in Portus.

Photograph

Photograph

Famous buildings - Trajan's column


A drawing of Trajan's column with the text:

PVTE[olanus?] | H | HIERON PI | NXIT.

"On the western wall of the porticoed corridor someone called Hieron, of Greek origin, has signed the oldest, perhaps unique, depiction of Trajan's Column in Rome, drawn with great care and precision. The Ostia lighthouse is drawn several times with varying degrees of success and, on the same wall, a careful hand has minutely drawn a kind of small board divided into squares, more or less like our modern game of chess" (R. Calza). The upper part has recently disappeared.

Photograph

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5281

Frames for writing

A tabula ansata.

Photograph

Frames for writing

IATVM in an unfinished tabula ansata (left ansa missing). The thickness of the letters and the position, on the bottom line and not in the centre, suggest that we read here the English name Tatum. The tabula ansata may be modern as well.

Photograph

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker.

Frames for writing


Photograph

Frames for writing

Tabula ansata.

Photograph

Games

A gaming board? Modern?

Photograph

Games

 

The 1 on a dice. The second in a row of three dice.

Photograph

Games

The 4 on a dice. The third in a row of three dice.

On the three dice the numbers are 6, 1 and 4, perhaps intended as the numerical palindrome VIIIV.

Photograph

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker.

Games

The 6 on a dice. The first in a row three dice.

Photograph

Games

A gaming board.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Lines looking like a plan.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Rectangle drawn over the head on a wall painting.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A drawing of metal decoration?

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A few lines forming triangles.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A geometrical pattern.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A wheel?

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A cross in a circle.

Photograph.

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A wheel?

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A wheel?

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A square with inscribed lines.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A circle with inscribed lines.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Geometrical design.

It looks as though a mistake has been made in this drawing, which as a result has not been completed.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Three objects looking like a branch, a stick and a bracelet.

Photograph.

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A rectangle with inscribed lines, looking like a simple plan.

Photograph.

Geometric and vegetative motifs

(palma)

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A circle with inscribed lines.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Geometrical design.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs


Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Two helices, the one on the left vertical, the one on the right horizontal.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A circle with an inscribed cross.

Photograph.

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Concentric circles, perhaps a rope coiled on the deck of a ship.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs

Geometrical design.

It looks as though this drawing has not been completed.

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5423

Geometric and vegetative motifs

A circle with an inscribed cross.

Photograph.

Geometric and vegetative motifs.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs.

Drawing.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs.

Photograph

Geometric and vegetative motifs.

Geometrical design.

Photograph

Human figures

A name. Next to a drawing of a male head.

Human figures

A human figure.

Photograph

Human figures

A human figure.

Photograph

Human figures

A human figure.

Photograph

Human figures

A male, winged head. Perhaps a representation of a wind.

Photograph

Human figures

BVRDO

The text accompanies a rough bust of a young man with bulla.

Human figures

Perhaps the legs of a male figure.

Photograph

Human figures

The headware being worn in this drawing seems identical to examples described by Langner (2001) at Aphrodisias, Pompeii and Delphi. One explanation of what is happening is that a tibia is being played. It may also be a modern custodian or archaeologist, smoking a cigar.

Photograph

Human figures

A face?

Photograph.

Human figures

A human torso.

Photograph

Human figures



A head looking towards his left.

Photograph

Human figures

Male head.

Photograph ICCD N15469

Human figures

One of three heads found one above the other.

Photograph.

Human figures

Head and shoulders, looking left.

Photograph

Human figures

One of three heads found one above the other.

Photograph.

Human figures

One of three heads found one above the other.

Photograph.

Human figures

A head or torso?

Photograph

Human figures

A male figure.

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5290

Human figures.

Photograph

Masters and slaves

HICEGOMENAEMI

"Here I bought (the slave) Menas".

Masters and slaves


domesticus (or Domesticus?) grat[i]as aget dominu suo
[?] opto te bene (or opto te benei valea) [?] to.

A slave thanks his master and wishes him well.

Masters and slaves


"Your mistress is far inferior to you".

Photograph.

Medicine

MIIDICAMI[---]
LINGAE BVBI[---]
BVS

About medicine and the plant lingua bubula (ox-tongue).

Cato, De Re Rustica 40: "cover the whole with ox-tongue, so that if it rains the water will not soak into the bark". See also Pliny, Natural History, 17, 14, 24, par. 112.

It has been used in history to induce courage, joy, merriment, exhilaration, and making "the mind glad". It was also ground up into a poultice, and used to treat bruises and abrasions.

Photograph

Medicine

A EHI COMITIALE VA
A
NIHA

Perhaps about epilepsy (morbus comitialis).

Mixed content

"Dates and accounts and notes drawn with many parallel lines, through which a diagonal line is drawn".

Mixed content

Below a drawing of a bird.

Mixed content

AVE | RO(ma?)

With drawings of a head of a donkey and a palm branch.

Mixed content

Left column, layer 27: the Greek alphabet.

Photographs:

Mixed content

[Photo nr. - layer - description]

1 - Layer 31.....VIII
2 - Layer 31 right....AIN HIVI
3 - Layer 30 left ....a boat
4 - Layer 29 left ....another boat?
5 - Layer 28....MARCUS AVR[e]LIVS NXX I/
6 - Layers 28/27 right....AXXX
7 - Layers 27/26....AXHMI
8 - Layer 26 right....X
9 - Layer 24 centre....M
10 - Layer 23 right....tally marks
11 - Layer 22 left....tally marks
12 - Layers 22/21 right....*AAXI
13 - Layer 21 left....?
14 - Layers 21/20/19 centre....rigging of a boat?
15 - Layer 18 centre....C_IIIINISAVIV
16 - Layer 16 centre....VI
17 - Layer 15....AIXI
18 - Layer 14 left....AEMILIVS IVNIOR
19 - Layer 14 right...._A_
20 - Layer 11 left....SIAAI
21 - Layer 11 centre....NVX
22 - Layer 10 left....IX__IIII
23 - Layer 8 centre....NVM
24 - Layer 7 centre/right....SVISH
25 - Layers 7/6/5 right....?

Photographs: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker: layer 28.
Mixed content

Photograph ICCD N5389

Mixed content

[Photo nr. - layer - description]

1 - Layer 33 left.....?
2 - Layer 33 right....rigging?
3 - Layer 32 left ....AICYC?
4 - Layer 32 centre ....?
5 - Layer 32 right...Steelyard or building?
6 - Layers 31 right....?
7 - Layers 30/29 right....?
8 - Layer 29 left/centre....SN I IVN RCVI AATAISI
9 - Layer 28 left....II IIIC I H X
10 - Layer 28 centre....X A W X II
11 - Layer 27 left....VTA__MVIIMI
12 - Layer 27/26 right....Rigging
13 - Layer 24 centre....I N
14 - Layers 23 left....STITIIIIAI
15 - Layer 23 centre/right ....II IIA IIII SIS IIII
16 - Layers 21 left....IVNIVS CHRIISIMVS
17 - Layer 20 left....?
18 - Layer 20 centre....F
19 - Layer 19/18 centre....A boat?
20 - Layers 21 to 18 right ....A boat?
21 - Layer 18 left/centre ....AHVIIIM____AIXIS
22 - Layer 15 left....AIIHII IIA III and a boat
23 - Layer 16/15 right ....?
24 - Layer 14 left....ABCD_FG
25 - Layer 13 centre....?
26 - Layer 12 left ....AN
27 - Layers 11 centre....NE AA NIV N
28 Layer 10 right....IVI

Photographs: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker: layers 21-20.
Mixed content

Photographs:

Mixed content

"A slab bearing graffiti of an elephant, a web-footed horse, a four-legged beast with a mouse's snout, a helmeted soldier with shield and lance, a juggler, a boat with an oar".

Photograph

Mixed content Various texts.
Mixed content

G0036a-l


"... as well as boats ... there is a virile, nude figure of the athletic type, surrounded by animals amongst which two horses, a ram and a dog are recognisable." One person is wreathed.

Mixed content

"Next to the door, on the right, a small boat, without sails, drawn with infinite accuracy; next to it there is a figure showing its right profile, wrapped in a cloak that seems to hide its legs, which cannot be seen. Behind, or resting on its shoulder, is a cornucopia which could indicate that this is a female figure, although its features are rather masculine... Below these there is a complete, very large circle."

Names

An excubatorium is a small watch-post of the fire brigade. The date is March 18.

Photograph. Identification uncertain.

Names

IANVARIA FVIT
IANVARIAS

Photograph

Names YACINTHVS
Names

Photograph ICCD N5271

Names

CAMAND[---]

Possibly a name (Gaius Amandus). In a shrine.

Photograph.

Names

MRVSIILLIO COS SOLVI

The name is probably M. Rubellius. Cos may be a false reading, because a consul with the name Marcus Rubellius is not known.

Names

MMISSXVSFEGIT

"[Name] made it".

Names

Names


Photographs:

Names

FLORO ATINI

Names

LCFHIC
H BIN

The initials of someone who was "here"?

Photograph

Names

HIRPINIVS DO[---]

Names

MARIVS
BASSINIAKCSL_OI
SANNIMO
ANIVE_O

Photographs:

Names

AVRELIVS HERMOGENES

Names

Photograph ICCD N5259 (bottom left)

Photograph ICCD N5296 (bottom left)

Photograph ICCD N5260 (bottom)

Names

(centuria) RVFI

VARIVS
INGE[---]

Names

Photograph ICCD N5259 (bottom right)

Photograph ICCD N5296 (bottom right)

Numbers

X X X X I

Photograph

Numbers

Tally marks.

Photograph

Numbers

X X I I

Photograph

Numbers

IIIII

Photograph

Numbers

Surely modern ?!

Photograph

Numbers

Photograph

Numbers

Tallymarks

Photograph

Numbers

Tally marks.

Photograph

Numbers

Numbers

IIIIIII X IIIII X IIIIII X

Photograph

Numbers

Some lines and the text ...XV...

Photograph

Numbers

Tallymarks

Photograph

Numbers

IV

Photograph

Numbers

XIII

Photograph

Numbers

* IIIIIIIIIIIIII

Photograph

Numbers

I I I I I X I I I I I

Photograph

Numbers

Tally marks.

Photograph

Numbers

IIII

Photograph

Numbers

Tally marks.

Photograph

Numbers

HN IIII

Photograph

Numbers

IIIIV IIII D

Photograph

Numbers

Surely modern ?!

Photograph

Numbers

Surely modern ?!

Photograph

Numbers

Photograph

Numbers

Photograph

Numbers

IOCINA
* C C C C C
X X V

Photograph

Numbers

* I I I

+ + + +

* + I I

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5268

Photograph ICCD N5269

Numbers

X H * I I

Photograph

Numbers

Tallymarks

Photograph

Numbers

Photograph

Numbers

Tally marks.

Photograph

Numbers

Tallymarks.

Photograph.

Numbers

*
X
CX
X
XX

Photograph

Numbers

Tallymarks

Photograph

Numbers

Small crosses.

Photograph.

Numbers Tallymarks

Photograph

Numbers

XIIII

Photograph

Numbers

Tallymarks.

Photograph.

Numbers

XIIIII.IIIIIII..

Photograph

Numbers.

Photograph

Numbers.

LXXXVI.

Photograph

People - About people

CALVIUS [---]ILIGIVS EST
POMPTINIVS D[---]ONVS FE
LIG SIT ICIL ATEDVSIS ETREIIR
ARRIOMMO BONVS EST
CALVVS CEPIDIAM PVELLAM ET DARE
AIONVVS
ET MVLIERII TVVS IOLI ET SETIMINVS EST

Comments about a number of people. "Calvius ... Pomptinius ... is happy (?) ...Arri(us) is a good man." Then something is said about a girl and a wife.

People - About people

SIICVNDE
PALICAR
PVS IIS

Secunde, Policarpus es? ("Secundus, you are ...").

People - About people

ACTORES P ACTI MARTIALIS
OCCA
NITE ERAVTRYOLI
EMITTI
T TIBYRTYO ORAMT

Possibly: "The stewards of Publius Actius Martialis pray that ... releases him from the ocean ... to (his estate in) Tibur".

People - About people

HOC QUI SCRIP[---]
[---] N [---]
GIT INFRA

"He who wrote this ... below".

People - About people

[---]SVENVSTVSOMOBON\[---]

---iu]s Venustus (h)omo bonu[s] (tus was written above the line).

"... Venustus is a good man".

On a brick.

People - About people

VIII IDVS SIIPTIIMBRIIS
LICINIVS HOSPIIS V
IGVIT

"On September 6 the host Licinius ...".

Photograph

People - About people

"Every comer scrawls the walls with his graffiti,
The only one who's written none is me."

Photograph

People - About people

"Every comer scrawls the walls with his graffiti,
The only one who's written none is me.
Bugger all these scrawlers! My entreaty
Is to call them epitoechographs [writers on the wall] like me."

Photograph

People - About people

MVLVSAMETPATICAM

"The wall loves the perverted woman" (?)

People - About people

SVIIISAMIVS

Perhaps Sum Samius ("I am from Samos").

People - About people

STEPI
STEPHA
NEFASTI
AT RVFIONE

Possibly: "Rufio dislikes Stephanus!" (or the other way around).

People - About people

OBIILIA SVO
[---]
OLATIO VA(le)

"Obelia to her ..., greetings".

People - Famous people

The first words of the Aeneid of Vergilius.

People - Famous people


"Diogenes the Cynic". Is someone in the building being compared to Diogenes and his doglike behaviour?

Religion



A parallel from Rome suggests that the first line contained the names of the seven planets.
The numbers indicate the days of the month.

Religion - Christianity

The chi-rho monogram.

Photograph

Religion - Christianity

EX PERSECVNDE DOMINII SALVTIS EME

"Lord give safety from the persecutor". (?)

Religion - Chritianity.

LEGE ET INTELLIGE MVTV LOQVI AD MACELLV(M)

"Read and understand that a dumb man has recovered his speech in the Market"

Photograph

Photograph

Religion - Cult of Mithras

A I X C I I H
I L T V

In a mithraeum.

Photograph

Religion - Cult of Mithras

DOMINVS SOL
HIC AVITAT

Dominus Sol | hic avitat = Dominus Sol hic habitat.

"Lord Sun lives here".

The reference is probably to Sol-Mithras.

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker.

Religion - Cult of Mithras

I A N H C A S
L I I A I
I I V C
C H O

In a mithraeum.

Photograph

Religion - Cult of Mithras


In a mithraeum. In the left column possibly the names of slaves (the first name may be Hylas). In the right column possibly gifts to Mithras, amongst which was wine. BINV may be vinv[m]. The X with a vertical bar may stand for denarius. The lines end with numbers.

Photograph.

Religion - Cult of Mithras

X
A A _
M T R I A I H

In a mithraeum.

Photograph

Religion - Cult of Mithras

N I I L _ _ I N
I N _ _ _

In a mithraeum.

Photograph

Religion - Imperial cult

C LICINIVS FELIX
D[
1]Q TVM[---]

Near a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult

C LICINIVS CHO? FELIX
MONNA OMNIBVS SVCC
VRIS FELICITER VII

Near a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult


"For the safety of our lord Severus Alexander, the pious, the happy, Augustus. We, the soldiers of the first cohort of the fire-fighters, the Severan, were stationed in these barracks for 30 days".

In a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult

Marius | Anna | VII Kal Maias (April 25th).

In a shrine.

Photograph.

Religion - Imperial cult


In a shrine.

Lines 1-6 were written in a tabula ansata. This and the word solv(it?) indicate the fulfilment of a vow. The graffito was apparently dated (cos).

Religion - Imperial cult

M MIRENIVS IVLIVS
BVCINATOR COH VII VIG

Mirenius or Myrenius. Bucinator means trumpeter.

In a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult



In a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult

]a tutus | ?um? sicinius [fide?]lis clodius floridianus | mantius fel[i]x feliciter.

In a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult

Coh(orte) VII (or VI) (centuria) Ost(iensis) imp(erante)
An(tonino) co(n)s(ulibus) L[a]eto et Ce
riale sebarius
Calpurnius, X
.

In a tabula ansata: "Calpurnius, night-watchman from the centuria of Ostiensis, from the seventh (or sixth) cohors, during the reign of Caracalla, in the year of consuls Laetus and Cerialis (215 AD), X". Sebarius = sebaciarius, night-watchman. The X means vota decennalia.

In a shrine.

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker.

Religion - Imperial cult

AELIVS MASVETVS
EX ACTVS LATER[---]VM

Near a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult

[---]DISIVS or I/STVS

Near a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult

Ceriale.

A short way to indicate the year 215 AD, Cerialis being one of the two eponymous consuls.

In a shrine.

Photograph.

Religion - Imperial cult

CLAVDI[---]
Q MARCIY FELIX

Near a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult

TMARCIVS
INGIINVS
SIIRVS DIIVORVM
OMMO BONVS

T. Marcius
ingenu[u]s
(or Ingenu[u]s)
servus de{v}orum
[h]om{m}o bonus
.

"T. Marcius Ingenu(u)s [a free man], slave of the deified Emperors, a good man".

Note the intentional opposition between ingenuus and servus.

Photograph ICCD N14879

Religion - Imperial cult

SVLPICIVS
SILVINVS
NONAS
FECIT

Near a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult

IVLIVS FAVSTIN[---]
MIL BUCHI[---]


PRIMIGENIAD[---]

Buchi[nator] is probably bucinator, a trumpeter. PRIMIGENIAD was written across the name Iulius Faustinus.

In a shrine.

Religion - Imperial cult

C SALVIVS OPTATVS

Near a shrine.

Religion - Traditional religion

VT A[_ _ _ _ _ _ ]SIT
PRO SALVTE SVA
ET SVORVM
XII KAL(ENDAS) AVG[u]STAS
(July 21)
PROMISIT VOTVM
LVCCEIA PRIMITIVA
FORTVNAE TAVRIA
NENSI

A woman named Lucceia Primitiva promises that she will thank a deity, Fortuna Taurianensis, when she and those who are dear to her will be in good health, after a danger which is mentioned in the first, mutilated line. It is unlikely that this Fortuna is the protective deity of Taurianum, a town in the south of Italy. More likely there is a relation with the cognomen Taurianus, that is documented in the Serapeum (III,XVII,4).

Photograph (only the last five rows can be seen on this photograph).

Religion - Traditional religion

MERCVR VLS P CO
AES SOLVVIMVS

Mercur(io) v(otum) l(ibens) s(olvit) or s(olverunt) ...

About the fulfilment of a vow to Mercurius.

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5249

Photograph ICCD N5253

Religion - Traditional religion

SATVR

On a marble fragment.

Religion - Traditional religion


"Righteous Hermes (Mercurius), bring profit to Hektikos."

Photograph

Religion - Traditional religion

Idus Dec (?) | XV Kal Nov (December 13th; October 18th).

On the back wall of the niche of a lararium.

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker.

Religion - Traditional religion

NEPTUNE [--] E

Photograph

Religion - Traditional religion

HERMAE

On a brick of a pier of the main entrance to a building. Later covered with plaster.

Photograph.

Ships

A boat?

Photograph

Ships

The prow of a boat?

Photograph

Ships

A boat.

Photograph

A face on the prow can be viewed in two ways. Here the head is looking straight forward.

Photograph

Here the head is looking to its right and slightly downwards.

Photograph

Ships

Possibly a ship's rigging.

Photograph.

Ships

A boat.

Ships

Part of a boat?

Photograph

Ships

A boat with full rigging.

Photograph

Ships

The prow of a boat.

Photograph

Ships

A boat.

Photograph

Ships

A boat.

Photograph

Ships

A ship.

Photograph ICCD N5259

Photograph ICCD N5296

Ships

The prow of a boat.

Photograph

Ships

Possibly a boat.

Photograph

Ships

A boat.

Photograph

Ships

A boat.

Photograph

Ships

A boat.

Photograph

Ships

A boat.

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5289

Ships
Ships

A boat.

Photograph

Ships

The rigging of a boat?

Photograph

Ships


Near "boats drawn with a very light hand, with great attention given to the details of the keel and sails."

Photograph.

Ships

A boat.

Photograph

Ships

A person in a small boat.

Photograph

Ships

A boat.

Photograph

Ships

ABI

"Go!" Next to a drawing of a ship.

Ships

A boat. The short mast at one end of the boat indicates that it is a tow-boat.

Photograph

Ships.

A prow of a boat.

Ships.

Photograph

Towers, cranes

A tower with a pyramidal shape, perhaps a crane, and the letters IRIIN.

Photograph.

Towers, cranes

A structure looking like a tower or an obelisk.

Photograph

Towers, cranes

A drawing of a crane?

Photograph

Towers, cranes

A tower with a pyramidal shape, perhaps a crane.

Photograph

Towers, cranes

A crane?

Photograph.

Towers, cranes

A structure looking like a tower.

Photograph

Towers, cranes

A crane?

Photograph.

Towers, cranes

A structure looking like a tower or an obelisk, and the letters MAXI in a tabula ansata.

Photograph

Towers, cranes.

A crane.

Photograph

Towers, cranes.

Photograph

Unclassified text.

XV KAL A.

Photograph

Unclassified text.

ROMA.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

JALISVS SAALBIVS SAINIIEMIIIIA
PEPERIT INSANVSAICAVE
IE PIITVVQVIIDII
CAVERNE

 

Unclassified texts

A MARIT

Unclassified texts

In a tabula ansata.

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5407 (bottom)

Unclassified texts

O _ A N C R O

Photograph

Unclassified texts

V I F D

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5407 (top)

Unclassified texts

V E I _ I

Photograph

Unclassified texts

C X G I I I I

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

W
T

Photograph

Unclassified texts

 

VITIASVA

A reference to vices?

Photograph.

Unclassified texts

VATIITIIRII

Unclassified texts

I I I V M A T I L L S I A I

Photograph.

Unclassified texts




and

have been suggested for lines 4-6.

Photograph ICCD N5390

Unclassified texts

Text.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

MORIIM SAN

"The conduct ...".

Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

[---] CISTI. IIXXI
[---] LAVIAM
[---] A V
CIMI CACIIS
DIO [---] SCIRE
ESSEQV A
DVTE

Photograph

Unclassified texts

QVO NON FACITI INVRIAM

About injustice?

Unclassified texts

EVT

Photograph.

Unclassified texts

Text and/or a drawing.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

(ian/febr)VARIAS

Either a name or a month.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

Text.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

ROMA

Unclassified texts

Possibly text.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Photograph

Unclassified texts


On bricks.

Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

Photograph

Unclassified texts

GOMIIMIIMINI FVISSIIT

Unclassified texts

[---]RDVS

Photograph

Unclassified texts

C N V _ M

N A _ K A O P I R E

Photograph

Unclassified texts

I I V _

Photograph

Unclassified texts

MA

Photograph

Unclassified texts

* +

X X I

I I X O

Photograph

Photograph ICCD N5269

Unclassified texts

Many letters.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

M E T A T V

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

LHL

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Three (Greek?) letters.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Dructus

Unclassified texts

V T R _

Photograph

Unclassified texts

ecare pod

Unclassified texts

Photograph.

Unclassified texts

From the floor of the latrine.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Two lines of Greek (?) text.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Two lines of Greek text.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

ROMAN
VS FELIX

Unclassified texts

A E V T V S

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Ianuarias?

Unclassified texts

A single line of text

Photograph.

Unclassified texts

Two lines of Greek text.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Three lines of (Greek?) text.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Two lines of text.

Photograph

Unclassified texts

XIA *

Photograph

Unclassified texts

A few letters.

Photograph

Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker.

Unclassified texts

[---]YLL[---]
[---]XXX\[---]

Unclassified texts

S
QVA

Unclassified texts

AMA PVERVM

Unclassified texts

FVGII ORODIIRASIO DII SIICVS ICMI
MII
DVTI[---]CISIS ML
E

Line 2 was written in the right half of the graffito.

Photograph

Unclassified texts
Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

BVBINNI

Unclassified texts AVLA
Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

Unclassified texts

VIRTVS

Photograph

Unclassified texts

NERONII EMAOPII
NECA DIGNA PO

A reference to the Emperor Nero?

Unclassified texts

ANNA SX IIIV
AKSA

Photograph

Unclassified texts

N

Photograph

Unclassified texts

Photograph

Unclassified texts

NIHILI PHPHOR

Photograph

Unclassified texts.

Photograph

Unclassified texts.

PERFIXI

From perfigo, to pierce through?

Photograph

Unclassified texts.

Photograph

Unclassified texts.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

A few lines.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

A few lines.

Photograph.

Unidentified objects

A few lines.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Concentric circles and some lines.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Lines.

Photograph

Unidentified objects


Photograph

Unidentified objects

Lines.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Lines.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Grooves.

Photograph.

Unidentified objects

A drawing.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

A drawing.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

A rectangle.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

A rectangle.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Drawing.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Drawing.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Drawing.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Drawing.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

A few lines.

Photograph.

Unidentified objects

Drawing.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Drawing.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

A few lines.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Drawing.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

Curved lines.

Photograph

Unidentified objects

A few lines.

Photograph

Unidentified objects.

Photograph

Unidentified objects.

Photograph

Unidentified objects.

Photograph

Unidentified objects.

Photograph

Unidentified objects.

Photograph

Unidentified objects.

Photograph

Unidentified objects.

Photograph

Vessels

An amphora?

Photograph

Vessels

An amphora?

Photograph.

Vessels

An amphora.

Photograph

Word games

ROMA

Written near the beginning of the word game ROMA TIBI.

Word games

PRIMA LITIIRA SIMILIS IIST QVARTII SIMILIS IIT QVINTA
SIICVNDAII TIIRTI [---] CVM SIIXTA NOMINA
NOMINA
QVAIIS TA HOC VIIRSICVLO CITTIIRIIDII
TAN

According to Calza this riddle is about the six vowels, a e i o u y. For the third and fourth line Calza suggests Nomina | quaes[i]ta hoc versiculo ci[to] red[das]. Della Corte saw traces of an s after rede.

Lebek has shown that this interpretation is wrong. The riddle is a variation or incorrect version of a known verse: Prima sonat quartae, respondet quinta secundae, tertia cum sexta: nomen habebit avis ("The first sounds like the fourth, the fifth corresponds with the second, the third with the sixth: the bird will have a name").

The solution is turtur, i.e. turtle-dove.

The problem with the interpretation of the Ostian graffito is the plural nomina. Lebek suggests that perhaps we should be thinking of more than one word: turtur, furfur, murmur, tortor etc., but he adds that a riddle with many answers is not a good riddle.

Possibly this was a well-known riddle. In that case the hint nomen habebit avis was superfluous. The plural nomina may lead us to another word for dove, namely columba, the Christian dove (see e.g. Matthew 3,16; baptism of Christ).

The first photograph below indicates SIMILIS IIT QV and the second, CVM SIIXTA

Photograph

Photograph

Word games



The beginning of a versus recurrens (palindrome) by Sidonius Appolinaris (c. 430 – after 489 AD): Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor ("Rome, your love, will suddenly collapse in disturbances").

Word games

LITTIIRA PRIMA DOLIIT LVBIIT
ALTIIRA TIIRTIA MITTIT QUARTA DOLIIT
FACTI QUINTA HABIIT INVIDIAM

Usually thought to be about the five vowels as exclamations: A is related to pain, E to happiness, I to being sent off (ire), O to pain, and U to jealousy or bearing a grudge.

Lebek suggests a slightly different reading and interpretation:
Littera prima dolet, iubet
altera, tertia mittit, quarta docet,
facti quinta habet invidiam
.
He also suggests that the five letters form a word.

Littera prima dolet: a ("Ah!")
iubet altera: s, pronounced as es ("Be!"), from esse
tertia mittit: i ("Go!"), from ire
quarta docet: n, pronounced as en ("See there!")
facti quinta habet invidiam: e ("Alas!")

The word is the vocative asine, i.e. blockhead, Dummkopf.

Could it be that this is a Christian graffito? The letters do not describe stupidity. Nor is there a reason for the person who has just solved the riddle to feel stupid. Perhaps we should take them as serious statements, in which case we may remember a graffito from Rome: a drawing of a crucified man with the head of an ass, someone looking at him, and the text "Alexamenos worships his God".

Photograph ICCD E40728

Word games

This is a word-square and palindrome. The text can be read in four directions.

Unless indicated otherwise: photographs made by Eric Taylor.