The beginning of the Greek alphabet.
Part of the Greek alphabet.
Part of the alphabet (OPQRSTVXY).
Photograph ICCD N14856
Part of the Greek alphabet?
The Greek alphabet on lines 3 and 4.
QV SECVNDA FORMOSA
BINII QUII BINTVA
FACIIS AGITANTI PRASINI
CRISPI
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 ICCD N5407 (centre)
A gladiator looking towards his left.
A gladiator with shield and helmet. Possibly this is a secutor, to which the letter S in the upper left part may refer. To the right is a trident, a weapon used by the retiarius, a regular opponent of the secutor.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker
- the discovery by Simon Bakker.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker (high resolution).
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]
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.
A gladiator with arm outstretched.
A quadriga.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker
- taking the picture after the discovery.
A two-headed horse or wolf?.
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.
A snake with a comb on its head.
A horse's head.
Photograph ICCD N5387 (small, towards the left, legs also visible)
Photograph ICCD N5388 (small, towards the bottom, legs also visible)
The head of an animal.
Perhaps about the sale of pigs (porci).
A horse or cow?
A ram's head.
A horse's head.
MII/\I VIS . OVIIS NATI
About the birth of sheep?
PRIMODIII
* VII
SECVNDO NISV
* VII
INTIIRTIO
* X
Apparently the registration of the payment of denarii on the first, second and third day.
DIINARIOS XXVII
A text referring to money. Next to a drawing of a lizard.
accepti (denarii) XXV K(alendis) Decenb(ribus)
About money received on December 1st.
* III
A VIII
A VIII
* = denarii, A = asses.
IIII BYTIRRI
OLEVM X FRVMII
The graffito mentions butter, oil and grain (frume[ntum]).
PANIIM A VIII
LIGNA A V
About the purchase of bread and wood (or a wooden writing-tablet), paid with a(sses).
Photograph ICCD N5248 (right part only)
Photographs:
- Details, low resolution:
- A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H1 | H2
- Overviews, low resolution:
- ABCD | CDEF | GH
- Details, high resolution (Jan Theo Bakker):
- G-H | I (new) | A-B | C-D | E-F
Photograph ICCD E40903 (upside down)
This is what we read before high resolution photographs were made:
A. III NON IVLIAS, i.e July 5
B. V NONAS XX XXXV
C. ?NON OCT MCX
D. IIII NON IIII
E. XII K MA??
F. CERIA
G. XII K
H. PRI NON SEPTEM[bri]S, i.e. September 4
Open this PDF to see what we read after high resolution photographs were made in 2009.
Most of these graffiti are dates related to the receiving of money. A year has not been found. Sometimes text was cancelled by horizontal lines. For some reason, during a number of months, registration took place on a wall. Quite interesting is the text: "Know that (on this day) it is thundering here" (scite hic tonat). Special emphasis is given to this event by adding the word scite. A reference to a thunderstorm seems unlikely. Perhaps a quarrel is meant, or even an earthquake.
COIIMIAXCFVDI RIVA
Perhaps Coemi a(ssibus) XC, fudi riva[lem]: "I bought it for 90 asses, I beat my rival", referring to an auction.
Drawing.
A rectangular shape with (partly inscribed) lines.
A map?
The first photo is in reality also above the second one. The two photos partly overlap.
Photographs by Jan Theo Bakker
A map or a machine?
A structure looking like a millstone in a bakery.
A structure and perhaps a human figure.
Lines.
X I I I I I I I I I and lines.
A plan of two buildings?
Lines.
A grid or gaming board.
Long and short lines.
Profile of an object.
The architrave of a temple or public building?
A grid.
Concentric circles and a few straight lines.
III K
Photograph ICCD N5270
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).
V K OCT VIINIT
K = KAL. About the arrival of someone on September 28.
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.
Tallymarks and dates (February 13, March 18).
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)
XII K__L
XII
M CAVIO SQUILLA GALLICANO
SEX CARMINIO VETERE [co(n)s(ulibus)]
A consular date: 150 AD.
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)
V IDVS MARTIAS
March 11.
IV IDVS
V K A . . . A
V IDVS OCT ...
Photograph ICCD N14849
Photograph ICCD N14869
K VX IVNIVS | IVLIAS
Photograph ICCD N5420
Photograph ICCD N5421
II KAL MAR
February 29.
III K
III N DIICIIMBRIIS
SPANILLA P[---]XXIX
MOD MAFA[---]TV
December 3rd.
K MART IDVS | IVLIAS.
Photograph ICCD N5424
III NONAS APRILIIS
April 3rd.
VII ID IVN
June 7th.
XII K
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.
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".
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.
Hermadion cinaedus.
"You are a faggot, Hermadion".
HICAMOR
HABITAT
"Love lives here".
Photograph ICCD N5250 (at left end)
LVCILA FORMOSA
TIBI IIS NITA
NIS SIS AMA
About a beautiful girl, Lucilla.
A phallus and text.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker (high resolution).
A phallus.
COLONICV(S)
LINGIT SET QUIT
LINGIT NESSCIO CVNNV[---]
Apparently about licking a c**t. Above an erotic drawing (phallus).
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker
A Greek text, referring to a depilator or perhaps rather an erotic allusion.
PVPA V(ale) SAL(utem)
"Darling (doll), hello, greetings!"
CINEDVS PEDICATVR | ... Note the lines through part of the text.
Photograph ICCD N14851
[---]IANVARIA NUGAS ES
VIDVS SCRIPSIT
[---]IMISS[---]VIISTI NII IIOVS
C R O VIIST
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 ICCD N5409
M/\MIVS SALIVS
FORMOSVS
About a beautiful man.
Line 2 was written in the right half of the graffito.
According to the excavator: Cepholus et Musice duo conve | nientes.
Others suggests: Nicephorus et Musice duo convenientes.
"Cepholus (or: Nicephorus?) and Musice came together".
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 ICCD N5385
Photograph ICCD N5386
A temple, or public building.
The lighthouse of Portus.
Photograph ICCD N14872
The lighthouse in Portus.
The lighthouse in Portus, next to Trajan's column. The upper left part has recently disappeared.
Photograph ICCD N5281
The lighthouse of Portus.
Photograph (high resolution).
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 ICCD N5281
Tabula ansata.
A tabula ansata.
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 by Jan Theo Bakker.
The 1 on a dice. The second in a row of three dice.
A gaming board? Modern?
A gaming board.
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 by Jan Theo Bakker.
The 6 on a dice. The first in a row three dice.
A wheel?
A cross in a circle.
A wheel?
A circle with inscribed lines.
Branches.
Photograph ICCD N14853
Rectangle drawn over the head on a wall painting.
A branch.
Photograph ICCD N14860
A geometrical pattern.
A few lines forming triangles.
A drawing of metal decoration?
Two helices, the one on the left vertical, the one on the right horizontal.
Geometrical design.
A square with inscribed lines.
Lines looking like a plan.
Geometrical design.
It looks as though a mistake has been made in this drawing, which as a result has not been completed.
A circle with an inscribed cross.
Drawing.
Three objects looking like a branch, a stick and a bracelet.
(palma)
Geometrical design.
It looks as though this drawing has not been completed.
Photograph ICCD N5423
Geometrical design.
A rectangle with inscribed lines, looking like a simple plan.
A wheel?
A circle with inscribed lines.
A circle with an inscribed cross.
Concentric circles, perhaps a rope coiled on the deck of a ship.
Male head.
Photograph ICCD N15469
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker (high resolution).
A human figure.
One of three heads found one above the other.
A name. Next to a drawing of a male head.
BVRDO
The text accompanies a rough bust of a young man with bulla.
Perhaps the legs of a male figure.
A human torso.
A human figure.
A face?
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.
A human figure.
One of three heads found one above the other.
One of three heads found one above the other.
A male figure.
Photograph ICCD N5290
A head or torso?
A head looking towards his left.
Drawing of a person.
Photograph (high resolution).
Photograph with drawing (high resolution).
Head and shoulders, looking left.
A male, winged head. Perhaps a representation of a wind.
"Your mistress is far inferior to you".
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.
HICEGOMENAEMI
"Here I bought (the slave) Menas".
A EHI COMITIALE VA
ANIHA
Perhaps about epilepsy (morbus comitialis).
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.
Text and drawings.
Photograph ICCD N5404
"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."
Photograph ICCD N5389
Photographs:
Left column, layer 27: the Greek alphabet.
Photographs:
Various texts.
Below a drawing of a bird.
AVE | RO(ma?)
With drawings of a head of a donkey and a palm branch.
[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.
[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."Dates and accounts and notes drawn with many parallel lines, through which a diagonal line is drawn".
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.
"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".
Drawings and text.
Photograph ICCD N14859
Text and a drawing.
Photograph (high resolution).
A number above a drawing of a tower?
Photograph ICCD N5410
Numbers and a ship?
Photograph ICCD N5411
Photograph ICCD N5271
Photograph ICCD N5259 (bottom left)
Photograph ICCD N5296 (bottom left)
Photograph ICCD N5260 (bottom)
CAMAND[---]
Possibly a name (Gaius Amandus). In a shrine.
Photograph ICCD N5259 (bottom right)
Photograph ICCD N5296 (bottom right)
AVRELIVS HERMOGENES
HIRPINIVS DO[---]
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.
Photographs:
IANVARIA FVIT
IANVARIAS
MMISSXVSFEGIT
"[Name] made it".
(centuria) RVFI
VARIVS
INGE[---]
LCFHIC
H BIN
The initials of someone who was "here"?
MARIVS
BASSINIAKCSL_OI
SANNIMO
ANIVE_O
Photographs:
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker (high resolution).
FLORO ATINI
An excubatorium is a small watch-post of the fire brigade. The date is March 18.
Photograph. Identification
uncertain.
Tally marks.
* I I I
+ + + +
* + I I
Photograph ICCD N5268
Photograph ICCD N5269
IIIII
Some lines and the text ...XV...
Numbers.
Photograph ICCD N5257
XIII
XIIIII.IIIIIII..
X X X X I
Many numbers.
Photograph ICCD N5277
IIIIIII X IIIII X IIIIII X
Tally marks.
Tally marks.
Tallymarks.
Tallymarks.
Numbers.
Photograph ICCD N5285
Small crosses.
Tallymarks
Photograph ICCD N5266
IIII
HN IIII
* IIIIIIIIIIIIII
X H * I I
IIIIV IIII D
Surely modern ?!
LXXVII.
Photograph ICCD N5267
X X I I
IOCINA
* C C C C C
X X V
*
X
CX
X
XX
Surely modern ?!
Tallymarks.
Photograph ICCD N5278
Surely modern ?!
A number.
Photograph ICCD N5273
Tally marks.
XIIII
Tallymarks
Tally marks.
Tallymarks
Tallymarks
I I I I I X I I I I I
Tallymarks.
Photograph ICCD N5283
A number.
Photograph ICCD N5414
IV
Numbers.
Photograph ICCD N5284
CALVIUS [---]ILIGIVS EST
POMPTINIVS D[---]ONVS FELIG 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.
SVIIISAMIVS
Perhaps Sum Samius ("I am from Samos").
LVRE SIC EXPIRIS ("Lurius, in this way you will die"). Was this really a name, or was it "lupus" (wolf), the P later changed to an R?
Photograph Kent-Berlin
VIII IDVS SIIPTIIMBRIIS
LICINIVS HOSPIIS VIGVIT
"On September 6 the host Licinius ...".
"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."
MVLVSAMETPATICAM
"The wall loves the perverted woman" (?)
[---]SVENVSTVSOMOBON\[---]
---iu]s Venustus (h)omo bonu[s] (tus was written above the line).
"... Venustus is a good man".
On a brick.
STEPI
STEPHANEFASTI
AT RVFIONE
Possibly: "Rufio dislikes Stephanus!" (or the other way around).
SIICVNDE
PALICAR
PVS IIS
Secunde, Policarpus es? ("Secundus, you are ...").
OBIILIA SVO
[---]OLATIO VA(le)
"Obelia to her ..., greetings".
HOC QUI SCRIP[---]
[---] N [---]GIT INFRA
"He who wrote this ... below".
"Every comer scrawls the walls with his graffiti,
The only one who's written none is me."
ACTORES P ACTI MARTIALIS
OCCANITE ERAVTRYOLI
EMITTIT TIBYRTYO ORAMT
Possibly: "The stewards of Publius Actius Martialis pray that ... releases him from the ocean ... to (his estate in) Tibur".
The first words of the Aeneid of Vergilius.
"Diogenes the Cynic". Is someone in the building being compared to Diogenes and his doglike behaviour?
A parallel from Rome suggests that the first line contained the names of the seven planets. The numbers indicate the days of the month.
The chi-rho monogram.
EX PERSECVNDE DOMINII SALVTIS EME
"Lord give safety from the persecutor". (?)
LEGE ET INTELLIGE MVTV LOQVI AD MACELLV(M)
"Read and understand that a dumb man has recovered his speech in the Market"
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.
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.
Below the niche of mithraeum.
AELIVS MASVETVS
EX ACTVS LATER[---]VM
Near a shrine.
CLAVDI[---]
Q MARCIY FELIX
Near a shrine.
C SALVIVS OPTATVS
Near a shrine.
C LICINIVS FELIX
D[1]Q TVM[---]
Near a shrine.
[---]DISIVS or I/STVS
Near a shrine.
SVLPICIVS
SILVINVS
NONAS
FECIT
Near a shrine.
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).
Ceriale.
A short way to indicate the year 215 AD, Cerialis being one of the two eponymous consuls.
In a shrine.
In a shrine.
IVLIVS FAVSTIN[---]
MIL BUCHI[---]
PRIMIGENIAD[---]
Buchi[nator] is probably bucinator, a trumpeter. PRIMIGENIAD was written across the name Iulius Faustinus.
In a shrine.
M MIRENIVS IVLIVS
BVCINATOR COH VII VIG
Mirenius or Myrenius. Bucinator means trumpeter.
In a shrine.
Marius | Anna | VII Kal Maias (April 25th).
In a shrine.
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.
"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.
]a tutus | ?um? sicinius [fide?]lis clodius floridianus | mantius fel[i]x feliciter.
In a shrine.
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
C LICINIVS CHO? FELIX
MONNA OMNIBVS SVCC
VRIS FELICITER VII
Near a shrine.
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).
NEPTUNE [--] E
Idus Dec (?) | XV Kal Nov (December 13th; October 18th).
On the back wall of the niche of a lararium.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker.
HERMAE
On a brick of a pier of the main entrance to a building. Later covered with plaster.
SATVR
On a marble fragment.
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 ICCD N5249
Photograph ICCD N5253
"Righteous Hermes (Mercurius), bring profit to Hektikos."
A boat.
A boat.
A boat.
A ship.
Photograph ICCD N14862
A ship.
Photograph ICCD N14858
The rigging of a boat?
A boat.
A boat.
A ship?
Photograph ICCD N5279
A boat.
Near "boats drawn with a very light hand, with great attention given to the details of the keel and sails."
A ship.
Photograph ICCD N5259
Photograph ICCD N5296
A boat.
A prow of a boat.
ABI
"Go!" Next to a drawing of a ship.
The prow of a boat.
Photograph ICCD N5254
A boat with full rigging.
Part of a boat?
A boat. The short mast at one end of the boat indicates that it is a tow-boat.
The prow of a boat?
A boat?
The prow of a boat.
Possibly a boat.
A boat.
Possibly a ship's rigging.
A ship.
Photograph ICCD N5298
A ship.
Photograph ICCD N5307
A ship.
Photograph ICCD N5295
A boat.
Photograph ICCD N5289
The prow of a boat.
A boat.
A face on the prow can be viewed in two ways. Here the head is looking straight forward.
Here the head is looking to its right and slightly downwards.
A person in a small boat.
A boat.
A tower.
Photograph ICCD N5276
Tallymarks next to a tower.
Photograph ICCD N5274
A tower.
Photograph ICCD N14854
A structure looking like a tower or an obelisk.
A structure looking like a tower or an obelisk, and the letters MAXI in a tabula ansata.
A crane.
A drawing of a crane?
A tower with a pyramidal shape, perhaps a crane.
A structure looking like a tower.
A tower with a pyramidal shape, perhaps a crane, and the letters IRIIN.
A crane?
A crane?
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5308
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5297
V E I _ I
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5399
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5286
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5282
LHL
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5280
V I F D
Dructus
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5401
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5258
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5255
V T R _
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5400
Text.
Photograph ICCD N14881 (turned 90 degrees to the left)
Text and lines.
Photograph ICCD N14880
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5408
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5406
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5405
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5403
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5398
Two lines of Greek text.
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5252
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5251
A E V T V S
Text.
Photograph ICCD N14868
First hand: LCCV | Second hand: [o]MNIBVS VLAN[---]?
Photograph ICCD N14877
Two lines of Greek text.
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5422
Text.
Photograph ICCD N14867
Three lines of (Greek?) text.
Text.
Photograph ICCD N14865
Two lines of text.
Text.
Photograph ICCD N14861
I I I V M A T I L L S I A I
M E T A T V
XV KAL A.
VIRTVS
Ianuarias?
ROMA.
O _ A N C R O
ANNA SX IIIV
AKSA
[---]YLL[---]
[---]XXX\[---]
ROMAN
VS FELIX
S
QVA
A few letters.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker.
NERONII EMAOPII
NECA DIGNA PO
A reference to the Emperor Nero?
XIA *
AMA PVERVM
A single line of text
N
Two lines of Greek (?) text.
* +
X X I
I I X O
Photograph ICCD N5269
I I V _
C N V _ M
N A _ K A O P I R E
Three (Greek?) letters.
Text.
(ian/febr)VARIAS
Either a name or a month.
Many letters.
Text?
Photograph ICCD N5288
Text.
. . . . N I
. . . . I I N
On a mithraeum. The Greek letter psi may be in the upper left part.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker (high resolution)
H I . . . .
. . . .
X
On a mithraeum.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker (high resolution)
. . . .
H I I I X I V
On a mithraeum.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker (high resolution)
I A N H C A S
L I I A I
I I V C
C H O
On a mithraeum. The Greek letter theta may be in the lower right part.
Photographs by Jan Theo Bakker (high resolution): general view | detail of upper left part | detail of lower right part
On bricks.
JALISVS SAALBIVS SAINIIEMIIIIA
PEPERIT INSANVSAICAVEIE PIITVVQVIIDII
CAVERNE
QVO NON FACITI INVRIAM
About injustice?
MORIIM SAN
"The conduct ...".
ROMA
GOMIIMIIMINI FVISSIIT
and
have been suggested for lines 4-6.
Photograph ICCD N5390
From the floor of the latrine.
NIHILI PHPHOR
BVBINNI
FVGII ORODIIRASIO DII SIICVS ICMI
MII
DVTI[---]CISIS MLE
Line 2 was written in the right half of the graffito.
W
T
[---] CISTI. IIXXI
[---] LAVIAM
[---] A VCIMI CACIIS
DIO [---] SCIRE
ESSEQV ADVTE
A MARIT
In a tabula ansata.
Photograph ICCD N5407 (bottom)
MA
Photograph ICCD N5407 (top)
[---]RDVS
Text.
Photograph by Jan Theo Bakker (high resolution).
ecare pod
VITIASVA
A reference to vices?
VATIITIIRII
Text.
Photograph (high resolution).
Text and/or a drawing.
Possibly text.
Text?
Photograph ICCD N5416
EVT
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5413
C X G I I I I
Text.
Photograph ICCD N5412
PERFIXI
From perfigo, to pierce through?
A drawing.
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N5294
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N5293
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N5292
Lines.
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N5287
Lines.
Curved lines.
Drawing.
Photograph ICCD N5275
Drawing.
Photograph ICCD N5272
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N5256
Concentric circles and some lines.
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N14878 (turned 180 degrees?)
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N14848
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N14876
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N14875
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N14873
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N14871
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N14870
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N14852
Drawings.
Photograph ICCD N14866 (turned 90 degrees?)
A few lines.
Drawings.
Photograph ICCD N14864
Drawings?
Photograph ICCD N14863
Drawing?
Photograph ICCD N14857
Drawing.
Photograph ICCD N14855
A few lines.
Drawing.
Photograph ICCD N14850
Drawing.
Photograph ICCD N14847
A few lines.
Grooves.
A few lines.
A few lines.
Drawing.
Drawing.
Drawing.
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N5291
Drawing.
Drawing.
Drawing.
Drawing.
A few lines.
Lines.
Drawings?
Photograph ICCD N5419
Drawings?
Photograph ICCD N5418
Drawings?
Photograph ICCD N5417
Lines.
Photograph ICCD N5415
A rectangle.
A rectangle.
A drawing.
An amphora?
An amphora?
An amphora.
This is a word-square and palindrome. The text can be read in four directions.
ROMA
Written near the beginning of the word game ROMA TIBI.
The beginning of a versus recurrens (palindrome) by Sidonius Apollinaris (c. 430 - after 489 AD): Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor ("Rome, your love, will suddenly collapse in disturbances").
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 shows SIMILIS IIT QV and the second, CVM SIIXTA
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