VG. VESPASIANO III COS IAN A.D. 71.

This fragment has been received as a part of a Christian epitaph by Reggi, Marini and de Rossi. It is the most ancient of all such as bear dates.

SERVILIA. ANNORVM. XIII PIS. ET BOL. COSS.

Servilia, aged thirteen, died in the consulate of Piso and Bola.n.u.s. A.D. 111.

TEMPORE. ADRIANI. IMPERATORIS. MARVIS. ADOLESCENS DVX.

MILITVM QVI SATIS. VIXIT DVM VITAM PRO CHO CVM. SANGVINE CONSVNSIT. IN. PACE. TANDEM QUIEVIT. BENE MERENTES CVM.

LACRIMIS. ET. METV. POSVERVNT. I.D. VI.

"In the time of the Emperor Adrian, Marius, a young military officer who had lived long enough, when with blood he gave up his life for Christ. At length he rested in peace. The well-deserving set up this with tears and in fear, on the 6th before the ides." A.D. 130.

ALEXANDER MORTVVS NON EST SED VIVIT SVPER ASTRA ET CORPVS IN HOC TVMVLO QVIESCIT VITAM EXPLEVIT SVS ANTONINO IMP^o QVIVBI MVLTVM BENE FITII ANTEVENIRE PRAEVIDERET PROGRATIA ODIVM REDDIDIT GENVA ENIM FLECTENS VERO DEO SACRIFICATVRVS AD SVPPLICIA DVCITVRO TEMPORA INFAVSTA QVIBVS INTER SACRA ET VOTA NE IN CAVERNIS QVIDEM SALVARI POSSIMVS QVID MISERIVS VITA SED QVID MISERIVS IN MORTE CVM AB AMICIS ET PARENTIBVS SEPELIRI NEQVEANT TANDEM IN COELO CORVSCANT PARVM VIXIT QVI VIXIT IV. X. TEM.

"In Christ. Alexander is not dead, but lives beyond the stars, and his body rests in this tomb. He lived under the Emperor Antoninus, who, foreseeing that great benefit would result from his services, returned evil for good. For, while on his knees, and about to sacrifice to the true G.o.d, he was led away to execution. O, sad times! in which sacred rites and prayers, even in caverns, afford no protection to us. What can be more wretched than such a life? and what than such a death? when they could not be buried by their friends and relations. At length they sparkle in heaven. He has scarcely lived who has lived in Christian times." A.D. 160.

_From the Cemetery of St. Callisto._

AVRELIA DULCISSIMA FILIA QVAE DE. SAECVLO RECESSIT VIXIT ANN. XV. M. IIII.

SEVERO ET QVINTIN COSS.

"Aurelia; our sweetest daughter, who departed from the world.

She lived fifteen years and four months. Severus and Quintinus being consuls." A.D. 325.

Consule Claudio et Paterno, nonis Novembribus, die Veneris, luna XXIV, Leuces filiae Severae carissimae posuit et spiritui sancto tuo. Mortua annorum LV et mensium XI dierum X.

"In the consulship of Claudius and Paternus, on the nones of November, on Friday, the 24th day of the moon, Leuce erected (this memorial) to her very dear daughter, and to thy holy spirit. She (died at the age) of fifty-five years, and eleven months, (and) ten days." A.D. 269.

D. M.

P. LIBERIO VICXIT ANN N. V MENSES N. III DIES N. VIII R. ANICIO FAVSTO ET VIRIO GALLO COSS

"Publius Liberio lived five years, three months, and eight days. He retired (from this world) in the consulship of Anicius Faustus and Virius Gallus." A.D. 298.

B.M.

CVBICVLVM. AVRELIAE. MARTINAE. CASTISSIMAE ADQVE. PVDI.

CISSIMAE FEMINAE QVE FECIT. IN. COIVGIO. ANN. XXIII. D. XIIII.

BENE MERENTI. QVE VIXIT. ANN. XL. M. XI. D. XIII. DEPOSITIO EIS DIE. III. NONAS. OCT. NEPOTIANO. ET FACVNDO. CONNS. IN PACE

"To the well-deserving.

The chamber of Aurelia Martina, my wife, most chaste and modest, who lived in wedlock twenty-three years and fourteen days. To the well-deserving one, who lived forty years, eleven months, and thirteen days. Her burial was on the third nones of October. Nepotia.n.u.s and Facundus being consuls." In peace. A.D.

336.

_Galleria Lapidaria. Vatican._

Another in Greek characters:

"Here lies Euterpe, the companion of the Muses, having lived simply and piously, and irreproachably for fifteen years, twenty-two days, and three months. She died on the fifth day before the calends of December, in consulship of our lords, for the tenth time, and for the third time (_i.e._, in the Consulship of Constantine, for the tenth time, and Julian for the third time)." A.D. 360.

ROMANO. NEOFITO BENEMERENTI QVI VI XIT. ANNOS. VIII. DXV.

REQVIESCIT IN PACE DN FL. GRATIANO. AVG. II. ET.

PETRONIO PROBO. CS.

"To Roma.n.u.s, the neophyte, the well-deserving, who lived eight years, fifteen days. He rests in the peace of the Lord. Flavius and Gratia.n.u.s and Petronius Probus being consuls."

HIC QVIESCIT ANCILLA DEI QVE DE SVA OMNIO POSSIDIT DOMVM ISTA QVEM AMICE DEFLEN SOLACIVMQ REQVIRVNT.

PRO HVNC VNVM ORA SVBOLEM QVEM SVPERIS.

t.i.tEM REQVISTI ETERNA REQVIEM FELICITA.

S. CAVSA MANBIS IIIIX. KALENDAS OTOBRIS CVCVRBITINVS ET ABVMDANTIVS HIC SIMVL QVIESCIT DD. NN. GRATIANO V. ET TEODOSIO. AAGG.

Hic quiescit ancilla Dei, quae de suis omnibus possidet domum istam, quam amicae deflent solaciumque requirunt. Pro hac una ora subole, quam superst.i.tem reliquisti. aeterna in requie felicitatis causa manebis, XIV. kalendis Octobris, Cucurbitinus et Ab.u.mdantius hic simul quiesc.u.n.ti. DDNN Gratiano v et Theodosio Augustis (Consulibus).

"Here rests a handmaid of G.o.d, who out of all her riches now possesses but this one house, whom her friends bewail, and seek in vain for consolation. Oh pray for this one remaining daughter, whom thou hast left behind! Thou wilt remain in the eternal repose of happiness. On the 14 of the Calends of October. Curcurbitinus and Ab.u.mdantius rest here together. In the consulship of our Lords Gratian (V.) and Theodosius Emperors." A.D. 380.

HIC POSITA EST ANIMA DVLCES INNOCA SAPIENS ET PVLCHRA NOMINE QUIRIACE QVE VIXIT. ANNOS. III. M III. DVIII.

DP IN PACE IIII. ID IAN. CONSS. DN. TEVDOSIO.

AVG. II ET MEROBAVDE. VC. III

Hic posita est anima dulces (dulcis) innoca (innocua), sapiens et pulchra, nomine Quiriace, quae vixit annos III., menses III., dies VIII. Deposita in pace, IV. Idus Januarias, Consulibus Domino nostro Teudosio (Theodoric) Augusto II. et Merobaude Vire Clarissimo III.

"Here has been laid a sweet spirit, guileless, wise and beautiful, by name Quiriace, who lived three years, three months, and eight days. Buried in peace, in the fourth day before the Ides of January, in the consulship of our Lord Theodorius Augustus, for the second time, and Merobaudes, a most distinguished man, for the third time." A.D. 388.

PERPETVAM SEDEM NVTRITOR POSSIDES IPSE HIC MERITVS FINEM MAGNIS DEFVNCTE PERICLIS HIC REQVIEM FELIX SVMIS COGENTIBVS ANNIS HIC POSITVS PAPAS ANTIMIOO VIXIT ANNIS LXX DEPOSITVS DOMINO NOSTRO ARCADIO II ET FL. RVFINO VVCCSS NONAS n.o.bEMB.

"You, our nursing father, occupy a perpetual seat, being dead, and deserving an end of your great dangers. Here happy, you find rest, bowed down with years. Here lies the tutor, Antimio, who lived seventy years. Buried on the nones of November; our Lords Arcadius for the second time, and Flavius Rufinus being consuls." A.D. 392.

_Galleria Lapidaria._

HIC REQVIESCET IN SOMNO PACIS MALA QVI VIXIT ANNOS x.x.xVIII. M. V. DV.

ACCEPTA APVT DE IV. IDVS IVNIAS AETIO CONL.

Hic requiescet (requiescit) in somno pacis, Mala qui (quae) vixit annos x.x.xVIII. menses V. dies V. Accepta aput (apud) De(um) IV idus Junias. Aetio Consule.

"Here rests in the sleep of peace Mala, who lived thirty-eight years, five months, five days. Received before G.o.d, on the fourth day before the Ides of June, in the consulship of Aetius." A.D. 432.

LEVIVAE CONIVNX PETRONIA FORMA PVDORIS HIS MEA DEPONENS SEDISVS OSSA LOCO PARCITE VOS LACRIMIS DVLCES CVM CONIVGE NATAE VIVENTEMQVE DEO CREDITE FLERE NEFAS DP IN PACE III NON OCTOBRIS FESTO VC. CONSS.

"Petronia, a priest's wife, the type of modesty. In this place I lay my bones; spare your tears, dear husband and daughters, and believe that it is forbidden to weep for one who lives in G.o.d. Buried in peace on the 3d nones of October, in the consulate of Festus." A.D. 472.

IN PACE AVRELIO. FELICI QVI BIXIT CVM COIVCE ANNOS X. VIII DVLCIS. IN COIVGIO BONE MEMORIE BIXIT. ANNOS. L. V RAPTVS ETERNE DOMVS. XII KAL. IENVARIAS.

"In peace To Aurelius Felix, who lived with his wife eighteen years in sweetest wedlock. Of good memory. He lived fifty-five years.

s.n.a.t.c.hed away eternally on the twelfth kalend of January."

IRENE IN PACE. ARETVSA IN DEO

"Irene sleeps in peace." "Aretusa sleeps in G.o.d."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Valeria sleeps in peace."]