Elisabeth Schwinge is a graduate student in the Interdepartmental Program in Classical Art and Archaeology, based in the Classics Department. Her interests include Roman history and archaeology, and she is currently working on her dissertation on the commemoration of victories in the Roman Republic.
Translation “To the Spirits of the Dead And to Quintus Mettius Anies Primitivus, son of Quintus, From Cremona. A soldier in the 7th Praetorian cohort under Iedarnus, He served for 22 years. Lucius Tusidius Sabinianus, son of Lucius, from the Velina tribe, A soldier in the 7th Praetorian cohort under Iedarnus, His recruit, Made this [...]
Translation “[This niche contains the remains] Of Publius Septicius Dionysius [and] Publius Septicius Nua [and] Septicia Anthe.” Description This columbarium plaque from the first century CE is kept very simple. It only contains the names of the three people – two men and a woman – who were buried in the niche in marked.
Translation “Marcus Popillius Achaicus Quietus son of Spurius, Is buried here. [He lived] 11 months.” Description This columbarium slab marked the tomb of a young boy who died before reaching his first birthday. It was found in Rome and is dated to the first century CE. His name illustrates the use of names in Rome: [...]
Translation “To Livia Acte and Claudius Felix. In this monument Gaius Heiuleius Galenus dedicated two urns And it is forbidden to walk here.” Description This inscription marked the burial monument of two people, a woman named Livia Acte, and a man named Claudius Felix. A man named Gaius Heiuleius Galenus placed their urns in the [...]
Translation “Not splendor nor riches, But tranquility of spirit and body Is provided here.” Description This inscription from Rome is rather unconventional in that it does not name the deceased. It rather reflects the sentiment that death provides peace from worldly desires such as wealth. The inscription probably comes from a Christian burial context and [...]
The Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum contains fragments related to five lead curse tablets from ancient Rome. One of these tablets (JHUAM 2011.01) was recently conserved and placed on view, along with the original iron nail (JHUAM 2011.06) associated with it. Objects such as this one are evidence of a common practice in Greek and Roman [...]
Translation “To the spirits of the dead And to Laberia Auxime Who lived 10 years 6 months and 12 days. Lucius Laberius Hermes made this Father.” Description This marble slab, dated to the second century CE and found in Rome, marked the grave of a young girl named Laberia Auxime. We learn that Laberia died [...]
Translation “To Coelia Athenaïs, freedwoman of Quintus Quintus Coelius Primus Patron [dedicated this].” Description This cinerary urn, dated to the first century CE, was dedicated to Coelia Athenaïs. Coelia appears to have come from Greece, as indicated by her second name. When she was freed she took the name of her former owner as a [...]
“To the Spirits of the Dead. Quintus Caedius Festus, son of Quintus, of the tribe Velina from Aquileia, a soldier of the sixth Praetorian cohort of Atilius. He lived 28 years, 4 months, and 7 days; and served in the military for 12 years. Mem(m)ia Proba made this [inscription] about him for the well-deserving one.” [...]
Most of the Latin inscriptions now in the JHU Museum were acquired by Harry Langford Wilson in the winter of 1906-1907 in Rome. Wilson was professor of Roman archaeology and epigraphy at Johns Hopkins and stayed at the American Academy in Rome during the academic year of 1906-1907, which gave him the chance to purchase [...]