EPITAPH OF VIBIA CORNELIA, PUTEOLI (POZZUOLI) Alison E. Cooley AEC/ASHL AN1960.761.xml Oxford Ashmolean Museum AN1960.761 AshLI 150

A plain plaque of white marble (0.27 0.33 0.026). The rear face and sides are basically finished off. It is fairly well preserved, with some chipping around the edges.

The lettering is rather faint on the left-hand side of the inscription, but RTI has helped with deciphering the text. There are simple interpuncts. The first and last lines are centred. The phrase coniugi inconparabili adfectus has been supplied on analogy with similar expressions in other epitaphs from Rome and North Africa (compare coniugi incomparabilis adfectus, AE 1982 no.83; incomparabilis adfectus feminae, CIL VIII 4046; incomparabilis adfectus coniugis, CIL VIII 4180; rarae adqu[e] castissimae mulieri incomparabilis ad/fectus coniugi, CIL VIII 10659).

0.025 (line 1); 0.021 (line 2); 0.024 (line 3); 0.021 (lines 4-6); 0.018 (lines 7-8). This epitaph was reported found in a tomb near Puteoli (Avellino 1844: p.23) in the ‘Campana’ district, with two other inscriptions. perhaps mid-second/mid-third century AD [EDR]. This epitaph was reported found in a tomb near Puteoli (Avellino 1844: p.23) in the ‘Campana’ district, with two other inscriptions. Its current location is unknown according to EDR, but from the Ashmolean Accessions MS 1960.761, it emerges that it was purchased on 2nd June 1960 together with accession nos 758, 759, 760, 762 for £12.10.0 from antiquities dealer Roger Warner, of Burford. It had been acquired by him from the collection of Lord St Vincent, Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire. Photograph Photograph
dis manibus Vibiae Corneliae Pharesiae Adaugen dae castae pudicae dominae coniugi inconparabili adfe ctus Virius Fortuna tus bene merenti fecit

To the departed spirits. Vibius Fortunatus set this up for his well-deseriving Vibia Cornelia Pharesia Adaugenda, chaste, modest mistress, wife without compare for her devotion.

VIRIAE (Avellino, Mommsen); VIBIAE [EDCS; visible with RTI] ..IIARESIAE (Avellino, Mommsen); [3]iiaresiae Ad(finiae?) Augen/dae (EDCS); [P]HARESIAE visible with RTI DOMINE (sic) ADFI (Avellino); Adfi/[3]ius Virius Fortuna/tus (EDCS); cross-bar of E in ADFE/[C]TVS no longer visible – the first letter in line 7 would, on this reconstruction, not be carved in line with the start of the other lines in the text, but this reading does seem plausible given the formula .. IVS VIRIVS (Avellino, Mommsen); cross-bar on T in TVS is worn away.

The first letter of line 3 is worn away, but the female name Pharesia is likely: see CIL VI 27203. This seems to be followed by a further name, Adaugendae (see CIL VI 33785), with an extra interpunct inserted in error. This results in the deceased having a polyonomous name consisting of two nomina gentilicia along with two cognomina.

Avellino (1843-44) pp.20-24; Mommsen (1852) no.3438; CIL X 3116 (Mommsen 1883)

Online: EDCS-15100319 [accessed 21/12/15]; EDR145344 [accesed 21/12/15]

Ashmolean Museum Department of Antiquities MS Accession Register Avellino F.M. 1844 Scavi recenti nella necopoli di Cuma, in Pozzuoli e presso Baja Bullettino Archeologico Napoletano 2 (1843-44) 20-24 Mommsen T. 1852 Inscriptiones Regni Neapolitani Latinae Leipzig Wigand