concessus, locus donatus, memoria, sarcophagus,” even to the use of "domus æterna." Acclamations or expressions of good wishes or prayers to or for the deceased frequently occur in the inscriptions, such as, 'Refrigera, Deus tibi refrigeret, vivas inter sanctos, vivas in Deo,” Εἰρήνη σοι, ἐν θεῷ ζήσῃς. 66 The letters also of these inscriptions are usually very irregular. They are from half an inch to four inches in height, coloured in the incision with a pigment resembling Venetian red. The sense, too, of the inscriptions is not always very obvious. An extreme simplicity of language and sentiment is the prevailing characteristic of the earlier inscriptions. But, on the other hand, exaggerated examples of the opposite style are occasionally met with. Another peculiarity in these Christian inscriptions is the disuse of the three names usually assumed by the Romans. M. de Rossi has given twenty inscriptions with the names complete, prior to Constantine. Of these, no fewer than seventeen have prænomina, whereas after Constantine prænomina may be said entirely to disappear. The gentile name was displaced by new forms terminating in antius, entius, ontius, osus, and their feminines, as Lactantius, Crescentius, Amantius, Vincentius, Gaudentia, Leontius, Bonosus, Gaudiosa. The names of the fourth, fifth and later centuries are usually fanciful appellations, as tiotis, éλtis, åyáπη, Decentia, Prudentia, Dignitas, Idonitas, Renatus, Redemptus, Projectus; or self-abasing appellations, as Stercorius, Contumeliosus. Compound names are also found, Deus dedit, Servus Dei, Adeodatus, Quod Deus vult. In general, the Christians took the names of their saints, sometimes they retained their pagan names, such as Afrodisius, Mercurius. They assumed also the names of animals, as Leo, Onager, Ursa, Ursula. The year is usually indicated by the names of the consuls. The abbreviation COS for "consulibus" was in use up to the middle of the third century, when COSS, CONS, and CONSS began to be adopted; COS is very seldom found during the fourth century, and almost never in the fifth or sixth; COSS fell into disuse about the first quarter of the fifth century, and after that CONS was used; in the time of Diocletian with S for one consul and SS for two. At the same time CC. SS. CS were introduced, but they were very rarely used in the fifth, and there is scarcely an example of them in the sixth. From about the middle of the fourth century CONS began to be placed before instead of after the names, and this usage became the prevalent custom in the fifth and sixth. At the date of the discovery of the Roman catacombs, the whole body of known Christian inscriptions collected from all parts of Italy, fell far short of a thousand in number. Of these, too, not a single one was of subterranean origin, and not dated earlier than A.D. 553. At present the Christian inscriptions of Rome alone, and anterior to the sixth century, considerably exceed 11,000. They have been carefully removed from the cemeteries, and are now systematically arranged by M. de Rossi, on the walls of the Christian museum, recently formed by order of Pius IX., in the Lateran Palace. A large number of these inscriptions are also inserted in the walls of the Galleria Lapidaria in the Vatican. SIGLA: OR, CHRISTIAN ABBREVIATIONS. A. ave, anima, aulus, &c. A. B. M. animæ bene merenti. B. F. bonæ feminæ, bonæ fidei. CL. F. clarissima femina, or filia. C. R. corpus requiescit, or repositum. D. depositus, dormit, dulcis, D. B. Q. dulcis bene quiescas! DPS. depositus, depositio. H. R. I. P. hic requiescit in расе. IN. D. in Deo, indictione. M. monumentum, memoria, martyr. N. DEVS. nobile decus. P. pax, ponendus, posuit. Q. quiescat. Q. FV.AP.N. qui fuit apud nos. R. recessit, requiescit. R. I. PA. requiescit in pace. S. salve, spiritus, suus. 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 Servilia, aged thirteen, died in the consulate of Piso and Bolanus. A.D. 111. TEMPORE. ADRIANI. IMPERATORIS. MARIVS. 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 welldeserving 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 SVB ANTONINO IMPO 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 God, 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. Aurelia; our sweetest daughter, who departed from the world. She lived fifteen years and four months. Severus and Quintinus being consuls. A.D. 325. KWCOVAE KAVAEIW EA NAТEPNW Consule Claudio et Paterno, nonis Novembribus, die Veneris, luna XXIV, Leuces filiæ Severæ carissimæ 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 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. CVBICVLVM. AVRELIAE. ADQVE. PVDI. B. M. MARTINAE. CASTISSIMAE 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. |