EYFROSYNETI
CO[N]IVGI DVLCISSIMAE
Q[VAE] V[IXIT] ANN[IS] XXVII M[ENSIBVS] III
D[IEBVS] XIII H[IC] DEP[OSITA] DIE V [ANTE] KAL[ENDAS]
IANVARIAS
Translation
FOR EUPHROSYNE,
MY SWEETEST WIFE,
WHO LIVED FOR 27 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AND 13 DAYS.
SHE WAS LAID TO REST HERE ON DECEMBER 27.
Description
In addition to the inscription this epitaph includes the Christian ‘Chi-Rho’ symbol, a monogram of the Greek letters X (chi) and P (rho), which stands for ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ the Greek word for Christ. A bunch of grapes is also carved in the bottom left corner, a design appropriated from Dionysiac images of the pagan period, commonly found in early Christian decorations.
Christian funerary epitaph for Euphrosyne
Italy, AD 300-400, found in one of the Roman hypogaea (underground tombs), before 1857
acquired by Sir Charles Nicholson in Italy, 1857-58, donated 1860
NMR.1067
