Archaeology and Memory – XI
The relief is topped by a pediment with a rosette and by acroteria carved with the letters D(is) M(anibus); the inscription on the stele base reads:
FLA(vius). AVGVSTALIS, CENT(urio) / LEG(ionis) PR(imae) IT[ALIC]ES, MILiTA / VIT ANN(is) V, ME(n)S(ibus) VI, DIE(bus) / XII, ORAS III, VIXIT ANNIS / XLI, ME(n)S(ibus) VII, DIE(bus) / XV, ORAS / IIII, ABVIT CONIVGEM C / ASTORINAM ANNIS / VIII, ME(n)S(ibus) III, DIE(bus) VI, ORAS / III,I ET FILIVM STIRCORIVM, / QVI VIXIT AN(nis) III, ME(n)S(ibus) VII, D(ie) I / OR(as) VI. SVPRA VIXIT PATER DIE(bus) XLVII. POSVIT TITVLVM / CAS(torina) CON(iugi) P(atri) CA(rissimo) SUO
“Flavius Augustalis, centurion of the First Italian Legion, served 5 years, 6 months, 12 days, and 4 hours; he lived 41 years, 7 months, 15 days, and 4 hours. He married Castorina for 8 years, 3 months, 6 days, and 4 hours, and had a son, Stercorius, who lived 3 years, 7 months, 1 day, and 6 hours. His father outlived him by 47 days. Castorina placed the epitaph to her dearest husband".
The sculpture depicts, from right to left, the knight Flavius Augustalis with his young son Stercorius, followed by the squire shown with horse and shield in the back. The figures are carved with a restrained and austere decorative sensibility—note in particular the rendering of the cloak draped over the knight’s left arm—traits characteristic of the Tetrarchic period. The representation of the garments and their details is of particular interest: the long tunics, the large crossbow fibula fastening the knight’s cloak, and his headdress, which recalls that of the Tetrarchs of Venice.
The organization of the stele, the epigraphic features, and the costumes date this sculpture to the first half of the 4th century AD.
Limestone stele No. 200
147 x 50 x 16 cm
First halp 4th century AD
Aquileia, Museo Archeologico Nazionale
stele 200, Flavius Augustalis, roman art, arte romana, limestone, calcare, stele, funerary stele, stele funeraria, National Archaeological Museum, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Aquileia
Archaeology and Memory – XI
The relief is topped by a pediment with a rosette and by acroteria carved with the letters D(is) M(anibus); the inscription on the stele base reads:
FLA(vius). AVGVSTALIS, CENT(urio) / LEG(ionis) PR(imae) IT[ALIC]ES, MILiTA / VIT ANN(is) V, ME(n)S(ibus) VI, DIE(bus) / XII, ORAS III, VIXIT ANNIS / XLI, ME(n)S(ibus) VII, DIE(bus) / XV, ORAS / IIII, ABVIT CONIVGEM C / ASTORINAM ANNIS / VIII, ME(n)S(ibus) III, DIE(bus) VI, ORAS / III,I ET FILIVM STIRCORIVM, / QVI VIXIT AN(nis) III, ME(n)S(ibus) VII, D(ie) I / OR(as) VI. SVPRA VIXIT PATER DIE(bus) XLVII. POSVIT TITVLVM / CAS(torina) CON(iugi) P(atri) CA(rissimo) SUO
“Flavius Augustalis, centurion of the First Italian Legion, served 5 years, 6 months, 12 days, and 4 hours; he lived 41 years, 7 months, 15 days, and 4 hours. He married Castorina for 8 years, 3 months, 6 days, and 4 hours, and had a son, Stercorius, who lived 3 years, 7 months, 1 day, and 6 hours. His father outlived him by 47 days. Castorina placed the epitaph to her dearest husband".
The sculpture depicts, from right to left, the knight Flavius Augustalis with his young son Stercorius, followed by the squire shown with horse and shield in the back. The figures are carved with a restrained and austere decorative sensibility—note in particular the rendering of the cloak draped over the knight’s left arm—traits characteristic of the Tetrarchic period. The representation of the garments and their details is of particular interest: the long tunics, the large crossbow fibula fastening the knight’s cloak, and his headdress, which recalls that of the Tetrarchs of Venice.
The organization of the stele, the epigraphic features, and the costumes date this sculpture to the first half of the 4th century AD.
Limestone stele No. 200
147 x 50 x 16 cm
First halp 4th century AD
Aquileia, Museo Archeologico Nazionale
stele 200, Flavius Augustalis, roman art, arte romana, limestone, calcare, stele, funerary stele, stele funeraria, National Archaeological Museum, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Aquileia