Thursday, May 12, 2011

Inscriptions on Everyday Items

The ancient world had no means of identification, so very frequently, owners of things they treasured would inscribe something on the item.

Here are several examples:


1.  Found on a vase from Rome:

NOLI ME
TOLLERE
HELVEITI SVM

Noli me tollere:
Helvetii sum.
Don't take me:
I am Helvetius'.

2. Found  on another vase in Pompeii:

EPAPHRODITI SVM TANGERE ME NOLI

Epaphroditi sum: tangere me noli.

I am Epaphroditus': don't touch me.

3.  A lamp from the Esquiline Hill in Rome:

CLAVDIO • NON SVM TVA

Claudio; non sum tua!

For Claudius;  I am not yours!

4. Finally, not on a small object, but written on a building:

M • IVNI • INSVLA • SVM

Marci Iuni insula sum.

I am the insula (apartment building) of Marcus Iunius.