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Roman garlanded cinerarium with bukrania (ox skulls) at the front corners and a separate lid
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Roman garlanded cinerarium with bukrania (ox skulls) at the front corners and a separate lid
Marble, probably Greek marble
Height: 24cm
Height (body): 17.5cm
Height (lid): 6.5cm
Width (lid): 21cm
Length (lid): 19cm
Height (body): 17.5cm
Height (lid): 6.5cm
Width (lid): 21cm
Length (lid): 19cm
Inscription: D. M. CLAVDIAE / HEROIDI / TROPḤIME. LIB. B. M. F
D[is] M[anibus] Claudiae Heroidi Trophime lib[erta] b[ene] m[erenti] f[ecit]
Inscription marks: Line 1: lettercutter’s guidelines visible.
Lines 1-2: 12mm; Line 3: 10mm.
Inscription note: Line 3: ligature HI
Solin dates this inscription to the second or third century A.D.
We are grateful to Dr. Charlotte Tupman, a scholar of epigraphy (the study of inscriptions) undertaking postdoctoral research at King’s College London, who took squeezes of the inscriptions on antiquities in the Museum in 2007, for her transliteration, translation and notes/bibliography of the inscription on this piece.
Inscription translation: To the spirits of the departed. Trophime the freedwoman set it up for the well-deserving Claudia Herois.
D[is] M[anibus] Claudiae Heroidi Trophime lib[erta] b[ene] m[erenti] f[ecit]
Inscription marks: Line 1: lettercutter’s guidelines visible.
Lines 1-2: 12mm; Line 3: 10mm.
Inscription note: Line 3: ligature HI
Solin dates this inscription to the second or third century A.D.
We are grateful to Dr. Charlotte Tupman, a scholar of epigraphy (the study of inscriptions) undertaking postdoctoral research at King’s College London, who took squeezes of the inscriptions on antiquities in the Museum in 2007, for her transliteration, translation and notes/bibliography of the inscription on this piece.
Inscription translation: To the spirits of the departed. Trophime the freedwoman set it up for the well-deserving Claudia Herois.
Museum number: S146
Vermeule catalogue number: Vermeule 328
On display: Study
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
In the front centre of this cinerarium is a large name plate within a double fillet and bead ornament frame. Bukrania on either side support a bay-leaf garland. The lid has a curved pediment and acanthus antefixae and bead between double fillet moulding; within the pediment is an eagle facing left, its wings half-spread.
Inscribed:
D·M·CLAVDIAE
HEROIDI
TROHIME·LIB·B·M·F
Inscribed:
D·M·CLAVDIAE
HEROIDI
TROHIME·LIB·B·M·F
Provenance
Probably one of two urns purchased by John Soane at Lord Bessborough's Sale (Roehampton), Christie's, 7 April 1801, Lot 72, A Pair of Small Cinerary Vases [clearly urns from other information in the catalogue] £15.15s.0.
Literature
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, VI, iii, 15468 (and bibliography).
H. Solin, Die Griechischen Personennamen im Rom. Ein Namenbuch (2003), pp. 594; 1053.
H. Solin, Die Griechischen Personennamen im Rom. Ein Namenbuch (2003), pp. 594; 1053.
Soane collections online is being continually updated. If you wish to find out more or if you have any further information about this object please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk