Painted Latin inscriptions labelling painted figures of saints *Ianuarius, *Silanus, *Philip, and *Martialis (martyrs of Rome and four out of seven sons of Felicitas, S00525). Found on a wall in the Cemetery of Felicitas/Cemetery of Maximus on the via Salaria, Rome. Probably late 6th/early 7th c.
Evidence ID
E07502
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Graffiti
Images and objects - Wall paintings and mosaics
'[Ia]- nua[rius] S[i]- [lanus Phili]- ppus Martia[lis].'
'Ianuarius, Sil(v)anus, Philip, Martialis'
Text: ICVR, n.s., VIII, no. 23392 = EDB19603.
Cult PlacesBurial site of a saint - crypt/ crypt with relics
Use of Images
Burial site of a saint - crypt/ crypt with relics
Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave
Burial site of a saint - cemetery/catacomb
Cult building - independent (church)
Use of ImagesPublic display of an image
Source
The inscription consists of five labels for male figures with nimbi, some of them also having superimposed hovering wreaths. The labels are written on both sides of their heads, and above the head of the rightmost figure, significantly lower than the others.The painting is located on the east wall of the surface basilica of the cemetery of Felicitas. The composition probably showed Christ in the posture of blessing, and the seven martyrs flanking their mother below him. An unlabelled probably female figure is indeed shown to the left of the four labelled martyrs. First published by Giovanni Battista de Rossi in 1885.
Discussion
The painting also shows other figures flanking the four labelled sons. It is possible that these were the missing three sons with their mother in the centre of the group, and were also fitted with captions, now lost.Dating: The editors of the Epigraphic database Bari date the inscription to the late 6th/early 7th c.
Bibliography
Edition:Epigraphic Database Bari, no. EDB19603.
see http://www.edb.uniba.it/epigraph/19603
De Rossi, G.B., Ferrua, A. (eds.) Inscriptiones Christianae Urbis Romae Septimo Saeculo Antiquiores, n.s., vol. 8: Coemeteria viarum Nomentanae et Salariae (Vatican: Pont. Institutum Archaeologiae Christianae, 1983), no. 23392 (with further bibliography).
Marucchi, O., Le catacombe romane: Opera postuma, ed. E. Josi (Rome, 1933), 393.
Armellini, M., Gli antichi cimeteri cristiani di Roma e d'Italia (Rome: Tipografia poliglotta, 1893), 205.
de Rossi, G.B., "Scoperta d'una cripta storica nel cimitero di Massimo ad sanetam Felicitatem sulla via Salaria Nuova", Bullettino di archeologia cristiana 4. Ser. 3 (1884-1885), 156 and Tav. IX-X.
Images
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From: Epigraphic Database Bari, no. EDB19603 (©Archivio della Pontificia Commissione di Archeologia Sacra).
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Drawing, from: de Rossi 1884-1885, Tav. IX-X.
Record Created By
Paweł Nowakowski
Date of Entry
30/03/2019
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00525 | Felicitas, martyr of Rome, with her sons, buried on the via Salaria | Ianuarius, Silanus, Philippus, Martialis | Certain |
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Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Paweł Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E07502 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E07502