Dennis, George: The cities and cemeteries of Etruria: in two volumes (Band 1) (London, 1848)

132 FALLEBI. [chap. vii.

on it, to my astonishment, I found a Latin inscription,
in very neatly formed letters, about four or five inches
high, graven deep in the tufo.

L. VECILIO. VI. F. E
PO . . AE. ABELES.
LECTV. I. DATV
, . VECILIO. L. F. ET. PLENESTE
. ECTV. I. AMPLIVS. NIHIL
INVITEIS. L. C. LEVIEIS. L. F.
ET. QVEI. EOS. PARENTARET
NE. ANTEPONAT

The last line was buried in the earth, and having no
instrument at hand, I could not uncover it; but I com-
municated the discovery to the Archaeological Institute2
of Rome; and my friend, Dr. Henzen, one of the secre-
taries, proceeded purposely to Falleri to inspect the
inscription. To him is due the discovery of the last line,
which explains the whole. To him also am I indebted for
the correction and explanation of the inscription.

" To Lucius Vecilius, son of Vibius and of Polla (or
Pollia) Abeles, one bed (sepulchral couch) is given—to
... Vecilius, son of Lucius and of Plenesta, one bed.—Let
no one place anything before (these beds) save with the
permission of Lucius and Caius Levius, sons of Lucius, or
(with the permission) of whoever may perform their
obsequies (i. e. their heirs)."

The beds are the long niches in the walls of the tomb,
of which there are eleven. The inscription is curious for
its ancient Latinity alone ; but most interesting as an
evidence of the fact that the Romans made use of the
tombs of the Etruscans, or else constructed sepulchres
precisely similar. No one can doubt the Etruscan character
of this particular tomb, and yet it belonged to the Roman

3 See Bull. Instit. 1844, p. 92.