Graham, Alexander: Roman Africa: an outline of the history of the Roman occupation of North Africa ; based chiefly upon inscriptions and monumental remains in that country (London [u.a.], 1902)

Africa under Antoninus Pius

the daily life of an Empress, unknown to them in person except
on the coins of the time, had nothing in common with the
pursuits of a hard-working industrial population. The reign
just drawn to a close, uneventful in comparison with the more
stirring days of Trajan or the restless activity of Hadrian, has
left its mark in the form of unnumbered memorials of private
rather than of public life. These records of the time, either on
stone or marble, bear ample testimony to a long period of ease
and quietude enjoyed by loyal citizens in all parts of North
! Africa. They tell the old story of human affections, of undying
love and tender regard, expressed in a tongue which modern
languages fail to equal either in strength or terseness, and in
brevity inimitable. What epitaph written in English could
set forth in such simple words and in a few short lines the
lovable qualities of Geminia Ingenua, so good a mother and so
kind a friend, ready to assist any one in need ; and when her
last hour had come and her remains were laid to rest in the
necropolis at Cirta, her sorrowing relatives placed on record
that this worthy woman, who lived to the age of eighty-one,
tristem fecit neminem. ? 1

D • M
GEMINIA • INGE
NVA • VNIVIRA • CONSE
RVATRIX • DVLCISSLM
MATER • OMNIVM
HOMINVM • PARENS ■ OBNI
BVS • SVBVENIENS ■ INNOCE
NS • CASTISSIM • PRAESTA
NS • RARISSIMA ■ V • A ■ LXXXI
TRISTEM • FECIT ■ NEMINE
O • V • B • Q

The wording of these simple epitaphs is very varied. At
Caesarea (Cherchel) we find the virtues of an excellent wife
recorded in a different form of phraseology :2 cum qua vita
jucunda, conversatio religiosa, frugalitas honesta, fides cum
disciplina exacta est. Sometimes the memorial takes the form
of an imaginary conversation between a deceased husband and
wife, indicating that the epitaph was prepared during their
lifetime and afterwards inscribed on the slab. The following
example may still be studied in the museum at Tebessa :3

1 C.I.L. No. 7384. ■ C.I.L. No. 9520. 3 C.I.L. No. 1954. Wilmanns.

Diis Manibus, Geminia Ingenua,
univira, conservatrix, dulcissima
mater, omnium hominum parens,
obnibus (sic) subveniens, innocens,
carissima, ftrcestans, rarissima,
vixit annis oUaginta uno. Tris-
tem fecit neminem,
Oro ut bene quiescat /