Such epitaphs as these may be found in nearly all parts
of Roman Africa, but any list would be incomplete without
reference to a remarkable example of a compact inscription
found by Dr. Leclerc on an altar on the site of the Roman
station Tingurtia, now known as Tiaret (a modern town in
Algeria, on the lower slopes of Djebel Guezzoul).1
D ISM AN
IBVSTE
RRISQVI
CVMQVE
VIATOR
TRANSIE
RISET DI
Diis Manibus. Terris quicumque
viator
XERISX-VI
transieris et dixeris huic tumulo :
Rufine,
^fTVMVLO
have, sit tibi terra levis, et post
obitum
RVIIII-X-
item tuum sit tibi terra levis!
Vixit
VESITTI
annis sefttuaginta duobus.
BITERLE
VISETPOS
TOBITVM
ITETWMSIT
TIBITERR
ALEVIS
VALXXII
The wording recalls the less gracious couplet attributed to
Horace Walpole on the death of Sir John Vanbrugh :
Lie heavy on him, earth, for he
Laid many a heavy load on thee.
But here, in this gentle epitaph in memory of Rufinus, the
appeal to the passer-by is accompanied by the hope that, when
he too passes away, the earth may rest as lightly on his remains
as on those of the lamented Rufinus.
1 I.R.A. No. 3712. Vide Rev. arch. 1852, p. 442.
of Roman Africa, but any list would be incomplete without
reference to a remarkable example of a compact inscription
found by Dr. Leclerc on an altar on the site of the Roman
station Tingurtia, now known as Tiaret (a modern town in
Algeria, on the lower slopes of Djebel Guezzoul).1
D ISM AN
IBVSTE
RRISQVI
CVMQVE
VIATOR
TRANSIE
RISET DI
Diis Manibus. Terris quicumque
viator
XERISX-VI
transieris et dixeris huic tumulo :
Rufine,
^fTVMVLO
have, sit tibi terra levis, et post
obitum
RVIIII-X-
item tuum sit tibi terra levis!
Vixit
VESITTI
annis sefttuaginta duobus.
BITERLE
VISETPOS
TOBITVM
ITETWMSIT
TIBITERR
ALEVIS
VALXXII
The wording recalls the less gracious couplet attributed to
Horace Walpole on the death of Sir John Vanbrugh :
Lie heavy on him, earth, for he
Laid many a heavy load on thee.
But here, in this gentle epitaph in memory of Rufinus, the
appeal to the passer-by is accompanied by the hope that, when
he too passes away, the earth may rest as lightly on his remains
as on those of the lamented Rufinus.
1 I.R.A. No. 3712. Vide Rev. arch. 1852, p. 442.