DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61617#0482
THE STREET OF TOMBS 411
in funere et statuam equestr\ain\ in foro poneqidam censuenmt.
Scaurus pater filio,— ‘To the memory of Aulus Umbricius
Scaurus son of Aulus, of the tribe Menenia, duumvir with ju-
diciary authority. The city council voted the place for a mon-
ument to this man and two thousand sesterces toward the cost
of the funeral; they voted also that an equestrian statue in his
honor should be set up in the Forum. Scaurus the father to
the memory of his son.’
Why these honors were conferred upon Scaurus, who prob-
ably became a duumvir early in life and died soon after his
term of office, is not clear. The upper part of the base of the
tomb in front was adorned with stucco reliefs—now for the
most part gone — in which gladiatorial combats and a venatio
were depicted; but a painted inscription along the edge of one
of the scenes indicates that the show thus commemorated was
given by another man, N. Fistius Ampliatus ; Munere [W. Fis~\ti
Ampliati die summo. Perhaps the last two words mean that
‘ on the last day ’ the younger Scaurus, a relative or friend of
Ampliatus, shared the cost of the exhibition under some such
arrangement as that between Lucretius Valens and his son
(p. 216). If this be the correct explanation, it is evident that
Scaurus could have given no shows in the Amphitheatre during
his duumvirate, else the father would have taken pains to men-
tion the fact in the inscription. His term of office may have
come after the year 59, when such exhibitions were prohibited at
Pompeii for ten years (p. 214).
The gladiatorial scenes, if space permitted, would merit a
detailed presentation — they are so full of human interest.
Two gladiators are fighting on horseback, the rest on foot.
The vanquished with uplifted thumbs are mutely begging for
mercy. The plea of some of them is heeded by the populace;
in other groups we see the victor preparing to give the death
thrust. Beside each gladiator was painted his name, school,
and number of previous combats, as in a programme; and
letters were added to give the result of this fight. One com-
batant, who was beaten and yet by the vote of the audience
permitted to live, died on the sand from his wounds. We see
him resting on one knee, faint from loss of blood; the letter M
in funere et statuam equestr\ain\ in foro poneqidam censuenmt.
Scaurus pater filio,— ‘To the memory of Aulus Umbricius
Scaurus son of Aulus, of the tribe Menenia, duumvir with ju-
diciary authority. The city council voted the place for a mon-
ument to this man and two thousand sesterces toward the cost
of the funeral; they voted also that an equestrian statue in his
honor should be set up in the Forum. Scaurus the father to
the memory of his son.’
Why these honors were conferred upon Scaurus, who prob-
ably became a duumvir early in life and died soon after his
term of office, is not clear. The upper part of the base of the
tomb in front was adorned with stucco reliefs—now for the
most part gone — in which gladiatorial combats and a venatio
were depicted; but a painted inscription along the edge of one
of the scenes indicates that the show thus commemorated was
given by another man, N. Fistius Ampliatus ; Munere [W. Fis~\ti
Ampliati die summo. Perhaps the last two words mean that
‘ on the last day ’ the younger Scaurus, a relative or friend of
Ampliatus, shared the cost of the exhibition under some such
arrangement as that between Lucretius Valens and his son
(p. 216). If this be the correct explanation, it is evident that
Scaurus could have given no shows in the Amphitheatre during
his duumvirate, else the father would have taken pains to men-
tion the fact in the inscription. His term of office may have
come after the year 59, when such exhibitions were prohibited at
Pompeii for ten years (p. 214).
The gladiatorial scenes, if space permitted, would merit a
detailed presentation — they are so full of human interest.
Two gladiators are fighting on horseback, the rest on foot.
The vanquished with uplifted thumbs are mutely begging for
mercy. The plea of some of them is heeded by the populace;
in other groups we see the victor preparing to give the death
thrust. Beside each gladiator was painted his name, school,
and number of previous combats, as in a programme; and
letters were added to give the result of this fight. One com-
batant, who was beaten and yet by the vote of the audience
permitted to live, died on the sand from his wounds. We see
him resting on one knee, faint from loss of blood; the letter M