DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42499#0111
On Brick-stamps.
43
That is, from the figlince of Asinia Quadratilia, the “ opus doliare”
of C. Nunnidius Fortunatus. Lucius Quadratus was consul in the
year a.d. 142, with Caius Cuspius Rufinus, but (as is the case on
many other bricks) he records his own name only, for the sake of
brevity, as if he were the only consul; and this, in fact, is the reason
why the words are so often abbreviated on the brick-stamps, in order
that the formula on the brick should be as concise as possible.
By good luck, in the greater number of these stamps, there are,
generally, some, on the inner portion of which we can read some
names or words, which, in other parts, are given in a condensed
form. The phrase, “ opus doliare,” has the same signification as
“opus figlinum;” but is somewhat wider in sense, as it applies to
any work of white clay {opus figlinum a figendo), whereas the formula
{opus doliare) refers chiefly to the manufacture of the terra cotta
vessels {dolid). Sometimes this manufacture is expressed more fully
under the name of “ opus figlinum doliare.”
Occasionally, besides the name of the farmer of the workshops,
we find stamps bearing that of the owner of the estate where the
manufactory itself existed. Thus, we have one, reading :—-
EX PR ANN VER EX OF AN >OS
PONTIANO ET ATILIANO
COS
That is, ex PRfaediis] ANNfii] VER.[i] ex OF[ficina] AN[nii] ?os[imi].
The names of the consuls, Pontianus and Atilianus, determining the
date to a.d. 135.
Annius Verus, who appears here as the owner of the estate, was
the father of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The phrase, “ ex
officina,” which occurs so frequently on these stamps, is equivalent
to “ ex figlinis,” which we have on the preceding stamp. It should
be observed that while the Consular date gives with accuracy that
of the making of the brick, we have not the same certainty as to the
time when the brick was used in a given edifice; as, of course, it is
quite possible that the bricks may have remained for some time in
the store of the manufacturer. We may be, therefore, sure that the
building cannot be older than the year in which the brick was made,
though it may have been later in construction by ten years or so.
Besides the value the bricks with Consular stamps have for the to-
pography of Rome, they have a further value in the light they
throw on the Fasti Consulares; as, by their means, we learn the
names of many “ Consules Suffecti,” which cannot otherwise be
traced; while we learn also the names of several ordinary consuls,
about whom there was previously some doubt.
43
That is, from the figlince of Asinia Quadratilia, the “ opus doliare”
of C. Nunnidius Fortunatus. Lucius Quadratus was consul in the
year a.d. 142, with Caius Cuspius Rufinus, but (as is the case on
many other bricks) he records his own name only, for the sake of
brevity, as if he were the only consul; and this, in fact, is the reason
why the words are so often abbreviated on the brick-stamps, in order
that the formula on the brick should be as concise as possible.
By good luck, in the greater number of these stamps, there are,
generally, some, on the inner portion of which we can read some
names or words, which, in other parts, are given in a condensed
form. The phrase, “ opus doliare,” has the same signification as
“opus figlinum;” but is somewhat wider in sense, as it applies to
any work of white clay {opus figlinum a figendo), whereas the formula
{opus doliare) refers chiefly to the manufacture of the terra cotta
vessels {dolid). Sometimes this manufacture is expressed more fully
under the name of “ opus figlinum doliare.”
Occasionally, besides the name of the farmer of the workshops,
we find stamps bearing that of the owner of the estate where the
manufactory itself existed. Thus, we have one, reading :—-
EX PR ANN VER EX OF AN >OS
PONTIANO ET ATILIANO
COS
That is, ex PRfaediis] ANNfii] VER.[i] ex OF[ficina] AN[nii] ?os[imi].
The names of the consuls, Pontianus and Atilianus, determining the
date to a.d. 135.
Annius Verus, who appears here as the owner of the estate, was
the father of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The phrase, “ ex
officina,” which occurs so frequently on these stamps, is equivalent
to “ ex figlinis,” which we have on the preceding stamp. It should
be observed that while the Consular date gives with accuracy that
of the making of the brick, we have not the same certainty as to the
time when the brick was used in a given edifice; as, of course, it is
quite possible that the bricks may have remained for some time in
the store of the manufacturer. We may be, therefore, sure that the
building cannot be older than the year in which the brick was made,
though it may have been later in construction by ten years or so.
Besides the value the bricks with Consular stamps have for the to-
pography of Rome, they have a further value in the light they
throw on the Fasti Consulares; as, by their means, we learn the
names of many “ Consules Suffecti,” which cannot otherwise be
traced; while we learn also the names of several ordinary consuls,
about whom there was previously some doubt.