Funerary inscription of Lucius Calpurnius Rufus, a Praetorian officer

"To the Shades of the Underworld: for Lucius Calpurnius Rufus, an officer [scriba] of the Praetorian fleet of Misenum. This man, sent to Ephesus on duty, died and was laid [to rest] there in a marble sarcophagus. Marcus Sittius Africanus, his fellow countryman and heir, made this memorial at the camp." Latin: D(is) M(anibus) / L(ucio) Calpurnio Rufo / scribae Cl(assis) Pr(aetoriae) Mis(enensis) / hic Epheso in munere missus / defunctus est ibi sarcophago / marmoreo situs est / M(arcus) Sittius Africanus municeps et / heres ad castra memoria(m) fecit

The Praetorian fleet at Misenum, on Italy’s Bay of Naples, was founded by Augustus in 27 BCE and protected the western Mediterranean from piracy and other naval threats. 

Lucius Calpurnius Rufus was a scriba—an administrative role within the Roman navy that would serve as a ship or squadron’s clerk—for this fleet. This inscription was dedicated to Rufus in Italy, even though it notes that he passed away in Ephesus (Türkiye) and was buried there in a marble sarcophagus. This inscription was written on the back of a reused fragment of a monumental inscription, probably Augustan in date (31 BCE–14 CE).

Note the different letter styles in this funerary inscription: lines 1–3 are a “monumental” style, while lines 4–8 are a “rusticated” style.

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