Pompeii & Herculaneum - Inscriptions and Graffiti
Task: What can we learn about Pompeii & Herculaneum from these inscriptions and graffiti?
• Twenty pairs of gladiators provided by Quintus Monnius Rufus are to fight at Nola May 1st,
2nd and 3rd, and there will be a hunt.
• Thirty pairs of gladiators provided by Gnaeus Alleius Nigidius Maius quinquennial duumvir,
together with their substitutes, will fight at Pompeii on November 24, 25, 26. There will be a
hunt. Hurrah for Maius the Quinquennial! Bravo, Paris!
• The gladiatorial troop of the Aedile Aulius Suettius Certus will fight at Pompeii May 31. There
will be a hunt, and awnings will be provided.
• Twenty pairs of gladiators furnished by Decimus Lucretius Satrius Valens perpetual priest of
Nero, son of the Emperor, and ten pairs of gladiators furnished by Decimus Lucretius Valens his
son, will fight at Pompeii April 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. There will be a big hunt and awnings.
Aemilius Celer wrote this by the light of the moon.
• The dyers request the election of Postumius Proculus as Aedile.
• Vesonius Primus urges the election of Gnaeus Helvius as Aedile, a man worthy of pubic office.
• Vesonius Primus requests the election of Gaius Gavius Rufus as duumvir, a man who will serve
the public interest – do elect him, I beg of you.
• Primus and his household are working for the election of Gnaeus Helvius Sabinus as Aedile.
• Make Lucius Caeserninus quinquennial duumvir of Nuceria, I beg you: he is a good man.
• His neighbours request the election of Tiberius Claudius Verus as duumvir.
• The worshippers of Isis as a body ask for the election of Gnaeus Helvias Sabinus as Aedile.
• The inhabitants of the Campanian suburb ask for the election of Marcus Epidius Sabinus as
aedile.
• At the request of the neighbours Suedius Clemens, most upright judge, is working for the
election of Marcus Epidius Sabinus, a worthy young man, as duumvir with judicial authority.
He begs you to elect him.
• The sneak thieves request the election of Vatia as Aedile.
• The whole company of late drinkers favour Vatia.
• The whole company of late risers favour Vatia.
• Inn to let. Triclinium [dining room] with three couches.
• Here slept Vibius Restitutus all by himself his heart filled with longings for his Urbana.
• To rent from the first day of next July, shops with the floors over them, fine upper chambers,
and a house, in the Arnius Pollio block, owned by Gnaeus Alleius Nigidius Maius. Prospective
lessees may apply to Primus, slave of Gnaeus Alleius Nigidius Maius.
• To let, for the term of five years, from the thirteenth day of next August to the thirteenth day of
the sixth August thereafter, the Venus bath, fitted up for the best people, shops, rooms over
shops, and second-story apartments in the property owned by Julia Felix, daughter of Spurius.
• A copper pot has been taken from this shop. Whoever brings it back will receive 65 sesterces. If
any one shall hand over the thief he will be rewarded.
• He who has never been in love can be no gentleman.
• Health to you, Victoria, and wherever you are may you sneeze sweetly.
• Restitutus has many times deceived many girls.
• Romula keep tryst here with Staphylus.
• On October 17 Puteolana had a litter of three males and two females.
• If you want to waste your time, scatter millet and pick it up again.
• Vote for Gaius Iulius Polybius as aedile for supervising roads, sacred temples and public works.
• Lantern-bearer, hold on to the ladder.
• I am amazed, wall, that you have not fallen in ruins, you who bear the weight of so many boring
inscriptions.
• Publius Comicius Restitus stood here with his brother.
• A benevolent god lives here in this house.
• Burglar, watch out!
• This is no place for idlers. On your way, loafer.
• Ampliatus Pedania is a thief.
• Stronnius is a know-nothing.
• I don’t want to sell my husband.
• Let anyone who invites me to dinner prosper.
• I have a head cold.
• On April 19 I baked bread.
• We were here, two dear friends, comrades forever. If you want to know our names, they are
Gaius and Aulus.
• Epaphra is not a ball-player.
• Sarra, you’re not acting very nicely, leaving me all alone.
• When I came here, I had sex. Then I returned home.
• Celadus, the Thracian, makes all the girls sigh.
• Crescens, the net fighter [retiarius], holds the hearts of all the girls.