Epitaph for Ursia Fundana, Ursius Arrenus and Ursius Niceros

Epitaph for Ursia Fundana, Ursius Arrenus and Publius Ursius Niceros, engraved on a plaque found during the 1961-62 archaeological campaigns, in Praça da Figueira. The monument's shape, with a semi-circular upper section, seems to indicate this plaque was set within another funerary monument, perhaps on the top of a
cupa
(monument with a shape similar to a half-cylinder used to indicate gravesite) built in stone (some stones, already without inscriptions, were found on the site during the 1999-2001 campaigns), or as a lid for one of the niches in a
columbarium
(monument with a number a niches where lay the urns containing the ashes of the deceased). Evidence suggests the plaque originally denoted only the resting place of the mortal remains of the first two deceased mentioned in the epitaph. Later, making use of the still available space, a last line was added with the name of the third deceased. Although obviously all in the same family, their relationship is difficult to establish and is suggested only by the family name Ursius/Ursia and the
cognomen
Niceros, as the epitaph makes clear that at least Ursia Fundana is from Niceros. On the same site, another plaque of similar shape was found that refers two additional elements of this family, suggesting the existence of a common monument for the whole family (
columbarium
,
mausoleum
...) or at least a space in the
necropolis
reserved for their funerary monuments.

Type of inscription

Funerary

Language

Latin

Technique

Engraving

Reading

VRSIA/ FVNDANA/NICEROTIS/ ET VRSIVS/ ARRENVS F(ilii vel fratri) H(ic) S(iti) S(unt) ET/ P(ublio) VRSIO NICEROTI

Translation

Here lie Ursia Fundana Nicerotis and Ursius Arrenus, brother (?). And (also) to Publius Ursius Nicerotis.

Present location

Museum of Lisbon | Pimenta Palace

Discovery location

Praça da Figueira, Lisboa

Suggested reading

Heleno, M. (1965) - Estação lusitano-romana da Praça da Figueira (Separata da revista Ethnos, IV). Lisboa: Instituto Português de Arqueologia, História e Etnologia.

Moita, I. (1968) - Achados de época romana no sub-solo de Lisboa. Revista Municipal. Lisboa: Câmara Municipal de Lisboa. 116/117, pp. 33-71.

Ramirez Sádaba, J. L. (2002) - O homem e a morte na Lusitânia. In Ribeiro, J. C., coord. - Religiões da Lusitânia. Loquuntur Saxa. Lisboa: Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, pp. 301-305.

Useful links

Identification code​

LxRomana1106014