Tag Archives: Latin Inscriptions

What happened to Pontia?, Or: How a husband buried his beloved wife (and still only managed to talk about himself)

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

Last week I published a piece about fatal traffic accidents in ancient Rome. When I did my research for this entry, I came across an inscription from Carsulae in Umbria, which puzzled me for a number of reasons – not … Continue reading →

Posted in Carmina Epigraphica, Epigraphy, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Recycle for Britain

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

Ed Miliband, Labour’s hapless frontrunner for the General Election 2015, is responsible for the creation of an inscription that details his pledges and that was set to be installed in the Downing Street Rose Garden – had he been successful. … Continue reading →

Posted in Epigraphy | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Master and Margarita

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

Today, I had the immense pleasure of seeing one of my most favourite inscribed Latin poems – the epitaph for Margarita (‘Pearl’), a lap-dog, born in Gaul, deceased in second or third century Rome. The inscription on this marble plaque, … Continue reading →

Posted in Carmina Epigraphica, Epigraphy, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Shedding Some Light on the Eclipse

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

Exciting times for stargazers: there will be a solar eclipse on Friday, 20 March 2015, the first UK-wide almost-total solar eclipse, as it has been pointed out. High time for me to dig into my beloved Latin inscriptions and see … Continue reading →

Posted in Carmina Epigraphica, Epigraphy, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

To a very special mother!

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

Unlike in most other places of the world, it’s Mother’s Day (or Mothering Sunday, to be precise) in Britain today. Time to celebrate a very special mother then ……… no, not my own (she’ll be celebrated when it’s Mother’s Day … Continue reading →

Posted in Carmina Epigraphica, Epigraphy, Poetry | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on To a very special mother!

Shattered Foundations

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

The wanton destruction of historical artefacts and monuments in the museum of Mosul by supporters and fighters of Islamic State forces is a heartbreaking spectacle to behold: While we are quick (and right) to condemn these acts as crimes against … Continue reading →

Posted in Epigraphy | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The New Inscription from Cirencester: A Few Thoughts

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

A couple of days ago, the discovery and excavation of a Roman tombstone at Cirencester (Gloucestershire) – largely undamaged and still in its original setting (in situ, as the professionals say) – has been publicised in no unspectacular terms. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Epigraphy, Prose | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Spread the Wealth

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

Have I ever told you the one about politicians and fiscal responsibility? The joke that is so old it was first recorded in a Pompeian wall inscription? It goes like this (CIL IV 3702 cf. p. 1383 = ILS 6405): … Continue reading →

Posted in Carmina Epigraphica, Epigraphy, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Spread the Wealth

The Faint Voices of the Poor of Ancient Rome

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Peter Kruschwitz

More often than not, we tend to turn our eyes away from poverty and the poor, the blemish on the conscience of our society in which everything exists in abundance and in which no one would have to suffer from … Continue reading →

Posted in Carmina Epigraphica, Epigraphy, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Happy New Year, Roman Style: Time to Get Baking!

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Peter Kruschwitz

I am working, rather dilatorily, on a substantial paper on ‘fringe epigraphy’– inscriptions at the margins of what epigraphists tend to be interested in. This paper matters a great deal to me, for I believe that the Romans inhabited a … Continue reading →

Posted in Epigraphy | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Happy New Year, Roman Style: Time to Get Baking!