The tomb that Pompeii dedicated to a Praefectus

 

During the works to create a gap in the new headquarters of the library of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, a funerary monument belonging to a soldier who had served until his retirement was recently discovered. The name of this person was Numerius Agrestinus, a military 'praefectus' during the Cantabrian Wars of Augustus, which brought the entire Iberian Peninsula under Roman control. After completing his years of military service, he chose to live the rest of his life in Pompeii. His skills must have been appreciated there, as he held the highest civil office (duumvir) of the city twice. Thus, the citizens, in addition to the tomb that his wife Veia Barchilla had erected for both of them near Porta Nocera, decided to dedicate this second funerary monument to him.

The newly discovered tomb reads:

N(umerio) AGRESTINO N(umerii) F(ilio) EQUITIO PULCHRO TRIB(uno) MIL(itum) PRAEF(ecto) AUTRYGON(um) PRAEF(ecto) FABR(um) II D(uum)V(iro) I(ure) D(icundo) ITER(um) LOCUS.

The inscription continues in smaller letters positioned below, in the center of the backrest: SEPULTURAE DATUS D(ecreto) D(ecurionum)

Here is the translation: "To Numerius Agrestinus, son of Numerius, Equitius Pulcher, military tribune, prefect of the Autrygoni, prefect of military engineering, Duumvir for the jurisdiction (the highest magistracy in the city of Pompeii) twice, the place of burial (was) given by decree of the city council."

The epitaph is an example of how the Empire could bestow social prestige, as well as economic benefits, on those who showed commitment and dedication to the cause.

Bibliography: The discovery is described in the E-Journal of the Pompeii Excavations, the online magazine that provides real-time information on new discoveries and ongoing research at the archaeological site. Contributing to the reading and interpretation of the inscription were Maria Chiara Scappaticcio and Alberto Dalla Rosa, professors of Latin Language and Literature at Federico II and Roman History at Université Bordeaux Montaigne, respectively.