Lapis Satricanus
Encyclopedia
The Lapis Satricanus, or, "stone of Satricum", was a yellow stone found in the ruins of the ancient Satricum
, near Borgo Montello (41°31′N 12°47′E), a village of southern Lazio, dated late 6th to early 5th centuries BC. It was found in 1977 during excavations by C.M. Stibbe.
It reads:
("The (?) dedicated this, as companions of Publius Valerius, to Mars
")
The inscription is in Archaic Latin or a closely related dialect. It is important for comparative Indo-European grammar as it is the only Latin inscription to show the ending -osio for the genitive singular of the thematic noun declension. Later Latin has -î as the ending for this case, but by comparison with Linear B
and Homer
ic Greek and other languages it becomes clear that -osio is a far earlier form.
The Lapis Satricanus has received significant attention from historians and archaeologists of early Latium not merely because of its obvious antiquity and linguistic value, but also because of the name preserved on the inscription. The archaic name of Poplios Valesios is rendered in Classical Latin
as "Publius Valerius," which has inevitably led to speculation that the inscription refers to none other than the famous Publius Valerius Publicola
, the patrician ally of Lucius Junius Brutus
who dominates the list of early consuls recorded by the Fasti
Capitolini and is credited in traditional accounts as one of the primary founders of the Roman Republic
. Positive identification is at least somewhat problematic because the town of Satricum was not part of Roman territory during the years P. Valerius was consul. However, the lapis itself may not have been dedicated in Satricum in the first place; it was found as part of a collection recycled material used in the construction of a temple in the town, and could well have been imported from elsewhere.
Satricum
Satricum , an ancient town of Latium, situated some 60 km to the SE of Rome, in a low-lying region to the south of the Alban Hills, to the NW of and at the border of the former Pontine Marshes. It was accessible direct from Rome by a road running more or less parallel to the Via Appia, to the...
, near Borgo Montello (41°31′N 12°47′E), a village of southern Lazio, dated late 6th to early 5th centuries BC. It was found in 1977 during excavations by C.M. Stibbe.
It reads:
- (?)IEI STETERAI POPLIOSIO VALESIOSIO
- SVODALES MAMARTEI
("The (?) dedicated this, as companions of Publius Valerius, to Mars
Mars (mythology)
Mars was the Roman god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was second in importance only to Jupiter, and he was the most prominent of the military gods worshipped by the Roman legions...
")
The inscription is in Archaic Latin or a closely related dialect. It is important for comparative Indo-European grammar as it is the only Latin inscription to show the ending -osio for the genitive singular of the thematic noun declension. Later Latin has -î as the ending for this case, but by comparison with Linear B
Linear B
Linear B is a syllabic script that was used for writing Mycenaean Greek, an early form of Greek. It pre-dated the Greek alphabet by several centuries and seems to have died out with the fall of Mycenaean civilization...
and Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
ic Greek and other languages it becomes clear that -osio is a far earlier form.
The Lapis Satricanus has received significant attention from historians and archaeologists of early Latium not merely because of its obvious antiquity and linguistic value, but also because of the name preserved on the inscription. The archaic name of Poplios Valesios is rendered in Classical Latin
Classical Latin
Classical Latin in simplest terms is the socio-linguistic register of the Latin language regarded by the enfranchised and empowered populations of the late Roman republic and the Roman empire as good Latin. Most writers during this time made use of it...
as "Publius Valerius," which has inevitably led to speculation that the inscription refers to none other than the famous Publius Valerius Publicola
Publius Valerius Publicola
Publius Valerius Publicola was one of four Roman aristocrats who led the overthrow of the monarchy, and became a Roman consul, the colleague of Lucius Junius Brutus in 509 BC, traditionally considered the first year of the Roman Republic...
, the patrician ally of Lucius Junius Brutus
Lucius Junius Brutus
Lucius Junius Brutus was the founder of the Roman Republic and traditionally one of the first consuls in 509 BC. He was claimed as an ancestor of the Roman gens Junia, including Marcus Junius Brutus, the most famous of Caesar's assassins.- Background :...
who dominates the list of early consuls recorded by the Fasti
Fasti
In ancient Rome, the fasti were chronological or calendar-based lists, or other diachronic records or plans of official and religiously sanctioned events...
Capitolini and is credited in traditional accounts as one of the primary founders of the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
. Positive identification is at least somewhat problematic because the town of Satricum was not part of Roman territory during the years P. Valerius was consul. However, the lapis itself may not have been dedicated in Satricum in the first place; it was found as part of a collection recycled material used in the construction of a temple in the town, and could well have been imported from elsewhere.
External links
- Il Lapis Satricanus (in ItalianItalian languageItalian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
) - Publius Valerius Publicola