24f CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 



Inlustris, that he was a Christian. This inference has been confirme(J 

 by a proof of the Christianity of the Nonian family at this period^ 

 given by Minervini, in Bull. Nap. Ser. 2 t. 1 p. 15,. to ■which DeRossi^ 

 p. 198 refers, but which I have not seen. 



(U) Specimen of Palaeography : — 98. 

 (See Plate IV, 4.) 



{E eoernet. S. Zoiici ; De Rossr, n. 530.) 



Lepusclus (Lepuscutus) Leo, qui vixit anum (annum) et viensis- 

 (menses) ^inc?ec^ (undecim) et dies dece (decern) et nove (noy e.va) perit 

 septimu (septimo) calendas Agu&tas (Augustas) Onorio (Honorio). 

 sexis (sexies) Agusto (Augusto). 



" Lepusculus Leo, who lived a year and elsven months and nineteen days. He' 

 died on the seventh day before the Calends of August,, (in the Consulship of). 

 Honorius for the sixth time," i. e. July 26th, 404 a. d. 



Lepuscidus, as Muscida, was, probably, a pet name. Compare the- 

 modern Leporello. I have translated perit as standing for per tit , but 

 it may be used as zeXsura in Epitaph 23. 



(I) Posture in prayer : — 99. 



(See Plate lY^ 2.) 



(^Ecoemet. Commodillce ; De Rossi, d. 251.) 



Petion'se dignse, coiugi (conjugi) que (quae) vixit minis (annos^ 



XXI, et fecit cum conpare (compare) suo menses X, dies V. [Deposita}, 



Kalendis Novenibrihus pos (post) Constdaium Gratiani ter et Equitiiy, 



Ursus maritus sibi et innocenti compari fecit. Cesquet (quiescit) in 



pace. 



" To Petronia, a worthy wife, who lived twenty-one years, and passed with 

 her mate ten months, five days. [Buried] on the Calends of November, in the 

 year after the Consulship of Gratianus, for the third time, and Equitius {i. e. 

 November 1st, 375 a. d.) Ursus, her husband, made (this) for himself and his- 

 blameless mate. She rests in peace." 



I have selected this epitaph chiefly because the stone presents an. 

 illustration of the attitude of a person praying. This position was at 

 one time so general, that those, who were suffering penance, were not 

 permitted to stand up in the church during prayer. 



The outstretched arms and uplifted hands were common to both 

 Jews and Pagans. At one time this figure in the attitude of prayer 

 was regarded as an emblem of martyrdom; and the crown and the; 



