4 CHRISTIAN EPITAPHS OP 



The Constantinian monogram is, as miglit be expected, of frequent 

 occurrence on Christian sepulchral stones, but a great object of search 

 relative to this symbol has been to find an example before tbe year 

 312 A. D. It was believed tbat one was found on a stone discovered 

 by Boldetti, of the date 291 A. d., but De Eossi, n. 17, has, I think, 

 correctly regarded this figure as merely an ornamental point. He 

 himself, however, gives an example (n, 26), wbich may be, but cannot 

 certainly be proved to be, of the date 298 A.D. Tbe ^earliest tbat I 

 have noticed is of the date 831 A. d. 



(I)) Locus cmptus : — • 77. 



C0STATIN03 ■ EMIS 

 SE lANVARIVM • ET • BRI 

 TIAM LOCVM ANTE DO 

 MNA EMER ITA AEOSSO 

 RIBVS BVRDONE ETMICI 

 NVM ET MY SCO RVTIONE AVRISOLI 

 O YM VN SEMES • CONS • D • D -N • N • THAE 

 ODOSIO • ET • VALENTINIANO • II- 



[In coenohio S. PauU ; De Rossi, n. 653.) 



Co(n)stat nos emisse, Janiiarium et Briliam, locum ante clomna 

 (dominam) Emerita (Emeritam), a eossoribus (fossoribus) Burdone et 

 Micinnm (^Micino) et Musco, ratione auri solichim (solidi) timim (unius) 

 semessem (semissis), Consulibus Dominis Nbstris Theodosio et Valen- 

 tiniano iterum. 



" It is unquestionable that we Januarius and Eritia bonglit a place in front 

 of (tbe sepulciire of) Lady Emerita from the diggers Burdo and Micinus and 

 Muscus for the consideration of one solidus of gold and a half in the Consulship 

 of our Lords Theodosius and Valentinian for the 2nd time," i, e. 42G a. d. 



The formula constat nos emisse is not rare in monuments of this age, 

 whence it appears that the line between costat and nos is merely a 

 mark of punctuation. The sepulchre of jSaint Emerita was in the 

 cemetery of Comiuodilla, behind the basilica of St. Paul. 



She and Digna are said to have suffered death at Rome, under 

 Valerian and Gallienus. 



* I do not take into account the use of crosses and monograms before Chris- 

 tianity, the meaning of which was of course different from the Christian siguifi- 

 Ci'tion. Exam2>le3 of the gammadion occur on Roman altars found in Britain. 



