Reading Inscriptions

Tombs, coins, triumphal arches, and buildings all carry messages, even today. How often does one enter a building and see a dedication plaque? Whenever a coin passes one one hand to another, a message is being given. Few read it but we all know it is there. Have you ever visited a cemetary and read the inscriptions from the 18th century? They tell very interesting and, sometimes, very sad stories.

Reading Roman inscriptions is a bit more difficult than those in English, not because they are in Latin but because they use abbreviations. There is no break in a sentence. Words are separated by a dot or a small triangle. Words are sometimes split (no hyphens used) from one line to another merely to fit into the entabulature.
The inscription on the Arch at Beneventum is in wonderful repair and an excellent place to begin.

With the use of keys, some Latin inscriptions might be more readily deciphered, but you will always encounter some where constructive quessing is needed. Letters are worn or missing, abbreviations do not follow normal structure etc.
Names are relatively easy to decipher. Some others take more time. This chart of common abbreviations is taken from Introduction to the Study of Latin Inscriptions by James Egbert published in 1923. Following this is a table of some of the abbreviations used by Emperors, taken from the same text.

Sample Inscriptions:

I. Sepulchers
The earliest inscriptions appear quite crude. On a pillar, marking a grave at Pisurum, written between sometime after the formation of the republic.

IVNONERE	JUNONE REGINAE	from Juno, queens or to queen, or of queen
MATRONA	MATRONAE	to, of lady, ladies
PISAURE(N)SE(S)	PISAURENSES	of the area of Pisaurum
DONODEDROT	DONOM DEDERONT	donum, gift and dederunt, has given

From a sepulcher at Praeneste at the end of the Royal Period or beginning of the Republic.

CALTIA.M.F
Caltia, daughter of Marcus

Image from Introduction to the Study of Latin Inscriptions James Egbert 1923

II. Buildings and Markers

Look more closely at the inscription on the Inscription on the Arch at Beneventum.

This triumphal arch celebrates the emperor, Trajan. Try to decipher its meaning.

From a boundrary stone now in the Vatican Museum we have this inscription:

VIRG.TI.CAESAR.AUG.PONTIF.MA.
TRIB.POT.XXXVIII.COS.V. IMP.VIII.III.P.CCXL

Virgo (Aqua) Tiberius Caesar Augustus Pontifex Maximus, Tribune 37 times, consul 4 times, Imperator 8 (7 victories) (indicating 36-37 AD) P240 ( this is the fourth stone from the place of the distribution of the water, and between the several stones the intervals are 240 feet in length.) The P may stand for positus?

From the entabulature over the pronaos of the Pantheon

M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIUM.FECIT

In 27 AD Marcus Agrippa, son-in-law to Augustus and a man responsible for many public works including improvements to the areas around Baiae, oversaw the construction of the Pantheon. The inscription is said to have been added by Hadrian who renovated the structure.
Construction of the Pantheon

III. Coins

Obverse-
The head of Claudius
with inscription:
TI.CLAUDIUS.CAESAR.
AUG.P.M.TR.P.IMP. Reverse-Libertas draped, standing with head turned to the right holding a pilus in her right hand and her left hand extended with the inscription: LIBERTAS AUGUSTA.
On either side of the figure are lettersS, Creferring to senatus consultum-by decree of the senate was this coin minted.

How inscriptions were made

The precision indicated that the sculptor made chalk marks or painted letters on stone prior to carving. Originally inscriptions were probably painted in minium on walls, or on wood pannels.
Tools used to carve were chisel (scalprum) and hammer (malleus) A regula, ruler, compass (scircinus, square norma, level and pulb line libella et perpendiculum.
The cut was an inverted isosceles triangle, angular, not oblong nor curved. Studying the cut of an inscription helps the expert determine the authencity of a piece. Lines were probably sketched first with the use of a cord dipped in minium. This is conjecture since the markings have long since disappeared.
On coins, the inscriptions are made from ores that are cast into dies.

Joan Jahnige February 1999

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Obverse- The head of Claudius with inscription: TI.CLAUDIUS.CAESAR. AUG.P.M.TR.P.IMP.	Reverse-Libertas draped, standing with head turned to the right holding a pilus in her right hand and her left hand extended with the inscription: LIBERTAS AUGUSTA. On either side of the figure are lettersS, Creferring to senatus consultum-by decree of the senate was this coin minted.