| Plan of the Caserma dei Vigili. |
The west half of the Caserma was excavated in the later 19th century by Lanciani, the east half in the early 20th century by Vaglieri. The graffiti of the early excavations have mostly disappeared. Photos with low resolution were made by Eric Taylor, with high resolution by Robert Harp and Francis Brenders in 2014-2015. Solin proposes a date for the graffiti of c. 175-250 AD (Solin 2020, 323).
Professor Heikki Solin discusses the graffiti in a video recorded on April 11 2019.
G0088 (container)
- Vestibule 1, on the brick pilasters flanking the entrance from the street, east side of the piers, i.e. facing the road.
- NSc 1912, 50.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4520.
- EDR106830.
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30 COH(ors) 28 POMPON(ius) GAI[-]IP 27 ΑΒΓΔΕΖΗΘΙΚΛΜΝΞΟ[---] 23 XV K(alendas) IVNIAS 22 CINCIVS IANVARIVS 20 POMPONIVS FELIX 16 LIC 15 LICINIVS PRIMITIVS |
| Left pier. Drawing: CIL XIV. | |
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Photos by Eric Taylor: Layers 29-26 Layer 26 Layers 25-20 Layers 20/19 Layer 15 Photos by Harp and Brenders, 2015: Layer 23 Layer 23 (left) XV K IVNIAS Layer 22 CINCIVS IANVARIVS Layer 20 POMPONIVS FELIX Layer 15 LICINIVS PRIMITIVS Layer 12 |
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23 [c]O?H?(ors) III ((centuria)) RVBRI P TIBERIVI[--- f]ELIX 22 [c]OH?(ors) III CO?[h(ors)] V POMPONIVS FLEIX 17 IX COH(ors) III COH(ors) I 16 COH(ors) V |
| Right pier. Drawing: CIL XIV. | |
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Photos by Eric Taylor: Right pier, layers 23/22 Photos by Harp and Brenders, 2015: Right pier, layer 23/22 Right pier, layer 16 |
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G0089 (container)
- Vestibule 9, on the brick pilasters flanking the entrance from the street, north side of the piers, i.e. facing the road.
- NSc 1889, 79 nrs. 2, 3, 5.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4521.
- EDR106831, EDR108623, EDR108624, EDR108625.
- Solin 2020, nr. 2.
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Left pier, layer 15: HIRPINI DO[n]ATI[---] Right pier: [---]NIMVRNVS (Solin: MANI MURRIVS?) COH(ors) VII V(igilum) ((centuria?)) NAEVI DI[---] [---]PPONA[---] |
| Left pier. Drawing: CIL XIV. | |
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Photos by Eric Taylor: Right pier, layer 25 Right pier, layers 22-21 Photos by Harp and Brenders, 2015: Left pier, layers 18/17/16 Left pier, layer 15 Right pier, layer 25 Right pier, layers 22/21 |
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G0090 (container)
- Vestibule 36, on the left (west) brick pilaster flanking the entrance from the street, south side of the pier, i.e. facing the road.
- NSc 1889, 80 nr. 6.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4522.
- EDR108628, EDR108626, EDR106832, EDR108629.
- Solin 2020, nr. 3.
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31: VIII, letters 30: a boat 29: drawing 28: MARCVS AURELIVS NXX IA 28/27: AXXX 27/26: letters, X 24: ....M 23: tally marks 22: tally marks 22/21: *M, plus signs, tally marks 21/20/19: letters 18: COMIN(i) ALEXANDRI (Solin) 16: VI 15: letters 11: letters, NVX 14: AEMILIVS VICTOR (or IVNIOR?) A 11: [---] NVII [---] 10: IX IIII 8: [---] NVM [---] 7: SVIS H |
| Left pier. Drawing of part of the graffiti: CIL XIV. | |
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Photos by Eric Taylor: Layer 31 Layer 31 (right) Layer 30 (left) Layer 29 (left) Layer 28 Layer 28 Layers 28/27 (right) Layers 27/26 Layer 26 (right) Layer 24 (centre) Layer 23 (right) Layer 22 (left) Layers 22/21 (right) Layer 21 (left) Layers 21/20/19 (centre) Layer 18 (centre) Layer 16 (centre) Layer 15 Layer 14 (left) Layer 14 (right) Layer 11 (left) Layer 11 (centre) Layer 10 (left) Layer 8 (centre) Layer 7 (centre/right) Layers 7/6/5 (right) |
Photos by Harp and Brenders, 2015: Layers 30/29 (left) Layer 28 (left) Layers 28/27 (right) Layers 27/26 (left) Layer 26 (right) Layer 24 (centre) Layers 23/22/21 (right) Layer 21 (left) Layers 21/20/19 Layer 18 (centre) Layer 16 (centre) Layer 15 Layer 14 (right) Layer 14 (left) Layer 11 (left) Layer 11 Layers 9-10 Layer 8 |
G0091 (container)
- Vestibule 36, on the right (east) brick pilaster of the entrance from the street, south side of the pier, i.e. facing the road.
- NSc 1889, 80 nr. 7.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4522.
- EDR108631, EDR108630.
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33: numbers, tally marks 32: ...YC, drawing 31: drawing? 30/29: letters? 29: letters 28: letters 27: letters 27/26: drawing? 24: N 23: letters 21: IVNIVS CHRESIMVS 20: drawing, F 19/18: drawing 21-18: drawing, tally marks 18: letters 15: letters, drawing 16/15: drawing? 14: ABCD.FG 12: AN 11: letters 10: VII |
Photos by Eric Taylor: Layer 33 (left) Layer 33 (right) Layer 32 (left) Layer 32 (centre) Layer 32 (right) Layers 31 (right) Layers 30/29 (right) Layer 29 (left/centre) Layer 28 (left) Layer 28 (centre) Layer 27 (left) Layer 27/26 (right) Layer 24 (centre) Layers 23 (left) Layer 23 (centre/right) Layers 21/20 Layers 21 (left) Layer 20 (left) Layer 20 (centre) Layer 19/18 (centre) Layers 21 to 18 (right) Layer 18 (left/centre) Layer 15 (left) Layer 16/15 (right) Layer 14 (left) Layer 13 (centre) Layer 12 (left) Layer 11 (centre) Layer 10 (right) |
Photos by Harp and Brenders, 2015: Layers 33/32 (left) Layers 32/31 (right) Layer 29 (left) Layers 31-23 Layer 21 Layer 18 Layers 16/15 Layer 13 (centre) Layer 12 (left) Layer 11 (centre) Layer 10 (right) Layer 9 |
G0127 (container)
- On the bricks of the south facade, to the west of vestibule 36.
- A comb-pattern: animaton Eric Taylor
- A graffito and impressed thumbprint: Eric Taylor
- X: Eric Taylor
G0092 - A NAME
- On the bricks of the south facade, to the left of the door to corridor 31.
- NSc 1912, 100-101.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4523.
- EDR106833.
AVRELIVS HERMOGENES
G0093 - A NAME
- On the bricks of the south facade, to the left of the door to corridor 31.
- NSc 1889, 79 nr. 4.
- Paschetto 1912, 299.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4524.
- EDR106834.
HIRPINIVS DO[---]
G0095 - A TRUMPETER
- Vestibule of the Augusteum, north wall.
- NSc 1889, 80 nr. 9.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4526a.
- EDR106836.
M(arcus) MIRENIVS IVLIVS
BVCINATOR COH(ortis) VII VIG(ilum)
Interpretation: Mirenius or perhaps Myrenius. A "bucinator" was a trumpeter.
G0096 - A TRUMPETER
- Vestibule of the Augusteum, north wall.
- NSc 1889, 80 nrs. 10-11.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4526b.
- EDR106837.
IVLIVS FAVSTIN[us ---]
MIL(es) BUCHIN[ator ---]
[coh?] PRIMIGENIA D[---]
Interpretation: a "bucinator" was a trumpeter.
G0097 - THE SAFETY OF THE EMPEROR
- Vestibule of the Augusteum, north wall.
- NSc 1889, 80 nr. 12.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4526c.
- EDR106838.
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SALVO D(omino) N(ostro) SEVERO [Alexandro] PIO FELIC[i] AVG(usto) STATIONEM [fe]CIMUS PRINCIPI(i)S DIERV(m) XXX MIL(ites) COH(ortis) I VIG(ilum) SEVERIAN(a)E |
Interpretation: "Alexandro" was erased; "principiis" is to be understood as "principiis castrorum". Date: 222-235 AD.
"For the safety of our lord Severus Alexander, the pious, the happy, Augustus. We, the soldiers of the first cohort of the fire-fighters, the Severan, were stationed in the headquarters for 30 days."
G0098 - THE SAFETY OF THE MEN
- Vestibule of the Augusteum, north wall.
- NSc 1889, 80.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4526d.
- EDR106839.
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A TVTVS [---]VMI SICINIVS FIDELIS CLODIVS FLORIDIANVS MANTIVS FEL[i]X FELICITER |
Interpretation: the words "tutus" (safe) and "feliciter" (in a happy way), and parallels from Rome suggest, that in this graffito a fire-fighter thanks the Emperor for the safe outcome of his work and that of some of his comrades.
G0099 - A FIREFIGHTER FROM MAURETANIA CAESARIENSIS
- Vestibule of the Augusteum, north wall.
- NSc 1889, 81 nr. 13.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4526e.
- EDR106840.
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[a]PERTIV[s] NAMPAMO [cornicularius?] TR(ibuni) COH(ortis) [---]T..[.]F [---] VIG(ilum) [.]VFI[---] [---]TI |
Interpretation: Apertius Nampamo or Namfamo is an African name. A man with this name was honoured after his death with an inscription in Satafis in Mauretania Caesariensis (Ain El Kebira, Algeria): DMS HONORI ET MEMORIAE APERTI NAMFAMONIS MILITIS COH I VRB (CIL VIII, 8395). It may well be the same man, who had been transferred from the vigiles to the first Urban Cohort.
G0100 - A VOW
- Vestibule of the Augusteum, north wall.
- No reference in NSc; in manuscript Huelsen.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4526f.
- EDR106841.
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[---]TO [---].I [---]ANE [---]SOLV [---]NE[---]LL D[---]R [---]DVCT(---) CO(n)S(ul-) [---]PHIVS AEM[ilianus?] |
Interpretation: the word "solv(it/imus)" points to the fulfillment of a vow. The graffito seems to have had a consular date, in view of "cos". In a tabula ansata.
G0110 - A WORD GAME
- Room 10? ("Fifth room to the right of the porticus, on the left (west) wall").
- Guarducci 1965, 264-265, fig. 8, Tav. 83, 1.
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Interpretation: a well-known word-square and palindrome. The text can be read in four directions.
G0109 - A NAME
- Room 14 ("a sinistra della scala E" = room 13).
- NSc 1889, 81, nrs. 21, 22.
- Paschetto 1912, 299.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4529a,b.
- EDR106850, EDR106851.
((centuria)) RVFI
[---]VARIVS
INGE[---]
G0112 - A SHIP
- Room 29. West wall, next to G0392.
- Langner 2001, nr. 1993: at 1.20 from floor, h. 0.15, w. 0.48.
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| Photos: Eric Taylor Animation, Eric Taylor |
G0392 - A SHIP
- Room 29. West wall, next to G0112.
- Langner 2001, nr. 2096: at 1.20 from floor, h. 0.21, w. 0.52.
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| Photos: Harp 2014 |
G0111 - CURVED LINES
- Room 29.
G0108 - ON GUARD
- Room 32, from the vault.
- NSc 1889, 81, nr. 14.
- Paschetto 1912, 299.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4528.
- EDR106849.
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((centuria)) V EXCVBAT XII K(alendas) MAR(tias) M(arcus) VALERIVS SEVERVS [---]VM[---]MA[---]A[---] [---]AVR[---] [---]T[---] |
Interpretation: for line 4 Gatti and Huelsen suggest CVM MATVSA. "Excubat" from "excubare", "to be on guard, to keep watch". The date is February 18.
G0856 - A BOAT
- Room 33, west wall.
- NSc 1912, 51.
G0113 - A TABULA ANSATA
- Room 38, west wall, centre.
- Animation, Eric Taylor
- Harp 2014
G0122 - TEXT
- Corridor 41, west wall.
- Molle 2014, 55.
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PERFIXI |
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor Harp 2014 | |
Interpretation: from "perfigo", to pierce through: "I have pierced through". Molle compares with PERFRIXI from "perfrigesco" ("I grew very cold") or "perfrico", found four times in Rome. He suggests an erotic meaning. We could also think of the latrine opposite the wall with the graffito.
G0393 - A NAME
- Corridor 41, west wall.
[--- S]EVERVS
- Animation, Eric Taylor
- Harp 2014 (lower left part of panel)
- Harp 2015
Interpretation: more ancient graffiti on lower left part of panel; modern graffiti on right part.
G0739 - TALLY MARKS
- Room 43, north wall.
G0086 - TEXT
- Room 44.
- NSc 1911, 369 nr. 3.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4518.
- EDR106828.
[---] S [---]
[---] QVA [---]
Interpretation: fallen from the wall. On red plaster.
G0740 - CONCENTRIC CIRCLES
- Room 44, south wall.
G0115 - NUMBERS AND AN UNIDENTIFIED STRUCTURE
- Room 44, south wall, extreme left.
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor Harp 2014 Harp 2014 (detail) |
G0114 - CONCENTRIC CIRCLES
- Room 44, north wall, right.
- Langner 2001, nr. 48: diam. 0.45.
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Photos: - Eric Taylor - Animation, Eric Taylor - Harp 2014 |
G0116 - CIRCLE AND LINES
- Room 44, north wall, right.
- Langner 2001, nr. 90: at 1.00 from floor, diam. 0.50.
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Photos: - Eric Taylor - Animation, Eric Taylor - Harp 2014 |
G0087 - TEXT
- Room 45.
- NSc 1889, 83.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4519.
- EDR106829.
[---] YLL [---]
[---] XXXV [---]
G0101 - THE HAPPINESS OF THE COMRADES
- Room 45.
- NSc 1889, 81, nr. 15.
- Carcopino 1909, 354 ff.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4527a.
- EDR106842.
C(aius) LICINIVS CHO(---) FELIX
MONNA OMNIBVS SVCC[ess]
VRIS FELICITER VII
Interpretation: the word "feliciter" (in a happy way), and parallels from Rome suggest, that in this graffito the fire-fighter C. Licinius Felix thanks the Emperor for the safe outcome of his work and that of some of his comrades. Monna may be part of the name of Licinius ("agnomen"). For the rest Dessau reads "omnibus succ[ess]uris feliciter". According to Carcopino "Monna n'est qu'une femme galante, et le mot succur[r]is a deux sens, dont l'un obscène" (so a "meretrix"; cf. CIL IV, 1584). This would make it exceptional: "contra Dessau monet neque in parietibus stationis vigilum Ostiensis neque in excubitorio vigilum urbano ullum lasciviarum vestigium inveniri".
G0102 - A NAME
- Room 45.
- NSc 1889, 81, n. 16.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4527b.
- EDR106843.
C(aius) LICINIVS FELIX
D[.]Q TVM[---]
G0103 - A NAME AND A DATE
- Room 45.
- NSc 1889, 81, n. 17.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4527c.
- EDR106844.
SVLPICIVS
SILVINVS
NONAS [---]
[?stationem] FECIT
Interpretation: "nonas" is the beginning of a date. The last line may have been "stationem fecit".
G0104 - THE OVERSEER OF THE LAMPS AND TORCHES
- Room 45.
- NSc 1889, 81, n. 18.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4527d.
- EDR106845.
AELIVS MA(n)SVETVS
EX ACTVS LA(n)TER[nar]VM
Interpretation: written by an "exactus lanternarum", overseer of the lamps and torches.
G0105 - A NAME
- Room 45.
- NSc 1889, 81, n. 19.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4527e.
- EDR106846.
[---]DISIVS or [---]IVSTVS
G0106 - A NAME
- Room 45.
- NSc 1889, 81, n. 20.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4527f.
- EDR106847.
CLAVDI[---]
Q(uintus) MARCIY(s) FELIX
G0107 - A NAME
- Room 45, on the same wall as G0101.
- No reference in NSc.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4527g.
- EDR106848.
C(aius) SALVIVS OPTATVS
G0121 - A PLAN OF BUILDINGS?
- Room 45.
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor |
G0123 - A ROSETTE
- Room 45.
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor |
G0124 - CONCENTRIC CIRCLES
- Room 45.
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor |
G0117 - CIRCLES
- Room 45, west wall.
- Langner 2001, nr. 50: at 1.20 from floor, height 0.45.
Interpretation: three stacks of circles (left drawing: Langner; right drawing: Taylor).
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor Harp 2014 | |
G0120 - FRAMES FOR WRITING
- Room 45, west wall.
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor Harp 2014 |
G0405 - A STAR
- Room 45, west wall.
Animation, Eric Taylor
Harp 2014
G0118 - SPIRAL
- Room 45, south wall.
- Langner 2001, nr. 49: diam. 0.25.
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor Harp 2014 | |
G0125 - UNIDENTIFIED STRUCTURE
- Room 45, south wall.
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor Harp 2014 |
G0126 (container)
- Corridor C, north wall = outer south wall of rooms 17-16.
(far right) MARTIAS?
(far right) P??
(right) BASSIMA?CIL?
SANIYIIYO?
ANTVE???O
Photos by Eric Taylor:
Upper left part
Directly below upper left part
Upper right part
Detail of upper right part
Photos by Bakker, Harp and Brenders, 2014-2015:
Overview
Overview
Right part (mostly modern graffiti)
Right part (mostly modern graffiti)
Left part
Central part (modern graffiti)
G0094 - A GOOD MAN
- On a loose brick ("mattone sciolto"), but according to Paschetto belonging to the right pilaster of vestibule 9.
- NSc 1889, 79 nr. 1.
- Paschetto 1912, 298.
- CIL XIV Suppl., 4525.
- EDR106835.
[---u]S VENVSTVS (h)OMO BONV[s ---]
Interpretation: "tus" written above and after "venus". "Venustus is a good man".
G0119 - A MAN IN A BOAT
- Location not specified.
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Photos: Animation, Eric Taylor |