James Coverley
@jamescoverley.bsky.social
Roman history with the potential to be quite interesting. Subscribe for emperors, scandals & unhinged history 👇
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... As for me, without you, I eke out a wretched life. Be happy there too, my sweetest Thalassia, nurse to a vir clarissimus [a senator], who was married to me for forty years. Papirius Vitalis, painter by profession, her husband,
made this for his incomparable wife, himself and their family."
made this for his incomparable wife, himself and their family."
February 14, 2026 at 2:29 PM
... As for me, without you, I eke out a wretched life. Be happy there too, my sweetest Thalassia, nurse to a vir clarissimus [a senator], who was married to me for forty years. Papirius Vitalis, painter by profession, her husband,
made this for his incomparable wife, himself and their family."
made this for his incomparable wife, himself and their family."
... Papirius Vitalis arte pictoria maritus eius feminae incomparabili fecit sibi et suis"
It reads:
"To the spirits of the departed. You chose to die before me, most sainted wife, leaving me here in tears. If there is anything in the world below, I hope it goes well for you ...
It reads:
"To the spirits of the departed. You chose to die before me, most sainted wife, leaving me here in tears. If there is anything in the world below, I hope it goes well for you ...
February 14, 2026 at 2:29 PM
... Papirius Vitalis arte pictoria maritus eius feminae incomparabili fecit sibi et suis"
It reads:
"To the spirits of the departed. You chose to die before me, most sainted wife, leaving me here in tears. If there is anything in the world below, I hope it goes well for you ...
It reads:
"To the spirits of the departed. You chose to die before me, most sainted wife, leaving me here in tears. If there is anything in the world below, I hope it goes well for you ...
"D(is) M(anibus) praecedere voluisti sanctissima co(n)iu(n)x ut me relinqueres in lac{h}rimis si est aliquit in infernas partes bene ego autem sine te vitam sordidam exigo esto felix et ibi dulcissima Thalassia educatrix c(larissimi) v(iri) et mihi in conubio per annos XXXX ...
February 14, 2026 at 2:29 PM
"D(is) M(anibus) praecedere voluisti sanctissima co(n)iu(n)x ut me relinqueres in lac{h}rimis si est aliquit in infernas partes bene ego autem sine te vitam sordidam exigo esto felix et ibi dulcissima Thalassia educatrix c(larissimi) v(iri) et mihi in conubio per annos XXXX ...
"... he lived for forty years (and) served for twenty years. Gaius Julius Philo from the trireme Mercurius (and) Quintus Domitius Optatus from the tetrereme Minerva, (his) heirs, (made) this with Sulpicius Priscus, optio from the trireme Jupiter, overseeing."
Misenum, Italy, 1-2 century AD.
Misenum, Italy, 1-2 century AD.
February 13, 2026 at 6:07 PM
"... he lived for forty years (and) served for twenty years. Gaius Julius Philo from the trireme Mercurius (and) Quintus Domitius Optatus from the tetrereme Minerva, (his) heirs, (made) this with Sulpicius Priscus, optio from the trireme Jupiter, overseeing."
Misenum, Italy, 1-2 century AD.
Misenum, Italy, 1-2 century AD.
... Optatus (terere) Minerva, heredes, curant(e) Sulpicio Prisco option(e) (triere) Iove.
The ship classes are formed from an initial tall I with the remaining I's barred
So it reads:
"To the Divine Spirits. To Titus Terentius Maximus, soldier from the trireme Jupiter, of the Bessi by origin ..."
The ship classes are formed from an initial tall I with the remaining I's barred
So it reads:
"To the Divine Spirits. To Titus Terentius Maximus, soldier from the trireme Jupiter, of the Bessi by origin ..."
February 13, 2026 at 6:07 PM
... Optatus (terere) Minerva, heredes, curant(e) Sulpicio Prisco option(e) (triere) Iove.
The ship classes are formed from an initial tall I with the remaining I's barred
So it reads:
"To the Divine Spirits. To Titus Terentius Maximus, soldier from the trireme Jupiter, of the Bessi by origin ..."
The ship classes are formed from an initial tall I with the remaining I's barred
So it reads:
"To the Divine Spirits. To Titus Terentius Maximus, soldier from the trireme Jupiter, of the Bessi by origin ..."
Donkey there, donkey back and all the bread you can eat!
February 11, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Donkey there, donkey back and all the bread you can eat!
... and we will furnish you with two donkeys when you come down to us and a like number when you go back to the city. Year 14 of Lucius SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS Pius Pertinax and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus [CARACALLA] Pius Augustus, and Publius Septimius GETA Caesar Augustus, Payni 16 [206 AD]."
(P.Corn.9)
(P.Corn.9)
February 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM
... and we will furnish you with two donkeys when you come down to us and a like number when you go back to the city. Year 14 of Lucius SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS Pius Pertinax and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus [CARACALLA] Pius Augustus, and Publius Septimius GETA Caesar Augustus, Payni 16 [206 AD]."
(P.Corn.9)
(P.Corn.9)
... beginning with the 24th of the month Payni according to the old calendar, you to receive as pay 36 drachmas for each day, and for the entire period 4 artabs of barley and 20 pairs of bread loaves; and whatsoever garments or gold ornaments you may bring down, we will guard these safely. ...
February 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM
... beginning with the 24th of the month Payni according to the old calendar, you to receive as pay 36 drachmas for each day, and for the entire period 4 artabs of barley and 20 pairs of bread loaves; and whatsoever garments or gold ornaments you may bring down, we will guard these safely. ...
Subscribe, for free, on Substack or I'll come round there and do some resurrecting of my own!
(I actually have no idea what that even means, but subscribe anyway, thanks!)
jamescoverley.substack.com
(I actually have no idea what that even means, but subscribe anyway, thanks!)
jamescoverley.substack.com
Potentially Interesting Roman History | James Coverley | Substack
Answers to Questions About Roman History. Click to read Potentially Interesting Roman History, by James Coverley, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
jamescoverley.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Subscribe, for free, on Substack or I'll come round there and do some resurrecting of my own!
(I actually have no idea what that even means, but subscribe anyway, thanks!)
jamescoverley.substack.com
(I actually have no idea what that even means, but subscribe anyway, thanks!)
jamescoverley.substack.com
"To Grania Clara, freedwoman of Aulus, a most respectable freedwoman. She lived 23 years and never gave me a moment’s upset. Except when she died."
Pozzuoli, #Italia, late first to second century AD.
Pozzuoli, #Italia, late first to second century AD.
February 9, 2026 at 12:54 AM
"To Grania Clara, freedwoman of Aulus, a most respectable freedwoman. She lived 23 years and never gave me a moment’s upset. Except when she died."
Pozzuoli, #Italia, late first to second century AD.
Pozzuoli, #Italia, late first to second century AD.
Demostratos Damas competed in a form of martial art called 'pankration', a bit like MMA. He was 'twice clean-sweep winner', meaning he was victorious in the four great Greek games - the Pythian, Isthmian, Nemean and Olympic - in a row.
February 8, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Demostratos Damas competed in a form of martial art called 'pankration', a bit like MMA. He was 'twice clean-sweep winner', meaning he was victorious in the four great Greek games - the Pythian, Isthmian, Nemean and Olympic - in a row.