Images

Location

EMMA0001

Judaea. Emmaus I (Nicopolis, 'Imwas). 67-70 CE. Engraved tombstone. Epitaph.

Transcription

Publius Oppius filius Camilia cio RavenaRavenna miles legionis V Macedonicae, optio, vixit anosannos XXX, militavit annos VIIII. Hic situs est. Heres fecit.

Translation

P(ublius) Oppi[us, son of...], of (the tribe of) Camilia, ...cio, of Ravenna, soldier of the Legio V Macedonica, (of the rank of) optio, lived 30 years, served in the army nine years (and) is buried here. (His) heir made (this tombstone).

Diplomatic

[no diplomatic]

Terminus post quem:
Terminus ante quem:
Notes
An engraved rectangular tombstone from Emmaus I missing its top right corner and bottom. Only the last letters of the soldier's name in the inscription are preserved. When this soldier died after nine years of service he had become an optio, a rank about equivalent to a non-commissioned adjutant or a sergeant-major. This advancement is rapid and suggests that he was from a respectable family or that he exhibited extraordinary ability. Landau explains that this soldier was first assigned to the Legio V Macedonica, stationed in Moesia (modern Bulgaria), and was then likely transferred to Cappadocia with his legion before 62 CE with the army of Caesennius Paetus, one of the two armies used in the war against the Parthians. He then seems to have died in Judaea, either during one of the early campaigns in the region or around the time of the siege of Jerusalem.

Languages

Latin

Dimensions

H: 95 cm; W: 50 cm; D: 13.5 cm

Date

67 CE to 70 CE

Current location

Hecht Museum, Haifa

Figures

No figures described.

Bibliography

Source of diplomatic

No bibliography available for diplomatic transcription.

Source of transcription

No bibliography available for transcription.

Source of translation

No bibliography available for translation.

Other sources

  • Landau, J.H. “Two Inscribed Tombstones.” ’Atiqot 11 (1976): 89–91.
    Zotero
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The project can be cited as:

Satlow, Michael L., ed. 2002 - . “Inscriptions of Israel/Palestine.” Brown University. https://doi.org/10.26300/PZ1D-ST89

This inscription can be cited as:

"Inscriptions of Israel/Palestine," EMMA0001, 12 February 2025. https:doi.org/10.26300/pz1d-st89