Stele-ossuary of Trebius Anteros., 1st cent. AD.

Tresigallo (Fe)

Civic Lapidary, inv. RA809

The monument was found in 1903 during agricultural work in the Tresigallo valley. It is an aedicule stele, datable to the first century AD and originally composed of three elements: in the upper part, in fact, one notices the presence of a dado on which an acroterium, now lost, must have been placed, flanked by the two lion cubs placed side by side. The small aedicule served as a lid to the cinerary urn, which, placed below, has the inscription on the front. In the niche the deceased, Trebius Anteros, is depicted in a half-length, frontal position, looking toward the viewer. The man is wearing a paenula, heavy cloak made of wool or leather, fitted with a hood and used as travel or work clothes, from which the left hand comes out clutching a scroll. This depiction could be an allusion to the economic activity of the deceased, administrator of a saltus, large imperial estate, or owner of a lucrative business enterprise. The allusion to his business activity would be further reiterated by the tabula scriptoria with loose ligatures depicted in very slight relief on the pediment.

Epigraph transcription and translation:

C(aio) Trebius C(ai) l(iberto) An̂teroti, / Gelliae Q(uinti) l(ibertae) Urbanae / uxori, / L(ucius) Scaptius Primus / vivus.

To Caius Trebius Anteros freedman of Caius and his wife Cellia Urbania freedwoman of Quintus Lucius Scaptius Prime, alive (pose)