Graffiti from Pompeii - for Benjamin

 

cinefactus

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No, it's not a joke, and there can be no reasonable doubt about it either. The name occurs elsewhere in Pompeii and means roughly "prompt" or "easy-going". It stands in the usual vocative position.
Is it a real name or a nickname like, "Slut"?
 
E

Etaoin Shrdlu

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A cognomen can be nickname-ish, but I shouldn't have thought it would have that meaning here.
 

Anbrutal Russicus

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Is it a real name or a nickname like, "Slut"?
Firstly, why do you ask this in reply to a post that says:
The name[...]means roughly "prompt" or "easy-going"
Secondly, such an interpetation rests on a very specific, Christian-Puritan worldview with its associated system of cognitive/linguistic metaphors, which I don't think has much to do with Ancient Roman sexuality or the semantic field of the word "facilis".
 

Anbrutal Russicus

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Because that is the way I took it—easy girl—rather than a cognomen.
You and some others did take it that way - this is the starting point. I go ahead and explain that this interpretation is untenable in face of a different interpretation. You quote my interpretation to ask whether what I just explained as being the incorrect interpretation, is the correct one. I ask why, and you say that you took the interpretation that I explained to be incorrect to be correct, bringing us to the starting point. If you'd like to make a point, I can think of more productive ways to do it.
 

Agrippa

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...
The other graffito breaks my head tho: NICA CRETE·ISSI?ANERANTA ??? Whatever is the whole thing after ISSI? They read the last part as panta.
Rete pervagatus hoc repperi:
Textus: Nica Crete ( :Chreste) issime ( :ipsime)
Apparatus: Textus secundum (2), aliter (1); mensurae ex apographo apud (1)v.1: Nica Creteissiane (1); Nica i.e. νίκᾱ, ut videtur

(cf. Italia epigrafica digitale, volume II, Roma 2020, p. 320sq., nr. 347)
Cf. etiam: http://ancientgraffiti.org/Graffiti/graffito/AGP-EDR145434
 

Anbrutal Russicus

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Istuc nīmīrum vīdī, at plānē nōn potest ita legī, neque EDR id facit. Littera istīc post ISSI imprīmīs mentem turbat - est enim genus A litterae scrībendae, sed haec jam aliter scrībitur ibidem et oporteat ab eōdem. Sed et hanc sī mittimus, hau multō magis liquet quid sequātur.
 

Anbrutal Russicus

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panta] Primo aspectu mihi probatur. Nonne speciem habet Graeci adverbii παντᾷ (i. e. in every way) ? Velim scire hac de re quid sentias.
Ut quī admodum pauca dē manū scrīptūrā Rōmānōrum didicerim aut ipse legere cōnātus sim - aliēnīs lēctiōnibus plērumque fidem habens - nōn ego istī modī fōrmam P litterae vīdisse crēdo. Itaque in certam sententiam īre vix possum. Quid tū, num ante hāc vīdistī?
 

Anbrutal Russicus

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Ēn invēnī tabellam comparātīvam ubi plēraeque nisi plānē omnēs litterārum fōrmae collāta sunt. Alterum-tertium ad laevam satis, puto, nostrō respondent - praesertim sī damus crūs sinistrum (īgnōrō quī volgō appellētur) neglegentius scrīptum atque inferius solitō. Ita habēmus Graecē idem quod alibī Latīnē "X haec omnia [scrīpsit]" - nīmīrum quod ambō nōmina Graeca. Quid vērō sī et cētera?? Hīc ego mē excūsō quī Graecitātis sānē expertus expers sim :D
 
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Agrippa

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Πάντα / Panta] Nescio an nomen sit meretricis quae parata est ad omnia praestanda amoris gaudia. :think:
 
 

cinefactus

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I go ahead and explain that this interpretation is untenable in face of a different interpretation.
This is why I posted—you stated it was incorrect. I was hoping that you might explain why. The three examples given could also be interpreted as a nickname like, "Hot Pants".
 

Anbrutal Russicus

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This is why I posted—you stated it was incorrect. I was hoping that you might explain why.
I explain why right here:
The name occurs elsewhere in Pompeii and means roughly "prompt" or "easy-going". It stands in the usual vocative position.
The three examples given could also be interpreted as a nickname like, "Hot Pants".
There's no conceptual distinction between a single name and a nickname, as far as I can tell. Again, you seem to be thinking in modern - almost all Roman names meant something in Latin, Greek or some local language, but hardly any of the modern ones have distinguishable meanings, and this seems to be throwing you off.

If you have two names none of which is a praenōmen or a gentīle, then you have to go with cōgnōmen + agnōmen/signum, i.e. name + nickname, the latter serving a disambiguating function. Facilis is already a cōgnōmen meaning roughly "prompt" or "easy-going". It stands alone as a mark of the person's non-patrician social status, so it cannot be an agnōmen/signum - saying this would be no different from saying that every cōgnōmen is a also an agnōmen/signum or a nickname. That is again to say that there's no conceptual distinction. That it "speaks" was the norm, and has no bearing on the fact that that's how the person was known to everybody. Cicerō was a nickname that served as a cōgnōmen. Finally, Facilis doesn't have any sexual connotations that I'm aware of. There's no reason to regard it differently from any other name occurring on the walls of Pompeii.
 
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Agrippa

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Anbrutal Russicus

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Apertē ut dīcam, nimium vēmenter memoriam refert illārum cinētaeniārum saeculī praeteritī fere mediī, cum populus mōribus Rōmānīs ita capiēbātur ut cūncta quae illae necnōn praeteritae aetātī minus respondērent, Rōmānīs ascrīberent ac traherent. Quam quidem rem lepidē illūdunt Monty Python, proinde quasi nūllum nōmen quidem Rōmānum ad aliquid opscēnum pertinuerit.

Cūlibonia tamen hercle arrīdet :-D
 
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Puer Pedens

Member

Benjamindc89, I'll try to find in my book as many of the originals as possible, and post them here for you and for everyone's enjoyment.

(English versions are from here. The few comments in parentheses within the English translations are from me.)

IX.8.11 (triclinium of a house); 5251: Restitutus has deceived many girls.
Restitutus multas decepit saepe puellas.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/776/mode/2up/search/restitutus

I.2.23 (peristyle of the Tavern of Verecundus); 3951: Restitutus says: “Restituta, take off your tunic, please, and show us your hairy privates”.
Incomplete: Restitutus (dicit?) Restetuta pone(?) tunica rogo redes (?) pilosa co.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/502/mode/2up

I.10.4 (near the rear entrance vestibule of the House of Menander); 8356: At Nuceria, look for Novellia Primigenia near the Roman gate in the prostitute’s district.
Nucerea quaeres ad Porta Romana, in vico Venerio, Novelliam Primigeniam.
http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/inscriptions.html

I.10.7 (House and Office of Volusius Iuvencus; left of the door); 8364: Secundus says hello to his Prima, wherever she is. I ask, my mistress, that you love me.
Secundus Prime suae ubique isse salute. rogo, domina, ut me ames.
http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/inscriptions.html

III.5.1 (House of Pascius Hermes; left of the door); 7716: To the one defecating here. Beware of the curse. If you look down on this curse, may you have an angry Jupiter for an enemy.

Cacator cave malum, aut si contempseris, habeas Iovem iratum.
http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin_Vulgar/Texts/Pompeii_Graffiti.html

V.1.18 (House of Valerius Flaccus and Valerius Rufinus; right of the door); 4066: Daphnus was here with his Felicla.
(Name a bit different) Daphnicus cum felicla sua hic.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/508/mode/2up/search/felicla

V.1.26 (House of Caecilius Iucundus); 4091: Whoever loves, let him flourish. Let him perish who knows not love. Let him perish twice over whoever forbids love.
Quis amat valeat, pereat qui nescit amare. Bis tanto pereat quisquis amare vetat.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/510/mode/2up/search/quisquis

V.1.26 (peristyle of the House of Caecilius Iucundus); 4087: Staphylus was here with Quieta.
Staphilus hic cum Quieta.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/510/mode/2up/search/quieta

V.5 (just outside the Vesuvius gate); 6641: Defecator, may everything turn out okay so that you can leave this place.
Cacator sig valeas ut tu hoc locum trasea.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/784/mode/2up/search/cacator

V.5.3 (barracks of the Julian-Claudian gladiators; column in the peristyle); 4289: Celadus the Thracian gladiator is the delight of all the girls.
Suspirium puellarum Celadus thraex.
http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin_Vulgar/Texts/Pompeii_Graffiti.html

VI.13.19 (House of Sextus Pompeius Axiochus and Julia Helena; left of the door); 4485: Hectice, baby, Mercator says hello to you.

Hectice pupe, vale Mercator tibi dicit.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/534/mode/2up/search/mercator

VI.14.37 (Wood-Working Shop of Potitus): 3498: What a lot of tricks you use to deceive (I think he got a different reading, in the one I have it's "may such tricks deceive you"), innkeeper. You sell water but drink unmixed wine.
Talia te fallant utinam medacia, copo. Tu vedes acuam et bibes ipse merum.
http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/inscriptions.html
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/502/mode/2up/search/copo

VI.16.15 (atrium of the House of Pinarius); 6842: If anyone does not believe in Venus, they should gaze at my girl friend.
(I found it a bit different: "If anyone has not seen the venus which (Apelles painted?) , let him gaze at my girlfriend, (she is radiant just like her?).")
Si quis non vidi Venerem quam pi(nxit Apelles?) pupa mea aspiciat, talis et (illa nitet?)
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/776/mode/2up/search/quis

VII.12.18-20 (the Lupinare); 2185: On June 15th, Hermeros screwed here with Phileterus and Caphisus.
(Date missing) Hermeros cum Philetero et Caphiso hic futuerunt.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/780/mode/2up/search/hermeros

VII.15.11-12 (House of Verus; between the two doors of the house); 4838: Secundus says hello to his friends.
Secundus sodalibus sal.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/784/mode/2up/search/secundus

VIII.2 (in the basilica); 1820: Chie, I hope your hemorrhoids rub together so much that they hurt worse than when they every have before!
(I found only half of it (Chie I wish you that your hemorrhoids rub together)): Chie opto tibi ut refricent se ficus tuae.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/776/mode/2up/search/chie

VIII.2 (in the basilica); 1881: Virgula to her friend Tertius: you are disgusting!
(No "her friend" in what I got here) Virgula tertio indecens es.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/784/mode/2up/search/virgula
(And here I got it with suo, "her") Virgula tertio suo indecens est.
http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin_Vulgar/Texts/Pompeii_Graffiti.html

VIII.2 (in the basilica); 1882: The one who buggers a fire burns his penis.
Accensum qui pedicat urit mentulam.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/776/mode/2up/search/mentulam

VIII.2 (in the basilica); 1928: Love dictates to me as I write and Cupid shows me the way, but may I die if god should wish me to go on without you.
(I found only the first part - up to "shows me (the way)"): Scribenti mihi dictat Amor mostratque Cupido.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/776/mode/2up/search/cupido

VIII.2 (in the basilica); 1852: Pyrrhus to his colleague Chius: I grieve because I hear you have died; and so farewell.
Pyrrhus Chio conlegae sal. Moleste fero quod audivi te mortuom, itaque vale.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/784/mode/2up/search/pyrrhus

IX.2.18 (House of Curvius Marcellus and Fabia; in the tablinum); 4993: Ampliatus Pedania is a thief!
Ampliatus Pedania fur est.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/570/mode/2up/search/pedania

VIII.7.6 (Inn of the Muledrivers; left of the door); 4957: We have wet the bed, host. I confess we have done wrong. If you want to know why, there was no chamber pot.

Miximus in lecto. Fateor, peccavimus, hospes. Si dices: Quare? Nulla matella fuit.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/564/mode/2up
http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin_Vulgar/Texts/Pompeii_Graffiti.html


IX.5.11 (House of Poppaeus Sabinus; peristyle); 5092: If you felt the fires of love, mule-driver, you would make more haste to see Venus. I love a charming boy; I ask you, goad the mules; let’s go. (+ You have drunk, take the reins and shake them or drive us out of here (?)) Take me to Pompeii, where love is sweet. You are mine…

Amoris ignes si sentires, mulio,
Magi properares, ut videres Venerem.
Diligo puerum iuvenem venustum; rogo punge iamus.
Bibisti, iamus, prende lora et excute,
Pompeios defer, ubi dulcis est amor.

Meus es.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/576/mode/2up/search/amoris

IX.5.18 (House of Hercules and Nessus; beside the door of house); 5112: Learn this: while I am alive, you, hateful death, are coming.

Discite: dum vivo, mors inimica, venis.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/578/mode/2up/search/mors

IX.8.3 (House of the Centenary; in the atrium); 5213: My lusty son, with how many women have you had sexual relations?
Filius salax, qud tu mulierorum difutuisti?
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/582/mode/2up/search/quot

IX.8.3 (House of the Centenary; interior of the house); 5279: Once you are dead, you are nothing.
(It seems to me it could very well be addressing someone in particular: "You are dead. You are nothing", as it stands. There's no "once" in fact.) Tu mortus es tu nugas es.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/588/mode/2up/search/mortuus

V.5 (near the Vesuvius Gate); 7086: Marcus loves Spendusa.
Marcus Spedusa amat.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/784/mode/2up/search/crudelis

VIII.2 (in the basilica); 1863: Take hold of your servant girl whenever you want to; it’s your right.
Prehende servam: cum voles, uti licet.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/464/mode/2up

VI.14.36 (Bar of Salvius); 3494: In one bar, a picture depicts two men playing dice. One shouts, “Six!” while his opponent holds up two fingers and says, “No, that’s not a ‘three’; it’s a ‘two’”. By the door of the bar, another picture shows a short man driving a group of men out. Above his head are the words, “Go on, get out of here! You have been fighting!”
(I've got the parts "no, that's not a three; it's a two" and "get out of here, you have been fighting (or possibly "now you go and fight outside")"): non tria duas est - itis foras rixsatis.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/476/mode/2up

VI.14.43 (atrium of a House of the Large Brothel); 1520: Blondie has taught me to hate dark-haired girls. I shall hat them, if I can, but I wouldn’t mind loving them. Pompeian Venus Fisica wrote this.
(Only the first sentence) Candida me docuit nigras odisse puellas.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/776/mode/2up

VIII.2 (in the basilica); 1811: A small problem gets larger (more lit. "a very small problem gets very big") if you ignore it.
Minimum malum fit contemnendo maximum.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/776/mode/2up

VIII.2 (in the basilica); 1824: Let everyone one in love come and see. I want to break Venus’ ribs with clubs and cripple the goddess’ loins. If she can strike through my soft chest, then why can’t I smash her head with a club?
(I've only got "Let everyone in love come. I want to break Venus' ribs") Quisquis amat veniat, Veneri volo frangere costas.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/776/mode/2up/search/costas
I see many of them with grammar mistakes or in their vulgar forms, it'd be very interesting and valuable, those inscriptions followed by their corrections.
 

Puer Pedens

Member

And why not some others, if I find interesting ones. Translation by me.

Amat qui scribet, pedicatur qui leget, qui obscultat prurit, pathicus est qui praeterit. Scribit pedicator Septumius.
He who writes loves, he who reads is sodomized, he who listens itches with lust, he who goes past is a catamite. The sodomite Septumius wrote this.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/506/mode/2up

Iucundus cunum lingit rusticae.
Iucundus licks the pudenda of a countrywoman (unless rustica is a proper name).
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/520/mode/2up

Fures faras frugi intro.
Thieves outside, honest inside.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/520/mode/2up

Puelarum decus Celadus.
Celadus is the glory of girls.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/522/mode/2up

Semper M. Terentius Eudoxus unus supstenet amicos
Et tenet et tutat, supstenet omne modu.

Marcus Terentius Eudoxus always supports his friends alone, he keeps them and watches over them, he supports them in every way.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/532/mode/2up

Seni supino colei culum tegunt.
When an old man lies on his face, testicles cover his ass.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/534/mode/2up

Nunc est ira recens, nunc est disc[edere tempus.]
Si dolor afuerit, crede redibit [amor.]

Now anger is fresh, now it is time to leave.
If pain is away, believe me, love will come back.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/534/mode/2up

Thyas, noli amare Fortunatu. Vale.
Thyas, do not love Fortunatus. Good bye.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/534/mode/2up

G. Hadius Ventrio eques natus Romanus inter beta et brassica.
G. Hadius Ventrio, Roman knight born between a cabbage and a beet (surely some idiom, I wonder what it means).
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/538/mode/2up

Cornelia Helena amatur ab Rufo.
Cornelia Helena is loved by Rufus.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/544/mode/2up

Iatacus cum Nicephora lusit.
Iatacus played with Nicephora.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/554/mode/2up

Chryseros cum Successo hic terna futuimus.
I, Chryseros, with Successus, have fucked three times in succession here.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/556/mode/2up

Amethystus nec sine sua Valentina.
Amethystus not without his Valentina.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/558/mode/2up

Albanus cinaedus est.
Albanus is a catamite.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/562/mode/2up

Anteros hoc scripsit.
Anteros wrote this.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/562/mode/2up

Balbus et Fortunata duo coiuges.
Balbus and Fortunata, two spouses.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/562/mode/2up

Sei quid amor valeat nostei, sei te hominem scis,
Commiseresce mei, da veniam ut veniam.
Flos Veneris mihi de
... (unfinished)
If you know what love can, if you know you are human, have pity on me, be indulgent and let me come. The flower of Venus to me...
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/566/mode/2up

Sodoma Gomora.
Sodom, Gomorrah.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/568/mode/2up

Ruta qui oderat tisana edebat.
He who hated rue ate barley.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/568/mode/2up

Messius hic nihil futuit.
Here Messius fucked nothing.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/580/mode/2up

Cantabunt mihi.
They will sing for me.
http://archive.org/streacacaturiero m/inscriptionespar42zang#page/582/mode/2up

Quodam quidem testis eris quid senserim. Ubi cacaturiero veniam cacatum.
One day (? quodam = quondam?) for sure you will witness what I felt. When I feel a desire to defecate I'll come to defecate.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/584/mode/2up

Marthae hoc trichilinium est nam in trichilino cacat.
This is Martha's dining-room for she defecates in the dining-room.
http://archive.org/stream/inscriptionespar42zang#page/584/mode/2up
by the way: cacaturiero, what is this verbal tense? and UBI as "when"?
 
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