Record number: CHEGM: 1999 6 115

Object name: inscribed tombstone

Description: On a tombstone, a gabled niche contains a funeral couch with baluster legs, mattress, cushion and high ends, upon which reclines Callimorphus, fondling the little child Serapion. The legs of the couch rest upon high blocks, between which stand to right a three-legged dining table, on which perches a tiny bird, and to left a carrot-shaped wine-jar.

Period: Roman1st century, late2nd century, early

Place found: West Wall, Chester

Date: 1874

Material: stone

Dimensions: height 50 inches; width 26 inches

Inscription: D M / FL CALLIMOR / PHI VIX AN XXXXII / ET SERAPIONI VIX / ANN III M VI THESA / EVS FRATRI ET FILIO / F C
D(is) M(anibus) Fl(avi) Callimorphi vix(it) an(nos) xxxxii et Serapioni vix(it) ann(os) iii m(enses) vi, Thesaeus fratri et filio f(aciendum) c(uravit)
To the departed spirits of Flavius Callimorphus, aged 42, and Serapion, aged 3 years and 6 months. Thesaeus set this up to brother and son.
Whether the body was the son of Callimorphus or of Thesaeus is not clear. The monument probably dates from the end of the first century or the beginning of the second century AD. The names Callimporhus, Thesaeus, Serapion, are Greek, and the persons may have been freedmen or traders. Latin