GRAFFITI LATINI

POMPEII

graffiare = to scratch

Graffiti: inscriptions and figure drawings found on the walls of ancient sepulchers or ruins

Usage of the word has evolved to include any

decorations (inscribed on any surface) that one

can regard as vandalism; or to cover pictures or

writing placed on surfaces, usually external walls

and sidewalks, without the permission of an owner.

Quo modo?

dipinti graffiti

painted scratched

plannedspontaneous

large smaller

conspicuous obscure

public private

Quis?

• Mostly men

• All classes, but probably moreso low(er) classes

• Travelers

• Children

• Prostitutes and their lovers

Types of Graffiti in Pompeii

• Electoral/On behalf of candidates• Advertisements (1/3)• Warnings• Curses• Admirations/Boasts• Writing Practice • Pictoral• “hīc erat”

Pompeian electoral graffiti

Electoral Graffiti

• There are around 3000 electoral inscriptions in Pompeii and most of them can be dated to the city's final year of existence, given that it was customary to rub out the old inscriptions to make way for new ones.

Pictoral graffiti:

A caricature of a man scratched into a wall.

What does graffiti tell us?

• Literacy rate

• Frequented roads

• Social customs and activities

• Pronunciation

• Origin of travelers

• Adds human element to ruins…

Literacy

There is evidence of Pompeians’ ability to read

and write among classes of people

e.g. the 83 graffiti found at CIL IV, 4706-85 (a peristyle which had been undergoing remodeling at the time of the eruption of Vesuvius) were executed not only by the architect Crescens, but also by most of the members of the work crew for whom he served as foreman.

Frequented Roads

• The number of messages written on walls has given scholars the indication that certain roads were travelled more than others.

• This could also be connected to the amount of wall space available for messages…as well as the availability of roads at certain times of the day.

Frequented Roads

Map of Pompeii

Occurrence of messages Occurrences every 0-4 meters

Occurrences every 4-8 meters

Social Customs/Activities

• Warnings

• Declarations of Love, hate, et cetera

• Politics

• Thievery

• Food and Drink

• Schooling

Quisquis amat. veniat. Veneri volo frangere costas

fustibus et lumbos debilitare deae.

Si potest illa mihi tenerum pertundere pectus

quit ego non possim caput illae frangere fuste? • -CIL IV, 1284.

Whoever loves, let him go. I want to break Venus's ribs

with a club and deform her hips.

If she can break my tender heart

why can't I hit her over the head with a club?

Warning - Love

Electoral GraffitiVia Consolare

A request to vote for two candidates for aedile, M. Cerrinius Vatia and A. Trebius Valente, who was elected in 71 A.D., again in 75 A.D. as candidate for the duumvirate. Other similar electoral messages with the same two candidates' names were found along Via del Foro.

Fragment of a Roman wall painting containing an electoral inscription from the officina of Verecundus. Depicts Mercury with caduceus and petasus emerging from a little Etruscan-Italic temple. He holds a purse of money in his right hand. One inscription: "Holconium Priscum / IIvir(um) I(ure) d(icundo) d(dignum) r(ei) p(ublicae) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis)" or "I ask you to elect Holconius Priscus as duovir. He is worthy of holding office." H 214 cm, W 88 cm.

Activities

The brothel at CIL VII, 12, 18-20 contains

over 120 graffiti, the authors of which

included the prostitutes as well as their

clients.

Entertainment

• the gladiatorial academy at CIL IV, 4397 contained graffiti left by the gladiator Celadus Crescens (Suspirium puellarum Celadus thraex: "Celadus the Thracier makes the girls sigh.")

From the House of Obellius Firmus, Pompeii. Gladiator with shield and spear (photo and illustration).

Errors in spelling and grammar in graffitiinform us of the degree of literacy of thegraffiti scrawlers and give clues as to thepronunciation of spoken Latin. • CIL IV, 7838: Vettium Firmum / aed[ilem] quactiliar[ii] [sic]

rog[ant]. • Here "qu" reflects the common

pronunciation of "co".

Pronunciation

When we go…

• Seek out graffiti that is now protected under plexiglass covers

• Graffiti in the original sense of something “scratched” can be found in the most obscure places

???

For practice…