“Navira in peace; a sweet soul, who lived sixteen years and five months; a soul sweet as honey; this epitaph was made by her parents. The sign, a ship.”
Fig. 35.—Phonetic Symbol.
More frequently the figures had reference to the trade or occupation of the deceased, as in the following epitaph, probably of a wool-comber, found by Dr. Maitland built into the wall of the Piazzo di Spagna, in Rome. Many important funeral tablets, both Christian and pagan, have been thus employed for the commonest
purposes. The objects in the engraving are probably the shears, comb, ladle, and an unknown instrument used for cleansing wool.
“To Veneria, in peace.”
Fig. 36.—Wool-Comber’s Implements.
The following, from the Lapidarian Gallery, indicates the trade of a carpenter. The saw and adz are very like those now employed:
BAVTO ET MAXIMA SE VIVI
FECERVNT.