Funerary gravestone of Christian Sabina

The fortunate discovery of a funerary gravestone in the theater, outside of what was considered the area of the Necropolis. It is of a very late date and has Christian symbolism. It became a milestone that marked a “before and after” in the understanding of the late Roman Baelo.

The occupation of urban spaces to be used as funerary places, indicates a change of mentality contrary to the classical era burials which usually were not performed within the walls. The epitaph, which had a Latin cross, and the paleographic type of writing, gives a date halfway through the 6th century. Written on it was Sabina, an honorable woman who died at the age of 20? years.

SABINA H(onesta) F(emina)
VIXIT AN(nis o-nos) PL(us) M(inus)
XX (viginti?) [---requiescit in pace---]

TRANSCRIPTION:

"Sabina, honorable woman, who lived for about 20 (?) years [rest in peace]"
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Bibliography:

- Rojas Pichardo, F. J., y Muñoz Vicente, Á. (2013): Michel Ponsich en Baelo Claudia. Repercusión y legado de su obra. II Jornadas de Historia de Tarifa, Al-Qantir, 16, pp. 50-63.

- Silliéres, P. (1997): Baelo Claudia: una ciudad romana de la Bética (Vol. 61). Madrid, Casa de Velázquez, p. 33 (TRANSCRIPTION)