Note 750 — Chapter III
Reading edition
It may not be uninteresting to notice some of the trades and occupations mentioned in pagan epitaphs. They are of a much wider range than those of the Christians, indicating that the latter were a “peculiar people,” excluded from many pursuits on account of their immoral or idolatrous character. Besides occupations like those above mentioned, we find such examples as QVADRIGARIVS, “A charioteer;” CVRSOR, “The runner;” MAGISTER LVDI, “Master of the Games;” MINISTER POCVLI, “Toast master;” DOCTOR MYRMILON, “Teacher of the gladiators,” DERISOR, or SCVRRA CONVIVIORVM, “Buffoon, or clown of the revels;” STVPIDVS GREGIS VRBANAE, “Clown of the city company of mountebanks.” We have also official titles, as NABICVLARIVS CVR. CORPORIS MARIS HADRIATICI, “Commissioner of the Hadriatic Company;” CVRATOR ALVEI ET RIPARVM MARIS, “Curator of the river channel and sea banks;” MENSOR PVBLICVS, “Public measurer;” VILICVS SVPRA HORTOS, “Steward over gardens;” CAESARIS PRAESIGNATOR, “Imperial Notary;” INVITATOR, “Agent.” We notice, too, others, as NVMVLARIVS, “A banker;” MEDICVS IVMENTARIVS, “Mule doctor;” MEDICVS OCVLARIS, “Oculist;” EXONERATOR CALCARIVS, “Lime dealer;” LANARIVS, “Wool-worker;” PECTINARIVS, “Comb-seller;” NEGOTIANS SALSAMENTARIVS ET VINEARIVS “Salt and wine merchant;” CVBICVLARIVS, “Keeper of the Couch;” GRAMMATICVS LECTORQVE, “Grammarian and reader;” COMPARATOR MERCIS SVTORIAE, “Shoemaker’s furnisher;” FVNARIVS, “Rope maker;” NEGOTIATOR LENTIC · ET CASTRENIAR · “A Camp Grocer and Sutler;” REDEMPTOR AB AERE, “Contractor in Brass;” FABER FERRARIVS, “Iron Worker;” NEGOTIATOR LVGDVNENSIS ARTIS, “A Dealer in Lyons wares,” not silks, as the phrase would now mean, but pottery; EXACTOR TRIBVTORVM, “Tax gatherer;” and the FANATICVS in the temple of Isis, i. e., one hired to stimulate the zeal of the votaries by wild and frantic gestures, attributed to the inspiration of the deity. We find also epitaphs of actors, dancers, pantomimists, of one of whom, a young girl, it is said, CVIVS IN OCTAVA LASCIVIA SVRGERE MESSE COEPERAT—a horrible circumstance to mention on her tomb.