Latin verse inscriptions from the Limes of Moesia inferior
Latin verse inscriptions from the Limes of Moesia inferior

Summary/Abstract: Verse inscriptions spread along the Roman limes mainly with the Roman army, but in each province this happens with specific dynamics and at a different pace. A specific trait which distinguishes Moesia inferior from the other provinces is that Latin verse inscriptions appear only at the end of the second / beginning of the third century. This paper provides an overview of the production of Latin verse inscriptions in the settlements on the limes as well as in the immediate hinterland of the province, and studies the factors and forces that contribute to the spread of an epigraphic poetic habit. The use of different rhythms and meters are analysed along with the most common themes, which are treated in the poems. Among these, the address to the wayfarer seems to be very popular, especially among the veterans in the hinterland. The distribution of the verse inscriptions and their metres and topics is not casual but follows the specific patterns of the settlements. This allows us to identify specific fingerprints in defined micro-contexts. Two factors in particular seem to have favoured the diffusion of verse inscriptions in this region: the new cultural habits of the veterans who had served in Rome and the strong cultural influence of Tomis.

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