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Pompeii: Temple of Isis drawing by Piranesi with inscription



Pompeii: Temple of Isis by Piranesi, with inscription (CIL 10-00846)


This 18th century drawing of the Temple of Isis by the Italian artist Giovanni Batista Piranesi (1720-1778) dates from about 1765, soon after the temple was rediscovered in 1764. While the roof and pediment of the temple are actually missing, Piranesi's drawing, somewhat fancifully, shows the front of the temple with a reconstructed pediment that includes part of the text of the extant Latin inscription  (CIL 10, 00846). 

This condensed version of the inscription in the Piranesi drawing (with typical Roman abbreviations) refers to the restoration of the temple after the earthquake of AD 62.

"N(umerius) Popidius N(umeri) f(ilius) Celsinus / terrae motu conlapsam restituit". This may be translated as:

"Numerius Popidius Celsinus, son of Numerius," [when the Temple of Isis] "collapsed due to an earthquake, restored it."

The actual inscription, now on view at the entrance to the temple site is somewhat longer.


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