A recent discovery in New Orleans has captured the attention of historians and archaeologists alike. While cleaning their overgrown backyard, a family unearthed a marble tablet adorned with Latin inscriptions, including the phrase “spirits of the dead.” This remarkable find raises numerous questions regarding its origin and significance.
Daniella Santoro, an anthropologist at Tulane University, expressed her astonishment when she first encountered the tablet. “The fact that it was in Latin that really just gave us pause,” Santoro remarked, highlighting the unusual nature of the discovery. Recognizing its importance, she reached out to her colleague, classical archaeologist Susann Lusnia, who quickly identified the stone as a grave marker belonging to a Roman sailor named Sextus Congenius Verus.
The age of the tablet, dating back about 1,900 years, adds to its intrigue. Lusnia described her reaction upon seeing the image of the tablet, saying, “It really did send a shiver up my spine because I was just floored.” The slab not only serves as a connection to the past but also tells the story of a man who lived and served in the Roman imperial navy. Verus, who died at the age of 42, was memorialized by two individuals referred to as his heirs, likely shipmates, as Roman soldiers were not permitted to marry at that time.
Further research revealed that the tablet had been missing from an Italian museum for decades. Lusnia noted the tablet’s previous location in a cemetery that contained the graves of military personnel discovered in the 1860s in Civitavecchia, Italy. Documentation from 1910 had recorded the tablet’s text and mentioned that its whereabouts were unknown. “You can’t have better DNA than that,” Lusnia said, referring to the match between the tablet’s recorded dimensions and the one uncovered in New Orleans.
The story takes an interesting turn when Erin Scott O’Brien, the ex-wife of the homeowner who purchased the property from Santoro, recognized the tablet. O’Brien remembered the stone, referring to it as a “cool-ass piece of art” that they once used as a garden decoration. She received the tablet from her grandparents, adding another layer to its rich history. This twist illustrates how artifacts can change hands over generations, often without their historical significance being known.
As excitement surrounding the tablet grew, discussions began about repatriating it to Italy. An FBI spokesperson confirmed that talks with Italian authorities are underway. The potential return of the tablet underscores the importance of cultural heritage and the desire to honor the legacies of those who came before us.
Sextus Congenius Verus’s story illustrates the Roman tradition of commemorating individuals through grave markers. Lusnia emphasized that these monuments were crucial in maintaining legacies, even of ordinary citizens. With the rediscovery of the tablet, Lusnia noted, “If there’s an afterlife and he’s in it and he knows, he’s very happy because this is what a Roman wants — to be remembered forever.”
This discovery serves as a reminder of the connections that bind the past to the present. A simple marble tablet has emerged as a focal point for exploration, igniting interest in the history of a long-forgotten sailor and the tales that lie buried beneath the surface of our everyday lives.
"*" indicates required fields
