[thranx]

Venanti o rvm baiae

[robkelly2242]

It's not Latin

[Clough]

Hi, thranx!

It might not be Latin, but could be Italian. Why are you wanting it translated, please?

Thanks!

[thranx]

Inscription is on an ancient bath/bathtub in the Roman city of Bella Regia, northern Tunisia. Could it be Greek or Punic?

[robkelly2242]

Thranx, the inscription is indeed Latin (likely 2nd-3rd century A.D.), but is 2 words: "venantiorum baiae." It's a colloquialism/pun. Baia is one of the words for "palm", (the tree). Baiae (the palms) was a 1st century spa/resort near Herculaneum, where the rich people hung out. The word was later used generically for such an establishment. There was another word for "palm" which was "palma" which was used to represent a trophy or accolade for the winner of a contest.

"Venantiorum" is the present participle genitive plural of the deponent verb "venor", "I hunt".

So the translation is roughly "The Rewards of the Hunters." In this case, after a hard day hunting or fishing, the reward would be soaking in a hot tub being ministered to by adolescent slave maidens.

[thranx]

Thanks much, Rob Kelly. Your estimate of 2nd-3rd c. a.d. fits precisely with the age of the city.
Talk about bringing the past alive...

[IrinaPopov]

Ugh... I would rather refer to the book Pompeii: public and private life By Paul Zanker, pg.240. It explains that this particular villa belonged to Venantii family and, therefore, the inscription "Venantii baiae" simply means "bath of Venantii family." Sorry to disappoint, it was not intended for hunters or fishermen... :) Irina Popov

[IrinaPopov]

I meant in my previous post not "this particular villa" but rather "this particular name mentioned" in "Pompei: public and private life" Still, no hunters or fishermen:) Irina Popov

[IrinaPopov]

... and one more thought: it could be also a fish tank, not a bath after all it all... The mosaic pattern is definitely suggestive... :) Irina Popov