The Tabula Bantina ( Latin for "Tablet from Bantia") is a bronze tablet and one of the major sources for ancient Oscan , an extinct Indo-European language closely related to Latin. It was discovered in 1790 near Banzi (known as "Bantia" in antiquity), in the Italian region of Basilicata . It now may be found in the Naples Archaeological Museum .
30-514: Another piece of this broken bronze tablet, Fragment Adamesteano, shows a hole that a nail went through that affixed the tablet to a wall. The patterns of writing around this hole on each side helped to determine that the Latin side was the original, and that the other side of the already inscribed tablet was then put to use for the Oscan inscription. It was discovered by Mario Torelli in 1967, and it appears to be
60-527: A colony for its strategical position between Apulia and Lucania . No fewer than 20,000 men were sent there, owing to its military importance. Throughout the Hannibalic wars, it remained faithful to Rome , and had a further contingent of colonists sent in 200 BC to replace its losses in the war. In 190 BC the Appian Way was extended to the town. Some coins of Venusia of this period exist. It took part in
90-627: A castle built here where a Lombard outpost existed before, which was to house the Treasury (Ministry of Finances) of the Kingdom of Sicily . Frederick's son, Manfred of Sicily , was perhaps born here in 1232. After the latter's fall, the Hohenstaufens were replaced by the Angevines ; King Charles of Anjou assigned Venosa as a county to his son Robert. After a series of different feudal lords, Venosa became
120-695: A different verb: pruhipust . This again seems to be a word for word borrowing of the Latin legal phrase si quis adversus ea fecerit . In Oscan: Suaepis pru meddixud altrei castrous auti eituas (14) zicolom dieust, izic comono ni hipid ne pon op toutad petirupert urust sipus perum dolom (15) mallom in. trutum zico. touto peremust. Petiropert,neip mais pomtis com preiuatud actud (16) pruterpam medicatinom didest, in, pon posmom con preiuatud urust eisucen ziculud (17) zicolom XXX nesimum comonomni hipid. Suae pis contrud exeic fefacust ionc suaepis (18) herest meddis moltaum, licitud, ampert mistreis aeteis eituas licitud. In English: If any magistrate shall have appointed
150-713: A fine involving less than half the property shall it be permitted. The sixth paragraph is more fragmentary that the first five. In Oscan: Pr, censtur Bansae (28) ne pisfu\idy nei suae q. fust, nep censtur fuidj net suae pr. fust. In. suaepii pr. in. suae- . . . (29) ]um nerumfust, izic post eizuc tr.pl. nifuid. Suaepis (30) [contrud exeic tr. pL facus f]ust izic amprufid facus estud. Idic medicifn eizuc (31) ...[pocapid Bansae']... medicim acunumm IV nesimum (32) ... um pod (33) ... medicim. In English: No one shall be praetor or censor of Bantia unless he has been quaestor, nor shall any one be censor unless he has been praetor. And if any one shall be praetor, and ... he shall not become
180-515: A possession of the Orsini in 1453. Count Pirro Del Balzo , who had married Donata Orsini, built a new castle (1460–1470) and a cathedral. Then, during Aragonese rule, the Gesualdo family, which included the notorious prince and musician Carlo Gesualdo , took control in 1561. Despite the plague that had reduced its population from the 13,000 of 1503 to 6,000, Venosa had a flourishing cultural life under
210-421: A prefect at Bantia after this, in case any one wishes to go to law with another before them, or to make a forcible seizure, as if judgment had been rendered, on these matters which are written of in these laws, shall not prevent one for more than the ten succeeding days. If any one contrary to this shall prevent, the fine shall be 1000 sesterces. And if any magistrate wishes to fix the fine he may do so, but only for
240-582: A preference for Jewish symbols such as the menorah . Despite this distinct identity, the community actively engaged with broader society, with Jewish officials holding public positions in the town. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire , Venusia was sacked by the Heruls , and in 493 AD it was turned into the administrative centre of the area in the Ostrogothic kingdom of Italy, although later this role
270-454: A set of catacombs , likely built and used between the 4th and 6th centuries AD. When the catacombs fell out of use, local Jews began burying their deceased on the hill atop the catacombs, with some tombstones dating back to the 9th century still visible, repurposed into the walls of a church nearby. Inscriptions, primarily in Greek and Latin, exhibit a transition to Hebrew , while artistic themes show
300-468: A tribune of the people after this. And if any one shall be made tribune contrary to this, he shall be made so wrongfully. Transcription: ]-LEIIST DOLOM[ ]D MALUD SUDANA [ ]ONC MEDDIS MOLTAUM H [ ]MOLTAUM LICITUD PIS [?] CC ARA [ ]STRAM CARNOM ACENEIS USUROM ]N II EH EX AC LIGUD ALLAM ]HIPUST PANTES CENSAS FUST ]S ACENEI POIZEIPID SPENTUD Q ]S IN EISIUSS DEIV ANS DEAVAT ]ENEIS PERUM DOLUM MALOM Notes: The exact meaning of this fragment
330-465: Is a town and comune in the province of Potenza , in the southern Italian region of Basilicata , in the Vulture area . It is bounded by the comuni of Barile , Ginestra , Lavello , Maschito , Montemilone , Palazzo San Gervasio , Rapolla and Spinazzola . It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). The city was known as Venusia ("City of Venus ") to
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#1732852418324360-689: Is allowed’ is essentially a word for word translation of the third century Latin legal phrase sei quis aruorsu hac faxit ... seiue mac[i]steratus uolet moltare, [li]cetod. ‘If anyone acts contrary to this ... if a magistrate wants to impose a fine, it is allowed.’ In Oscan: Pon censtur (19) Bansae toutam censazet pis ceus Bantins fust, censamur esvf in, eituam poizad ligud (20) iusc censtur censaum angetuzet Aut suaepis censtomen nei cebnust dolud mallud (21) in. eizeic uincter, esuf comenei lamatir pr. meddixud toutad praesentid perum dolum (22) mallom, in. amiricatud alio famelo in. ei. siuom paei eizeisfust pae ancensto fust, (23) toutico estud. In English: When
390-409: Is eo die (8) comitia non habuerit. In English: (3) ...he shall take oath with the assent of the majority of the senate, provided that not less than (4) 40 are present, when the matter is under advisement. If anyone by right of intercession shall prevent the assembly, before preventing it, (5) he shall swear wittingly in the assembly without guile, that he prevents this assembly rather for the sake of
420-412: Is not completely clear, but it seems to refer to a fine of 1200 pounds in silver, to the census and to an oath. Note first full phrase and the final phrase, perum dolum malum/d discussed above. The phrase ex ac ligud seems to be a borrowing of the very common Latin legal phrase ex hac(e) lege "in accordance with this law." Venosa Venosa ( Lucano : Vënòsë [və'noʊzə] )
450-548: The Social War , and was recaptured by Quintus Metellus Pius ; it then became a municipium , but in 43 BC its territory was assigned to the veterans of the triumvirs , and it became a colony once more. Horace was born here in 65 BC. His father's estate in Venusia was confiscated by Augustus after his victory in the civil wars for the settlement of veterans, like many others throughout Italy. It remained an important place under
480-673: The Empire as a station on the Via Appia , though Theodor Mommsen 's description of it as having branch roads to Aequum Tuticum and Potentia , and Kiepert's maps annexed to the volume, do not agree with one another. During Late Antiquity , Venosa housed the second-largest Jewish community in Italy, following Rome. While specific founding dates are elusive, evidence suggests Jews resided in Venosa for centuries. The Jews of Venosa initially buried their dead in
510-555: The Gesualdos: apart from the famous Carlo, other relevant figures of the period include the poet Luigi Tansillo (1510–1580) and the jurist Giovanni Battista De Luca (1614–1683). Venosa took part in the revolt of Masaniello in 1647. The Gesualdos were in turn followed by the Ludovisi and the Caracciolo families. Home to a traditionally strong republican tradition, Venosa had a role in
540-1259: The Latin word originally meant 'piece (of meat).' Oscan tangin- "judgement, assent" is ultimately related to English 'think'. The formula senateis tanginud near the beginning of this passage is probably a calque (semantic borrowing) of the common Latin legal forumula de senatus sententia "by decision of the Senate." Lines 8–11 In Oscan: (8) ...Pis pocapit post post exac comono hafies meddis dat castris loufir (9) en eituas, factud pous touto deiuatuns tanginom deicans, siom dateizasc idic tangineis (10) deicum, pod walaemom touticom tadait ezum. nep fefacid pod pis dat eizac egmad min[s] (11) deiuaid dolud malud. Suae pis contrud exeic fefacust auti comono hipust, molto etan- (12) -to estud: n. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] . In Latin: (8) ...Quis quandoque post hac comitia habebit magistratus de capite (9) vel in pecunias, facito ut populus iuras sententiam dicant, se de iis id sententiae (10) deicum, quod optimum populum censeat esse, neve fecerit quo quis de ea re minus (11) iuret dolo malo. Si quis contra hoc fecerit aut comitia habuerit, multo tanta esto: n. MM. In English: (8) ...Whatever magistrate shall hereafter hold an assembly in suit involving
570-693: The Romans, who credited its establishment—as Aphrodisia ("City of Aphrodite ")—to the Homeric hero Diomedes . He was said to have moved to Magna Graecia in southern Italy following the Trojan War , seeking a life of peace and building the town and its temples to appease the anger of Aphrodite for the destruction of her beloved Troy . The town was taken by the Romans after the Third Samnite War in 291 BC and became
600-513: The bottom part of the original piece. It now resides in the Venosa National Archaeological Museum. The tablet was found in 1790 on the hill Monte Montrone, in the territory of Oppido Lucano (province of Potenza ), among the finds from an ancient tomb. It consists of a sheet of bronze in three larger pieces and some smaller fragments. It likely dates between 150 and 100 BCE and is inscribed on both sides. On one side of
630-416: The censors shall take the census of the people of Bantia, whoever is a citizen of Bantia shall be rated, himself and his property, according to the law under which these censors shall have proposed to take the census. And if any one fraudulently fails to come to the census, and is convicted of it, let him be scourged (?) in the assembly, under the magistracy of the praetor, in the presence of the people, and let
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#1732852418324660-403: The day for another in a suit involving the death penalty or a fine, he must not hold the assembly until he has brought the accusation four times in the presence of the people without guile, and the people have been advised of the fourth day. Four times, and not more than five, must he argue the case with the defendant before he pronounces the indictment, and when he has argued for the last time with
690-497: The death penalty (9) or a fine, let him make the people pronounce judgment, after having sworn that they will such judgment (10) render, as they believe to be for the best public good, and let him prevent anyone from, in this matter, (11) swearing with guile. If anyone shall act or hold a council contrary to this, let the fine be 2000 sesterces. Notes: In line 11, the phrase suae pis contrud exeic fefacust "If anyone shall act counter to this" recurs in line 17 and in line 25, though with
720-743: The defendant he must not hold the assembly within thirty days from that day. And if any one shall have done contrary to this, if any magistrate wishes to fix the fine, he may, but only for less than half the property of the guilty person be it permitted. Notes: The Oscan legal phrase perum dolom mallom (14-15) seems to be a calque (semantic translation) of the widespread Latin legal phrase sine dolo malo "without bad intent." Further, "sipus(perum) dolom mallom" seems to reflect another common Latin legal phrase, sciens dolo malo "knowingly with bad intent." The formula suae pis contrud exeic fefacust ionc suae pis herest meddis moltaum licitud ‘If anyone acts contrary to this, if any magistrate shall wish to fine him, it
750-638: The peasant revolts and the Carbonari movement of the early 19th century. A true civil war between baronial powers and supporters of the peasants' rights broke out in 1849, being harshly suppressed by the Neapolitan troops.(See Sicilian revolution of independence of 1848 .) In 1861, after the fall of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies during the Italian unification , Venosa was occupied by some bands of brigands under
780-477: The public welfare, (6) rather than out of favor or malice toward anyone; and that too in accordance with the judgment of the majority of the senate. The presiding magistrate whose assembly is prevented in this way shall not hold the assembly on this day. Notes: Oscan carn- "part, piece" is related to Latin carn- "meat" (seen in English 'carnivore'), from a Proto-Indo-European root *(s)ker- meaning 'cut'--apparently
810-549: The rest of his household, and all his property which is not rated, become public property without remuneration to him. In Oscan: Pr, suae praefucus pod post exac Bansaefust, suae pis op eizois com (24) atrud ligud acum herest, auti pru medicatud manim aserum eizazunc egmazum (25) pas exaiscen ligis serif tas set, ne phim pruhipid mais zicolois X nesimois. Suae pis contrud (26) exeic pruhipust, molto etanto estud: n. [REDACTED] . In. suaepis ionc meddis moltaunt herest, licitud. In English: The praetor, or if there shall be
840-486: The tablet is inscribed a municipal law from the city of Bantia, written in Oscan with Latin characters and 33 lines long, as it is preserved, broken into six paragraphs. On the other side is written a Roman plebiscite in Latin. The Latin text may have been the original one, and the tablet later re-used for the Oscan inscription. Many details of the Oscan legal language suggest influence from Latin legal formulas. The Oscan text probably dates from around 89 BC but whether it
870-616: Was moved to Acerenza . The Lombards made it a gastaldate in 570/590. In 842 Venosa was sacked by the Saracens , who were later ousted by Emperor Louis II . Next rulers in the 9th century were the Byzantines , who lost control of it after their defeat in 1041 by the Normans . Under the latter, Venosa was assigned to Drogo of Hauteville . In 1133 the town was sacked and set on fire by Roger II of Sicily . His later successor Frederick II had
900-1020: Was written before or after the Social War (War of the Allies) is disputed. Lines 3-8 (the first couple lines are too damaged to be clearly legible). In Oscan: (3) ...deiuast maimas carneis senateis tanginud am ... (4) XL osiins, pon ioc egmo comparascuster. Suae pis pertemust, pruter pan ... (5) deiuatud sipus comenei, perum dolum malum, siom ioc comono mais egmas touti- (6)cas amnud pan pieisum brateis auti cadeis amnud; inim idic siom dat senates (7) tanginud maimas carneis pertumum. Piei ex comono pertemest, izic eizeic zicelei (8) comono ni hipid. In Latin: (3) ...iurabit maximae partis senatus sententia [dummodo non minus] (4) XL adsint, cum ea res consulta erit. Si quis peremerit, prius quam peremerit, (5) iurato sciens in committio sine dolo malo, se ea comitia magis rei publicae causa, (6) quam cuiuspiam gratiae aut inimicitiae causa; idque se de senatus (7) sententia maximae partis perimere. Cui sic comitia perimet (quisquam),
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