Relations familiales et sociales dans une inscription d’Oliva (HEp, 5, 809)

Abstract

The reexamination of an inscription at Oliva (HEp, 5, 809) in the light of historical and anthropological research on kinship has made it possible to identify the exact genealogical position of the four members of a family of emancipated slaves. The study begins by analysing the vocabulary of kinship, which here is characterised by the use of uncommon expressions. It turns out that the insertion of the word consobrinus, connoting cousin german, in lines 7-8, is wrong. The size of the lacuna indicates that it should read the less rare sobrinus (nephew). Thus, at a stroke the familial relationships linking these kinsfolk is rendered more coherent, particularly by the revelation of the existence of a conjugal unit whose deceased members (parents and child) the dedicator honoured in the epitaph as sister, brother-in-law and nephew. The use of terms designating solely collateral kinship or kinship by marriage bears witness to the importance that people of servile origin attached to horizontal familial relationships, which afforded them some social visibility.

Keywords

• Cousin
• Emancipated slave
• Kinship
• Marriage
• Nephew
• Vocabulary of kinship