CIMRM 423 - Marble slab with inscription by Proficentius. Rome

Translation by Manfred Clauss:¹

This spot is blessed, holy, observant and bounteous: Mithras marked it, and made known to Proficentius, Father of the mysteries, That he should build and dedicate a Cave to him; And he has accomplished swiftly, tirelessly, this dear task That under such protection he began, desirous That the Hand-shaken might make their vows joyfully forever. These poor lines Proficentius composed, most worthy Father of Mithras.

CIMRM entry

423. Rectangular marble slab (H. 0.395 Br. 0.65 D. 0.07), broken in two pieces. Traces of red painting. In the middle there is a hollow probably for fastening. Before it was used for the present inscription, it certainly served another purpose. L.H. 0.022. Hic locus est felix, sanctus, piusque benignus, Quem monuit Mithras mentemque dedit Proficentio patri sacrorum Utque sibi spelaeum faceret dedicaretque Et celeri instansque operi reddit munera grata Quem bono auspicio suscepit anxia mente Ut possint syndexi hilares celebrare vota per aevom Hos versiculos generavit Proficentius Pater diguissimus Mithrae. After the third and last lines a palm-branch. We give the translation of J. Bayet: "C'est ici le lieu favorisé des dieux, saint, cher au ciel, que, dans sa bienveillance, Mithra a prescrit, suggérant à Proficentius, pere des rites, de lui bâtir et dedier une crypte. Et voici qu'il s'acquitte d'un doux service, pressant même la hâte d'un travail qu'il a entrepris sous d'heureux auspices, tant il a souci que les syndexi puissent, dans la joie, se réunir pour leur prière, eternellement. Ces petits vers ont été composés par Proficentius, père très digne de Mithra." An extensive commentary on this inscription will be found in the publication of Nogara-Magi. 232ff.