2,000-Year-Old Birthday Invitation Found at Roman Fort in UK

A picket pill courting again almost 2,000 years has revealed the earliest recognized Latin writing by a lady, Claudia Severa, inviting her pal Sulpicia Lepidina to a birthday celebration. Discovered at Vindolanda, a Roman fort close to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, UK, the pill highlights the private connections of Roman navy households. Preserved by the distinctive oxygen-free soil of the location, this artifact affords an intimate glimpse into historic Roman life and the enduring significance of household and social bonds.

Preservation of Ancient Artifacts

As reported by Live Science, the pill measures 8.8 by 3.8 inches and options carbon-based ink on either side. It was dated between AD 97 and 103 and is housed on the British Museum. The entrance bears a proper introduction, addressing Lepidina, spouse of the Roman commander Flavius Cerialis. The reverse aspect incorporates the invitation, written on behalf of Severa. She warmly invited Lepidina to attend the celebration on September 11, extending greetings to her husband and signing off with a private word in her personal handwriting.

Cultural Significance and Insights

The artifact, written in each a chic script by a scribe and a much less formal hand by Severa herself, underscores the literacy and standing of Roman ladies from elite households. Claudia Severa’s handwritten word reads, “I shall count on you, sister. Farewell, sister, my dearest soul, as I hope to prosper, and hail.” This displays her capacity to write down independently, although scribes have been usually employed for formal communication.

Archaeologists have unearthed over 1,700 writing tablets at Vindolanda since 1973, offering invaluable insights into the day by day lives of Roman troopers and their households. These embody private letters, navy data, and buying lists, portray a vivid image of the social material of the Roman frontier. The birthday invitation stays a key spotlight, illustrating the private connections that transcended time and distance.