graffiare = to scratch
Graffiti: inscriptions and figure drawings found on
the walls of ancient sepulchers or ruins
Usage of the word has evolved to include any
decorations (inscribed on any surface) that one
can regard as vandalism; or to cover pictures or
writing placed on surfaces, usually external walls
and sidewalks, without the permission of an owner.
• Mostly men
• All classes, but probably moreso low(er)
• Prostitutes and their lovers
Types of Graffiti in Pompeii
• Electoral/On behalf of candidates
• Advertisements (1/3)
• Writing Practice
• “hīc erat”
Pompeian electoral graffiti
• There are around 3000 electoral
inscriptions in Pompeii and most of them
can be dated to the city's final year of
existence, given that it was customary to
rub out the old inscriptions to make way
for new ones.
of a man
What does graffiti tell us?
• Literacy rate
• Frequented roads
• Social customs and activities
• Origin of travelers
• Adds human element to ruins…
There is evidence of Pompeians’ ability to read
and write among classes of people
e.g. the 83 graffiti found at CIL IV, 4706-85 (a
peristyle which had been undergoing remodeling
at the time of the eruption of Vesuvius) were
executed not only by the architect Crescens, but
also by most of the members of the work crew
for whom he served as foreman.
• The number of messages written on walls
has given scholars the indication that
certain roads were travelled more than
• This could also be connected to the
amount of wall space available for
messages…as well as the availability of
roads at certain times of the day.
Map of Pompeii
Occurrences of messages
• Declarations of Love, hate, et cetera
• Food and Drink
Warning - Love
Quisquis amat. veniat. Veneri volo frangere costas
fustibus et lumbos debilitare deae.
Si potest illa mihi tenerum pertundere pectus
quit ego non possim caput illae frangere fuste?
• -CIL IV, 1284.
Whoever loves, let him go. I want to break Venus's ribs
with a club and deform her hips.
If she can break my tender heart
why can't I hit her over the head with a club?
A request to vote for
two candidates for
aedile, M. Cerrinius
Vatia and A. Trebius
Valente, who was
elected in 71 A.D.,
again in 75 A.D. as
candidate for the
messages with the
same two candidates'
names were found
along Via del Foro.
Fragment of a Roman wall
painting containing an electoral
inscription from the officina of
Verecundus. Depicts Mercury
with caduceus and petasus
emerging from a little
Etruscan-Italic temple. He
holds a purse of money in his
right hand. One inscription:
"Holconium Priscum / IIvir(um)
I(ure) d(icundo) d(dignum) r(ei)
p(ublicae) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis)"
or "I ask you to elect Holconius
Priscus as duovir. He is worthy
of holding office." H 214 cm, W
The brothel at CIL VII, 12, 18-20 contains
over 120 graffiti, the authors of which
included the prostitutes as well as their
• the gladiatorial academy at CIL IV, 4397
contained graffiti left by the gladiator
Celadus Crescens (Suspirium puellarum
Celadus thraex: "Celadus the Thracier
makes the girls sigh.")
From the House
shield and spear
Errors in spelling and grammar in graffiti
inform us of the degree of literacy of the
graffiti scrawlers and give clues as to the
pronunciation of spoken Latin.
• CIL IV, 7838:
Vettium Firmum / aed[ilem] quactiliar[ii] [sic]
• Here "qu" reflects the common
pronunciation of "co".
When we go…
• Seek out graffiti that is now protected
under plexiglass covers
• Graffiti in the original sense of something
“scratched” can be found in the most