CIL IV, 9591 : un transport de blé entre Ostie et Pompéi – II

CIL IV, 9591: A grain transport between Ostia and Pompeii. In a previous article (2016), we established the text of a seven-line inscription written on the wall of a small vase found at Pompeii, the container of a sample of grain. We outline here our comments. The grain originated from Africa and was bound for Ostia. To explain why it was redirected to Pompeii, we rely on the recently published inscription of the tomb of Alleius Nigidius Maius, which exemplifies the possibility of periods of shortage and high grain prices in Pompeii, in this case around the middle of the first century. We surmise that the same thing occurred after the 62 earthquake: the magister nauis arriving at Ostia was informed of a better price at Pompeii and decided to change the ship’s destination. The inscription affords the only realistic price of maritime shipping in the Roman period. The article ends with a short commentary on the shipping costs and a study of the paleography of the inscription.