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E07869: The epitaph of Queen Caretena of the Burgundians, written in Latin in 506, records that she was buried in a church which she had founded. It was included in a collection of epitaphs, compiled at an unknown point between the early 7th and mid 9th century, where the heading states that the church was in Lyon (southern Gaul) and was dedicated to *Michael (the Archangel, S00181).
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posted on 2020-03-31, 00:00 authored by dlambertEpitaph of Queen Caretena
The epitaph is preserved only in a manuscript collection, where it is headed as follows:
EPITAFIVM CARETENES RELIGIOSE REGINE QVAE CONDITA EST LUGDUNI. IN BASILICA SANCTI MICAHELIS.
epitaphium Peiper || religiosae Peiper || reginae Peiper || Michahelis Peiper
'Epitaph of the devout queen Caretena, who is buried at Lyon. In the basilica of St Michael'
The epitaph itself is a twenty-six line poem in elegiac couplets. After describing aspects of the queen's life (for which see the Discussion), the epitaph moves on to the church which she founded and in which she was buried.
Lines 17-26:
Cedat odoriferis quondam dominata Sabaeis,
Expetiit mirum quae Salomonis opus.
Condidit haec templum presens, quod personat orbe,
Angelicisque dedit limina celsa choris. 20
Laxatura reos regi quas sepae ferebat,
Has offerre preces nunc tibi, Christe, potest.
Quam cum post decimum rapuit mors inuida lustrum
Accepit melior tum sine fine dies.
lamque bis octona Septembrem luce mouebat 25
Nomen Messalae consulis annus agens.
19. praesens Peiper || 21. saepe Peiper
'May she give way, she who once ruled fragrant Sheba, who sought out the marvellous work of Solomon. This woman here founded a church which rings out through the world, and gave a magnificent home to angelic choirs. The prayers to pardon sinners which she often brought to the king, she now, Christ, can offer to you. When jealous death seized her after her tenth lustrum, a better day without end then received her, when just now the year bearing the name of the consul Messala was moving September along with its twice eighth day [i.e. 16 September 506].'
Text: Peiper 1881, 185, modified with manuscript readings. Translation: David Lambert.
The epitaph is preserved only in a manuscript collection, where it is headed as follows:
EPITAFIVM CARETENES RELIGIOSE REGINE QVAE CONDITA EST LUGDUNI. IN BASILICA SANCTI MICAHELIS.
epitaphium Peiper || religiosae Peiper || reginae Peiper || Michahelis Peiper
'Epitaph of the devout queen Caretena, who is buried at Lyon. In the basilica of St Michael'
The epitaph itself is a twenty-six line poem in elegiac couplets. After describing aspects of the queen's life (for which see the Discussion), the epitaph moves on to the church which she founded and in which she was buried.
Lines 17-26:
Cedat odoriferis quondam dominata Sabaeis,
Expetiit mirum quae Salomonis opus.
Condidit haec templum presens, quod personat orbe,
Angelicisque dedit limina celsa choris. 20
Laxatura reos regi quas sepae ferebat,
Has offerre preces nunc tibi, Christe, potest.
Quam cum post decimum rapuit mors inuida lustrum
Accepit melior tum sine fine dies.
lamque bis octona Septembrem luce mouebat 25
Nomen Messalae consulis annus agens.
19. praesens Peiper || 21. saepe Peiper
'May she give way, she who once ruled fragrant Sheba, who sought out the marvellous work of Solomon. This woman here founded a church which rings out through the world, and gave a magnificent home to angelic choirs. The prayers to pardon sinners which she often brought to the king, she now, Christ, can offer to you. When jealous death seized her after her tenth lustrum, a better day without end then received her, when just now the year bearing the name of the consul Messala was moving September along with its twice eighth day [i.e. 16 September 506].'
Text: Peiper 1881, 185, modified with manuscript readings. Translation: David Lambert.
History
Evidence ID
E07869Saint Name
Michael, the Archangel : S00181Saint Name in Source
MicahelRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Inscriptions - Funerary inscriptions Literary - Poems Literary - OtherLanguage
- Latin