Hidden in Clay, Alive in History

Inscription on a roof tile by two enslaved or freed women: ‘Detfri of Hn. Sattis signed with a footprint’ and ‘Amica of Herens signed when we were laying out the tile.’ Source: Imagines Italicae

Two thousand one hundred years ago, when women's freedom to read and write was deemed impossible, these two women defied the norm. 

Amica and Detfri, enslaved women in modern Pietrabbondante, Italy, left their mark on a terracotta roof tile of an old temple. The details of their lives remain shrouded in mystery, but their names and footprints bear the weight of their historical significance. 

Such a find is extraordinary. The text includes bilingual writing—both in Latin and an older Italian language, Oscan. It is assumed that both women were familiar with the languages.

A likely theory behind this tile is that both women were tasked with creating tiles for the temple. They worked in dangerous conditions and had limited time to enjoy each other's company.

However, I can't help but wonder where they came from and how their possible friendship formed. Also, what happened next? Did they get in trouble? 

This story caught my attention as a history buff. Many historians have documented the lives of the nobility and wealthy, along with all their deeds and misdeeds. There are rarely any existing accounts of enslaved women and their daily lives.

This story reminds us of the power of leaving your mark, no matter how small, in the face of hardship. It's a testament to Amica and Detfri's resilience and a story that transcends time.

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Reference:

https://classicsforall.org.uk/rostra/rethinking-epigraphic-evidence-res-gestae-divi-augusti