A wooden tablet has been found containing the earliest known example of Latin written by a woman, Claudia Severa.
The invitation, written 2,000 years ago between 97 and 103, was a birthday invitation for his friend Sulpicia Lepidina.
The letter was found at Vindolanda, a Roman fort, where the oxygen-free soil helped preserve a number of organic artifacts, including shoes and camping equipment, that would have crumbled and decomposed over the years. Live Science.
The small tablet is 8.8 by 3.8 inches (22.3 by 9.6 cm) and was written on both sides of the invitation in carbon-based ink.
On one side of the letter, the names of both the writer and recipient and the inscription: “From Sulpicia Lepidina, wife of Cyrillus. [Claudia] Severa,” according to the British Museum, where the object is being kept.
“Claudia Severa to your Lepidina, greetings. On September 11, sister, on the occasion of my birthday, I extend a warm invitation to you to come to us, to make the day more pleasant for me. Arrival, Give my regards if you are there. [husband, Flavius] Serialis. mine [husband] Elias [Brocchus] And my little son sends his regards,” reads the other side of the party invitation.
The letter was probably written by a scribe in a thin, clear script, but in the lower right-hand corner of the tablet, Claudia herself writes in a less beautiful script: “Sister, I will expect you. Farewell, sister, my best.” Dear John, as I hope to prosper, and greetings”.