In 1865 a group of Roman liberals procured a stone from the agger of Servius Tullius, 6th king of Rome, and inscribed the following:
ABRAHAMO LINCOLNIO
REGION FOEDERAT AMERIC PRAESIDI II
HVNC EX SERVI TULLI AGGERE LAPIDEM
OVO VTRIVSOVE
LIBERTATIS ADSERTORIS FORTISS
MEMORIA CONIVNCATVR
CIVES ROMANI
D.
A. MDCCCLXV
The translation given this, also inscribed in stone at the Lincoln tomb is: “To Abraham Lincoln, President for the second time of the American Republic, citizens of Rome present this stone from the wall of Servius Tullius by which the memory of each of those brave advocates of liberty may be associated.”
The attached photos show the text for both; I hope they are readable.
I would like a second opinion on the accuracy of this translation and suggestions for a more accurate one, if you please. The back story on this is that for the past 150+ years the accepted narrative of this gift has been that the Romans were honoring Lincoln's second election as president, not memorializing his assassination and that it was sent to Lincoln, not his successor. I have supporting evidence for the latter view, but I want to understand better how the translation might have thrown people off the more likely explanation of the Romans' purpose in sending this tribute.
REGION FOEDERAT AMERIC PRAESIDI II
HVNC EX SERVI TULLI AGGERE LAPIDEM
OVO VTRIVSOVE
LIBERTATIS ADSERTORIS FORTISS
MEMORIA CONIVNCATVR
CIVES ROMANI
D.
A. MDCCCLXV
The translation given this, also inscribed in stone at the Lincoln tomb is: “To Abraham Lincoln, President for the second time of the American Republic, citizens of Rome present this stone from the wall of Servius Tullius by which the memory of each of those brave advocates of liberty may be associated.”
The attached photos show the text for both; I hope they are readable.
I would like a second opinion on the accuracy of this translation and suggestions for a more accurate one, if you please. The back story on this is that for the past 150+ years the accepted narrative of this gift has been that the Romans were honoring Lincoln's second election as president, not memorializing his assassination and that it was sent to Lincoln, not his successor. I have supporting evidence for the latter view, but I want to understand better how the translation might have thrown people off the more likely explanation of the Romans' purpose in sending this tribute.
