Roman mosaic with word HAVE

Roman mosaic showing the word “HAVE”, which was a kind of antique rug in front of the door with a greeting. The object is located in Pompeii, in front of the House of Faun.

The word “HAVE” comes from the Oscan language and is the only find of its kind in Naples. Interestingly, the word is commonly used in Pompeii for inscriptions and graffiti. “HAVE” is an Oscan version of the Latin word “AVE” meaning “hello” or “goodbye”, popular in southern Italy until the first century CE.

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Archaeologists find traces of Romans who fled from Vesuvius Conquest of Italy by Rome Wars of second triumvirate Great Roman civil war Second Punic War