Reimpieghi paleocristiani nel Duomo di Como: un’epigrafe documentaria degli inizi del VI secolo

The work of cleaning and restoration carried out in late 2010 in the chapel of the Assumption, in the cathedral of Como, enabled the discovery of four new early Christian inscriptions; the marble slabs were re-used in the covering of the walls of the balconies of the first order of windows. These are: the epitaph of Eusebius, deposed in 485, the epitaph of an anonymous deacon, another funerary inscription, very worn and almost illegible, and a documentary inscription dating from the early sixth century. This inscription testifies to the legacy that the priest Basil seems to be allocated to the matricula of the poor and his subordinates; the properties from which the rents are necessary for these purposes are also cited. Despite its shortcomings, the text offers important insights regarding the episcopal list of Como, charitable practices, the organization of work in the countryside and the characteristics of the settlement in the Como area.