Even though Roman grave markers offer us valuable glimpses into the society in which they were created they also effectively conceal the actual character traits of the people behind the monuments because of their lauding habitual phrases. This concealment is strengthened by the very nature of intimacy between the deceased and the bereaved that the monuments themselves are an expression of, which is an inherent aspect of funerary culture in general. This article examines the grave marker of a frontier doctor that seemingly breaks the tradition of idealising the deceased and instead reveals a character trait that seems out of place in the funerary context.