The cycle of the elogia Scipionum represents (for us) the likely sole evidence of metrical epigraphy at Rome up to the last decades of the II cent. b.C.; and it is meaningful it was accomplished in the interior of a family-vault. Neverthless such an innovating initiative of hellenistic taste held in due consideration the traditional upper class culture at Rome, both byu deriving content, structure and language of such elogia from the customary laudationes funebres (cf. also the tabulae triumphales and the like), and by persisting in the usage of the ancient Saturnius numerus as well in the last age of Ennius (or after his death). But higher seem to have kept a negative attitude towards metrical epigraphy: prose texts looked likely more noble. Besides the paper reviews and argues about further main inscriptions that are indeed or are thought to be composed with Saturnians