Greek Anthology Book XIV: Metrodorus: 125

Arithmetical Epigram of Metrodorus

 * I am a tomb and I cover the lamented children of Philinna, containing fruit of her vainly-travailing womb such as I describe.
 * Philinna gave me my fifth portion of young men,
 * my third of maidens,
 * and three newly married daughters;
 * the other four descended to Hades from her womb without participating at all in the sunlight and in speech.

Solution
Let $n$ be the number of children of Philinna.


 * $\dfrac n 5$ were young men


 * $\dfrac n 3$ were maidens


 * $3$ were newly married daughters


 * $4$ were still-born.

We have:

So Philinna had $15$ children, of which:


 * $3$ were young men


 * $5$ were maidens

and as we know:


 * $3$ were newly married daughters


 * $4$ were still-born.