Images

Map of Europe in 400 CE

A polychrome urn with a jaguar figure and skulls. Classic Maya, 600-900 CE, Guatemala. (Walters Art Museum, Baltimore)

From the 15th-18th centuries CE, the many columbaria that lined the consular highways leading out of Rome were plundered and destroyed. Consequently, one sees bits and pieces of them cemented into the walls of villas and palazzos all over...

Although the title under this etching reads "camera sepolcrale inventata"—imaginary sepulchral chamber—it is likely based on the great columbaria for the slaves of Livia and Augustus, which, we know from other etchings, Piranesi did see (Ignoring...

One finds such dancers (This one resembles a pop-eyed Pinocchio) in ancient Roman funerary art. Although they may well have apotropaic significance—i.e., to ward off evil—they fit in with the theatrical motifs found on walls in columbaria...

Charming frescoes decorate the walls of this first-century CE columbarium, discovered in 1982 CE on the grounds of the Villa Doria Pamphili. Other wall paintings include fishermen, scenes from tragedy, musical instruments, dancers of death...

Staircase leading to the underground chamber of Columbarium 1, Rome. The central pillar supporting the ceiling is at left.

The loculi in the central pillar of this columbarium in Rome (discovered in 1940 CE) seem to have been reserved for the elected officers of the funeral institution (The name of one of them has been stamped several times into the wet stucco...

Columbarium, excavated in 1840 CE, on strip of land between Via Latina and Via Appia.

This largely first-century CE columbarium in Rome, discovered in 1852 CE, was once lined with marble. It is very 'up-market' in that the epitaphs are all preoccupied with status, even though the deceased are slaves and freed slaves. It was...