Images

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...

This fresco is on the first landing of the columbarium discovered in 1852 CE at the Vigna Codini, on the strip of land between Via Latina and Via Appia. The fresco has crumbled from the wall, revealing the first-century CE opus reticulatum...

High up on the wall almost lost in the shadows above a loculus of this columbarium one can just make out the outlines of a bird walking on a flowered garland from which hangs a grotesque mask. The columbarium was excavated in 1852 CE. The...

Danube River delta in Romania.