Images

Silver Stater from Corinth, 386-307 BCE. Obverse: Pegasus, Reverse: Athena. Alpha Bank Numismatics Collection, Kerkyra, Corfu.

Athenian silver tetradrachm, depicting Athena on the obverse and an owl with an olive branch on the reverse, 479-454 BCE. Alpha Bank Numismatics Collection, Kerkyra, Corfu.

Silver decadrachm from Syracuse, Sicily, c. 400 BCE. O: Quadriga with Nike crowning a charioteer. R: Head of Arethousa with dolphins. (Alpha Bank Numismatics Collection, Kerkyra, Corfu)

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.