Images

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...