The "List of Tombs Along the Appian Way" refers to the large number of burials on the ancient Via Appia.
The Appian Way, one of the oldest and most significant roads of ancient Rome, is lined with a remarkable array of tombs and mausoleums that offer a glimpse into the funerary practices and architectural grandeur of the Roman Empire. This historic route, stretching from Rome to Brindisi, was not only a vital conduit for military and commercial activities but also served as a prestigious burial ground for the elite.
The "List of Tombs on the Appian Way" encompasses a variety of sepulchral monuments, from the grand mausoleums of prominent families to more modest burial sites, each reflecting the social status and personal legacies of those interred. Among these, notable examples include the imposing Tomb of Cecilia Metella, the circular mausoleum of the Scipios, and the well-preserved Catacombs of San Sebastiano. These tombs collectively highlight the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of the Appian Way, making it a rich repository of Roman history and heritage.
circa 509-27 BCE
Tomb of Marco Servilio Quarto
The tomb or mausoleum of Marcus Quarto (Tomba di Marco Servilio Quarto) is situated at a distance of 2.9 Roman miles from the first Roman mile merker column.
circa 290 BCE - 25 CE
Hypogeum of the Scipios
The Hypogeum of the Scipios (Hypogaeum Scipionum), also known as the Tomb of the Scipios, is an ancient Roman funerary monument located on the ancient Via Appia, one of Rome's most famous roads. The tomb served as the burial place for members of the Scipio family, a prominent patrician family in the Roman Republic known for their military and political role and achievements. The tomb dates back to the late third century BCE and was used until the early to mid first century CE. The Scipio family included notable figures such as Scipio Africanus, who defeated Hannibal in the Second Punic War.
The Hypogeum of Scipios is an underground burial chamber, reflecting the Etruscan influence on Roman funerary practices. It consists of a series of interconnected chambers and corridors, with niches for sarcophagi. The tomb is known for its inscriptions, which provide valuable information about the members of the Scipio family. Some sarcophagi are decorated with reliefs and inscriptions in Latin, offering insights into Roman art and epigraphy.
circa 30 BCE
Mausoleum of Hilarus Fuscus
The Tomb of Hilarus Fuscus (Tomba di Ilario Fusco) is an ancient Roman funerary monument located near the fourth mile of the Appian Way or the Via Appia Antica, to the southeast of Rome. It is located at a distance of 3.3 Roman miles from the first Roman mile marker.
The current structure built mostly out of brick and marble fragments of ancient mausoleum, dates back to the mid-nineteenth century CE when it was restored by Luigi Canina. The architecture of the fragmentary tomb remains and the analysis of figures depicted (particularly the hairstyle of the women) suggests the mausoleum was built at end of the Republican era, the beginning of the Imperial age. Before 1978 CE an inscription bearing the names of the deceased could be seen, which was lost sometime between 1978 - 1998 CE. The sculptures of the deceased currently displayed at the tomb site are copies, original artefacts are displayed in the National Museum of the Baths of emperor Diocletian.
circa 30-20 BCE
Mausoleum of Caecilia Metella
The Mausoleum of Caecilia Metella (Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella) is an ancient Roman tomb located south-east of Rome just before the third mile marker of the Via Appia. The circular mausoleum was built circa 30–10 BCE by her son, Marcus Licinius Crassus.
circa 50 CE
Sepulchre of Tiberius Claudius Secundus Philippianus
The mausoleum of Tiberius Claudius Secundus Philippianus (Sepolcro di Tiberio Claudio Secondo Filippiano) Approximately 100 meters south of the Tomb of Ilaro Fusco lies a funerary monument, which today appears in the form resulting from Luigi Canina's mid-nineteenth-century reconstruction. The facade features a brick wall into which marble fragments found in the vicinity have been integrated. Inscriptions on two small statue bases positioned at the top, along with the fragmentary text of the large epigraph embedded in the facade, indicate that this tomb belonged to Tiberius Claudius Secundus Philippianus, his wife Flavia Irene, and their children Tiberius Claudius Secundus and Claudia Secundus. The father, a freedman of an emperor from the Claudian dynasty (potentially Nero), held various positions including bank collector (coactor argentarius), magistrates' attendant (accensus velatus), copyist (scriba librarius), and messenger (viator). Behind the facade, the monument retains its concrete and flint core, though it has been entirely stripped of its original decorative covering.
undated
Tomb in the Form of a Shrine Called the Frontispiece
The Frontispiece Shrine tomb (Tomba in forma di edicola detta del Frontespizio)
undated
Family Tomb with a Columbrium
The Family Tomb with a Columbrium (Tomba Familiare a Colombario)
undated
Tomb of the sons of Sextus Pompeius the Just
The mausoleum or tomb of the sons of Sextus Pompeius the Just (Tomba dei figli di Sesto Pompeo Giusto)
undated
Mausoleum of Pompey the Great or the Selce Tower
The Mausoleum of Pompey the Great or the Selce Tower (Mausoleo di Pompeo Magno o Torre Selce)
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