Pompeii - Tombs and Burials

Inhumation or Cremation?

The preference for inhumation over cremation varied according to custom and period. In Greece there were examples of people being buried in chamber tombs, stone line cist graves and spectacular beehive type tombs. Cremation could be preferred also and the spectacle of a heroic figure in the Homeric mold being created on a vast funeral pyre is a scene that sticks in the mind. If created the deceased's ashes would often be placed in urns and buried in a specially built or community tombs.

Cremations became the main way to dispose of the body with very few burials taking place. The rich became ever more lavish with the tombs they built themselves to mark their or their families' passing. The tomb of the 'baker' in Rome is a spectacular example. However, the rich were careful not to outdo the spectacular mausoleum that Augustus built for himself. The spiraling costs of these tombs was another reason why there was a move towards simpler tombs after this time.

Later on with the advent of Christianity the decline of grave goods and there was a general shift around 300 away from traditional cemeteries in favour of catacombs and burial within basilical churches.

Like many other Roman cities anyone entering Pompeii could not fail to notice all the burial tombs on the roads close to the gates of Herculaneum, Stabian and Nuceria. The inscription of the tombs call out to passers-by to read and consider the life of the person being commemorated.

The Romans did not believe in the afterlife but did believe that dead could do hard if they were not appeased and many be a reason why the tombs are located outside the gates (or an ironic representation of the deceased person's journey). Benches would be built to accommodate the passer-by and also seating for family members visiting the tomb.

The majority of tombs date from the mod-1st C but there examples of pre-colonial tombs that were simpler and contained grave-goods such as coins and jewelry.

Elite Tombs

The town councils owned the land up to 30m outside the gates of the city and permission was sought to built tombs. The highest honor that could be bestowed would be to have the burial tombs paid for out of public funds. The most important tombs are Exedra tombs. They are semi-circular. They come with alters and columns. Many of these tombs were erected during the deceased's life and he/she would take great care to ensure that would be remembered in a particular way. Examples include Marcus Tullius. The tombs could also be paid for women who came from a [prominent family fro instrance the tomb of Arellia Tertulla wide of Marcus Stlaborious.

The inscriptions on the tombs would often refer to the deceased's Political career via an epitaph, or symbols or would be family epitaph

A famous tomb memorializes Gaius Vestorius Priscus. Here we can see images of a gladitorial contest. There is also a painting of a silver service - used to show wealth. Priscus died early at the age of 22 and only reached the the office of junior magistrate but the town paid 2,000 sesterces for the tomb probably in recognition of the prominent family of his mother Mulvia Prisca

Tombs could be erected to resembles temples, alters, buildings with rooms, semi-circular tombs built like benches. Often the family would eat here on the anniversary of the deceased's death or on other special days. Often there would be pipes leading to the interred urn that would be used for libation. Often the tombs would be littered with graffiti but not done in a disrespectful way

The Tombs of Freedmen

Freedmen were clearly concerned that future generations would be reminded of their their freedman status and their other achievements and sometimes even freedmen could be honored by the council who paid for their tombs. The most recognizable tombs is that of freedmanPublius Vesonius Phileros. He started to build the tomb during his life but at some point he got involved in a legal dispute with one of his closest friends. He adds an inscription to the affect

Stranger, if it is not so much trouble, delay for a while and you will discover what you should avoid. This man who I thought was my friend produced informers against me, and for a lawsuit was begun. I thank the gods and my innocence that I am free from all that trouble. I hope that neither the household gods nor the gods of the underworld receive the man who lied about our dealings

Strangely, it is possible that the third statue in tomb is his erstwhile friend, Marcus Orfellius Faustus.

Multi-Occupancy Tombs

Many tombs commemorates entire families. This is true of the Tomb of the Flavii. It dates d from 50 to 30BC and belonged to the freedmen of an early colonist. From the 1st century a house tomb can be seen especially outside the Nuceria Gate. These tombs have roofs, door and even windows. The inscriptions tend to be brief and generic. There are no niches or alters.

House tombs are a sub set of multi families-built to look like houses-mostly located outside the Nuceria Gate. Feature mosaic floors and painted walls.

No altars or niches, cremated remains buried directly into the ground Often contained unmarked Stelae. Living descendants performed regular ceremonies there. Tombs were for rich and poor people but there have not been any discoveries of tombs for slaves or children. Memorializing the dead included wall paintings, inscriptions and these were created to display status as opposed to identify personal information

Commentary

If the burials (inhumation or cremation) took place outside the walls and so little has been excavated beyond the main gates is there a lot of evidence yet to be excavated? And would that evidence be of burials of less prosperous Romans or before that Oscans?

I can not find a picture of a Columbarium so cannot tell whether they would be inside or outside the walls of the town. Given that most people could not afford a tomb I would expect that there would be a lot of these. Maybe someone can help me out here.

I think we have a lot of material in Berry, etc on the burials of richer Pompeians as one would expect but, despite references to 'burial clubs' not much on what would be the most normal kind of burial , that of the average Pompeian.

Other Burial Chambers

Columbaria(plural). People who could not afford expensive tombs were buried under ground in massive community tombs. The Romans could buy into burial clubs. When they died their ashes would be placed in urns and placed in niches in the columbaria.

Columbaria (named for there resemblance to dovecots) are most commonly rectangular in plan, with niches disposed in regular pattern in the walls, usually in course and one above the other. Variations may take the form of corridors lined with niches. Some Columbaria were built over ground.Poor families were buried in urns in the ground and epitaphs scratched into the walls of the city or marker or gravestones in the form of a bust.