Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – A significant archaeological discovery has been made at the Porta Sarno necropolis in ancient Pompeii: a funerary relief depicting a nearly life-size couple, a man and a woman. This find is part of the “Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii” research project, spearheaded by the Universitat de València in partnership with the Pompeii Archaeological Park.
Credit: Pompeii Archaeological Park
The high-relief sculptures have been relocated to Palestra Grande for restoration and will be showcased in the exhibition “Being a Woman in Ancient Pompeii,” opening on April 16. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to appreciate these artifacts while observing their restoration process within the exhibition space.
Under Professor Llorenç Alapont’s leadership, this project highlights how such discoveries enhance our understanding of funerary practices and social identities in Pompeii, which was buried by Mount Vesuvius’s eruption in 79 AD. Excavations began anew in July 2024 after initial explorations during railway construction in the 1990s. In 1998, over 50 cremation burials with stelae and monumental structures, including an impressive funerary arch, were documented.
Recent findings include a monumental tomb featuring several niches on its large wall. The relief at its top suggests that this couple held significant social status within Pompeian society.
“The monumental nature of the tomb is characterised by the presence of the reliefs of two spouses. The two life-size figures are sculpted separately on two different tuff ashlars. However, the two reliefs are perfectly united, appearing to be a single sculpture.
Both the bodies and heads of the well-to-do young married couple are shown frontally in high relief, proudly wanting to emphasize their status through the language of imagery. The delicacy and detail of the sculpture is remarkable. We can appreciate the careful carving of the hands, fingers and nails. We can also see the detailed work on the folds of the clothing and the ornaments “:” rings, bracelets, necklace, etc.
The husband’s stela is 2,06 m high, and his figure is 1,75 m tall. Visual analysis of the piece shows that he is a Roman citizen distinguished by wearing a toga. The toga is draped over the man’s left shoulder, wrapping around the left arm, and extends down, with his hand resting against his thigh, on the dorsal face with fingers spread apart.
Credit: Pompeii Archaeological Park
He holds the sinus with his right hand, and the toga wraps around the right arm with the elbow bent, to finally rest on the right shoulder. It is the peculiar arrangement of the front folds that gives the Roman toga its unique character. The toga was the peculiar distinction of the Romans, hence men who wore them were called togati or togata gens by authors such as Virgil,” the researchers write in the study publishes in the E-journal Scavi di Pompei.
Intriguingly, elements accompanying the female figure imply she may have served as a priestess of Ceres, highlighting her religious role.
Credit: Pompeii Archaeological Park
Ceres was a significant figure in Roman mythology, known as the goddess of agriculture and fertility. She belonged to the group of primordial deities called the Dii Consentes. Ceres played a crucial role as the protector of farmers and plebeians, with strong connections to themes such as motherhood, harvests, and grain production. Her worship was closely linked with that of Demeter, a deity who held similar importance in regions like Sicily and Magna Graecia.
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Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director of Park Operations, emphasizes that this campaign, thanks to its collaboration with Valencia University, offers valuable insights beyond Pompeii’s walls.
This effort also led to the discovery of Marco Venerio Secundio’s Tomb through multidisciplinary teamwork involving archaeologists, architects, restorers, and anthropologists.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
