DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61387#0060
28
THE RUINS OF POMPEII.
to the dead, a feast called silicernium was given by the relatives. This was
a usual tribute of respect, but it was not an indispensable ceremony, and a
disappointed heir would sometimes avenge himself by defrauding the deceased
of this part of his funeral honours. An inscription in the gable informs us
that it was erected in honour of On. Vibrius Saturninus, by his liberties., or
freedman, Callistus. On entering, the visitor finds himself in a small quad-
rangular space surrounded with walls, but without a roof. At the top are
the three stone benches forming the triclinium, with a square table between;
before which stands the round basis of an altar for offerings. Originally the
walls were richly painted, being divided into square panels or compartments
by borders; each panel having in its centre a representation of some bird or
animal: but these paintings have now almost entirely disappeared.
Next to the Tricli-
VIEW OF THE FUNERAL TRICLINIUM.
nium is seen the tomb of
Nsevoleia Tyche, sur-
rounded with a wall, en-
tered by a door from
the street. It is among
the handsomest' at Pom-
peii. Within the enclo-
sure is a sepulchral
chamber, surmounted by
a marble monument in
the form of an altar,
placed on a basis or po-
dium, with two steps.
On the front of this altar is a portrait of the foundress in bas-relief,
with an inscription purporting that Naevoleia Tyche, the freedwoman of
Lucius Nsavoleius, had erected this mausoleum during her lifetime for herself
and for L. Munatius Faustus, Augustal, and Paganus (or member of the
suburban Council of the Pagus, Augustus Felix); to whom the Decurions,
with the consent of the people, had granted the honour of the Bisellium (a
chair of state) for his deserts; also for her and his freedmen and women.
Under the inscription is another bas-relief with many figures, supposed to
represent an offering to the dead, or the dedication of the tomb. The whole
is surrounded with a rich and elegant arabesque border. There were found
in the sepulchre several funeral urns for the ashes of the dead, mostly of
THE RUINS OF POMPEII.
to the dead, a feast called silicernium was given by the relatives. This was
a usual tribute of respect, but it was not an indispensable ceremony, and a
disappointed heir would sometimes avenge himself by defrauding the deceased
of this part of his funeral honours. An inscription in the gable informs us
that it was erected in honour of On. Vibrius Saturninus, by his liberties., or
freedman, Callistus. On entering, the visitor finds himself in a small quad-
rangular space surrounded with walls, but without a roof. At the top are
the three stone benches forming the triclinium, with a square table between;
before which stands the round basis of an altar for offerings. Originally the
walls were richly painted, being divided into square panels or compartments
by borders; each panel having in its centre a representation of some bird or
animal: but these paintings have now almost entirely disappeared.
Next to the Tricli-
VIEW OF THE FUNERAL TRICLINIUM.
nium is seen the tomb of
Nsevoleia Tyche, sur-
rounded with a wall, en-
tered by a door from
the street. It is among
the handsomest' at Pom-
peii. Within the enclo-
sure is a sepulchral
chamber, surmounted by
a marble monument in
the form of an altar,
placed on a basis or po-
dium, with two steps.
On the front of this altar is a portrait of the foundress in bas-relief,
with an inscription purporting that Naevoleia Tyche, the freedwoman of
Lucius Nsavoleius, had erected this mausoleum during her lifetime for herself
and for L. Munatius Faustus, Augustal, and Paganus (or member of the
suburban Council of the Pagus, Augustus Felix); to whom the Decurions,
with the consent of the people, had granted the honour of the Bisellium (a
chair of state) for his deserts; also for her and his freedmen and women.
Under the inscription is another bas-relief with many figures, supposed to
represent an offering to the dead, or the dedication of the tomb. The whole
is surrounded with a rich and elegant arabesque border. There were found
in the sepulchre several funeral urns for the ashes of the dead, mostly of