Tomb of Priscilla, Ancient Roman tomb on Via Appia Antica, Rome, Italy
Description
The Tomb of Priscilla is a Roman funerary monument on the Via Appia Antica in Rome featuring two cylindrical towers constructed in opus mixtum and opus reticulatum. The structure contains multiple niches for statues and an underground burial chamber with three recesses lined in travertine blocks intended for sarcophagi.
History
The monument was built in the 1st century for Priscilla, wife of Titus Flavius Abascanto, a freedman who served under Emperor Domitian. During the Middle Ages it was transformed into a fortress held first by the counts of Tusculum and later by the Caetani family.
Culture
The tomb reflects Roman burial customs of its era, with spaces designed to hold family members across generations. The structure shows how freed slaves could gain enough wealth and status to commission elaborate family monuments.
Practical
Access to the burial chamber runs through a corridor in the basement of an adjacent house along the ancient Appian Way. The underground passage requires care due to tight spaces and uneven flooring.
Did you know?
The site displays traces from different eras since it shifted from a purely funerary monument into a military structure. This repurposing ironically helped preserve the original building better than many other monuments along the Appian Way.
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