Description
| ITEM | Cinerary urn with lid |
| MATERIAL | Pottery |
| CULTURE | Roman |
| PERIOD | 1st Century B.C – 1st Century A.D |
| DIMENSIONS | 390 mm x 290 mm diameter (with lid), 310 mm x 290 mm (without lid) |
| CONDITION | Good condition, lid repaired. Includes a certificate of search in the stolen works of art of Interpol database |
| PROVENANCE | Ex European private collection, Ex Galerie Heidi Vollmoeller (1978), Ex Galerie Ugo Donati (1956), Switzerland. |
A Roman cinerary urn was an important funerary object used by the ancient Romans to hold the cremated remains of the deceased. In Roman culture, cremation was a common burial practice, particularly during the Republican and early Imperial periods (around 500 BCE to 200 CE). The urns, typically made from terracotta, stone, or marble, were often decorated with intricate reliefs, inscriptions, and symbolic motifs that reflected the deceased’s status, profession, or familial ties. They were usually placed in tombs or columbaria (communal burial chambers), where they would be stored in niches. The urn itself, often elaborately crafted, symbolized the deceased’s transition to the afterlife, and it was not just a vessel but a marker of remembrance.
Roman cinerary urns often featured detailed scenes of everyday life, mythological depictions, or even portraits of the deceased. The reliefs on the urns could depict scenes like banquets, sacrifices, or representations of Roman deities, reflecting the individual’s life and values. For the wealthy, these urns might include an image of the deceased in a heroic or idealized form, often dressed in fine attire or engaged in activities that suggested their achievements or social standing. The inclusion of the inscription on the urn, typically in Latin, often provided important information about the individual’s name, lineage, and achievements, making the urn a commemorative piece of art as well as a functional object for the preservation of cremated remains.
Beyond their function as receptacles for ashes, cinerary urns held symbolic significance in Roman society, particularly in relation to death and the afterlife. They were not just a means of storing remains but a symbol of immortality and continuity, reflecting Roman beliefs in ancestry, family, and the ongoing presence of the deceased in the lives of their descendants.
