Roman Medallion Featuring Two Women (Mother and Daughter)
Frame: This medallion has a laurel wreath frame.
Material: Yellow, fine-grained, local marble
Dated: Second half of the 2nd century CE
Ancient Roman Stone Medallions
Reading Time: 0:45 min
Ancient Roman stone medallions, used to honour the deceased, were typically circular or oval plaques, often crafted from marble or limestone. These served as memorials for individuals who had passed away.
The medallions were usually placed on tombs or funerary monuments as a way to commemorate the deceased.
The medallions often featured a detailed relief portrait of the deceased, showing their face in a lifelike or idealised manner. In addition to the portrait, the medallions sometimes included inscriptions with the person’s name and family details. Some medallions functioned as an epitaph with a brief description of the person’s life. Some medallions also depicted scenes from the deceased’s life, such as their profession, achievements, or symbols of their social status, which reflected the importance of the individual.
The purpose of these stone medallions was to preserve the memory of the deceased and to ensure their place in the afterlife. These memorials were often placed on tombs along with other funerary items, contributing to the Roman tradition of respecting and remembering the dead.
Ancient Roman Tombs
Reading Time: 0:40 min
Ancient Roman tombs were burial places where the Romans honoured their dead. They varied in size and style, depending on the person’s wealth and status. Some were simple and small, while others were large and grand. The tombs were often made of stone or brick and could be above ground or underground.
Common types of Roman tombs included in-ground graves, mausoleums (large, circular or square buildings), and funerary urns for cremated remains. Many tombs had inscriptions or carvings to show who was buried there and sometimes featured images of the deceased.
Tombs were usually placed along roads outside the city, such as the famous Appian Way.
Romans believed that the dead had a continued existence, so tombs were often decorated with offerings or objects to help the soul in the afterlife.