Tombs outside Porta Marina.

Names on tombs

Afilllius Primogenes (Tomb of Marcus)   PM1

Antiochus (Tomb of Marcus Caledius)   PM2

Audia Statia (Tomb of)   PM2

Caledius Antiochus (Tomb of Marcus)   PM2

Caledius Libo (Tomb of Marcus)   PM2

Cor (Tomb of)   PM6

Cornelia Heraes (Tomb of)   PM3

Cornelia Quinta (Tomb of)   PM5

Cornelius Diphilus (Tomb of Quintus)   PM3

Cornelius Lotus (Tomb of Caius)   PM4

Cornelius Potitus (Tomb of Publius)   PM5

Daphine (Tomb of)   PM7

Diphilus (Tomb of Quintus Cornelius)   PM3

Heraes (Tomb of Cornelia)   PM3

Libo (Tomb of Marcus Caledius)   PM2

Lotus (Tomb of Caius Cornelius)   PM4

LPP (Marker stone with incised letters painted in red)   PM11

Marcus Afilllius Primogenes (Tomb of)   PM1

Marker stone with incised letters LPP painted in red   PM11

Maxima (Tomb of Vinullia)   PM5

Mesciniae Veneriae (Tomb of)   PM8

Natalis (Tomb of Caius Novellius)   PM9

Novellius Natalis (Tomb of Caius)   PM9

Numerio? (Tomb of)   PM10

Potitus (Tomb of Publius Cornelius)   PM5

Prepusa (Tomb of Tettia)   PM16

Primigenius (Tomb of)   PM12

Primus (Tomb of Publius Terentius)   PM5

Prisca (Tomb of Terentia)   PM15

Publius Cornelius Potitus, Cornelia Quinta, Publius Terentius Primus and Vinullia Maxima and their dependants (Tomb of)   PM5

Publius Terentius Primus (Tomb of)   PM5

Quinta (Tomb of Cornelia)   PM5

Quintus Cornelius Diphilus, Cornelia Heraes and their own freedmen and freedwomen (Tomb of)   PM3

Saturninus (Tomb of)   PM13

Secunda (Tomb of Sornia)   PM14

Sornia Secunda (Tomb of)   PM14

Statia (Tomb of Audia)   PM2

Terentia Prisca (Tomb of)   PM15

Terentius Primus (Tomb of Publius)   PM5

Tettia Prepusa (Tomb of)   PM16

Veneriae (Tomb of Mesciniae)   PM8

Vinullia Maxima (Tomb of)   PM5

Bibliography

Avellino F. in Bullettino Archeologico Napoletano XLVI (11 dell’anno III), XLVII (12 dell’anno III), pp. 85-90.

Dobbins, J. J. and Foss, P. W., 2008. The World of Pompeii. Oxford: Routledge, p. 585-6, 601.

Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 333f.

Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. G54, p. 153.

Cormack S., in Dobbins, J. J. and Foss, P. W., 2008. The World of Pompeii. Oxford: Routledge, p. 585-6.

Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. X, Pars I, 1883. Berlin: Reimer, p. 121-2, p. 967.

Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

Fiorelli G., 1850. Giornale degli Scavi di Pompei 1, Napoli, pp. 11-14.

Fiorelli G., 1860. Pompei Antiquitatum Historia: Vol. I, Napoli, p. 11-12.

Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 183ff.

De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170-1.

Mommsen T., 1852. Inscriptiones Regni Neapolitani Latinae. Leipzig: G. Wigand, p. 121-2.

Parslow C. C., 2011. Rediscovering Antiquity: Karl Weber and the excavation of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabiae. Cambridge: CUP, p. 200, p. 358 note 1.

Karl Weber’s excavations in the 18th century.

According to Emmerson, although the Porta Stabia itself was not excavated until the mid-nineteenth century, tombs in the area were among the earliest material uncovered at Pompeii.

1754

In 1754, Karl Weber exposed two masonry tombs on the south side of the city and two funerary enclosures.

See Fiorelli G., 1860. Pompei Antiquitatum Historia: Vol. I, Napoli, p. 11-12.

Weber interpreted these as four separate tombs but based on their descriptions they seem to fit into the common Pompeian type of masonry tomb with an attached enclosure for burials.

See Fiorelli G., 1850. Giornale degli Scavi di Pompei 1, Napoli, pp. 11-14.

The first tomb was described as a vaulted underground chamber with walls covered in plaster.

The second was simply called a small arch made of brick and stones.  

Both tombs were empty, and the subterranean chamber was partially filled with ancient earth, causing Weber to believe that they had been looted in antiquity.

See Fiorelli G., 1860. Pompei Antiquitatum Historia: Vol. I, Napoli, p. 11.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21, p. 77 and p. 85 Notes 1-4.

The walled enclosures attached to the tombs proved to be more fruitful.

Here, ten columelle, i.e. stelae shaped as stylized human busts that are typical to the funerary culture of southern Campania, were found - four made of marble and six of lava.

The marble examples were inscribed with the names and ages of the deceased.

Columelle typically mark individual burials within a larger funerary area; accordingly, at the foot of each of these was a cinerary urn containing ashes and burnt bone.

The report mentions a single grave gift: a coin found in one of the urns.

Following the clearing of these two tombs, Weber moved on to other parts of the city in the hopes of richer finds.

1755

In the spring of 1755, however, Weber returned to the area of the previous year's work, where he uncovered more tombs.

These are given only a brief mention in the reports, which are clearly focused on the epigraphic material and works of art uncovered.

Six funerary inscriptions are listed.

They are short, giving only the name of the deceased and perhaps a personal detail.

Based on the content of the inscriptions, it seems clear that these came from columelle, most likely made of marble, since marble columelle were carved with inscriptions far more often than those made of lava.

Given the relative rarity of inscribed marble columelle as compared to uninscribed lava columelle, we can assume that the excavators uncovered many uninscribed examples that went unrecorded.

It remains unclear whether these columelle were associated with masonry tombs, and whether they all belonged to single tomb or to several funerary areas.

We can be sure, however, that they represent a large number of individual burials.

1756

Weber carried out further excavations in the summer of the following year, and in July of 1756 he discovered additional funerary inscriptions.

Several of the excavated inscriptions seem to have been on columelle, including one which the report tells us was "missing its head", confirming its identity as a columella.

Others, however, are more extensive, and have the character of inscriptions marking family tombs.

In this group are three inscriptions, the language typical of inscriptions marking masonry group tombs intended to house the graves of several individuals, suggesting that the excavators uncovered both group tombs and individual burials marked by columelle in this area.

Once more, we must assume that these recorded inscriptions represent a far larger number of tombs and grave markers without inscriptions that went unmentioned in the reports.

1757

With the exception of a few fragmentary inscriptions found in the spring of 1757, no further tombs were uncovered in the area of the Porta Stabia until nearly a century later.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

The tombs were all reburied and the tombstones were immediately transferred to Naples Museum.

In all likelihood the majority of these were found somewhere between the Porta Marina and the Porta di Stabia, but exact locations are no longer discernible.

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 333f.

The tomb inscriptions.

PM1 Pompeii. Tomb of Marcus Afilllius Primogenes

PM1 Pompeii. Inscription on marble cippus of Marcus Afilllius Primogenes, in the form of a herm, found 24 July 1756.

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) this read

M(arcus) Afill{l}ius M(arci) l(ibertus) / Primogenes vixit / annos XX      [CIL X, 1047]

Marcus Afilllius Primogenes, freedman of Marcus, lived twenty years.

Weber’s report tells us it was "missing it's head", confirming its identity as a columella.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 183 no. 14.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 n. 10.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 333.

PM2 Pompeii. Tomb of former slaves Marcus Caledius Antiochus, Audia Statia and Marcus Caledius Libo

PM2 Pompeii. Inscription on marble to Marcus Caledius Antiochus, Audia Statia and Marcus Caledius Libo, found 27th November 1756.

M(arci) Caledi / M(arci) l(iberti) Antiochi / Audia L(uci) l(iberta) Statia / M(arcus) Caledius M(arci) l(ibertus) / Libo      [CIL X, 1048]

To Marcus Caledius Antiochus, freedman of Marcus, Audia Statia, freedwoman of Lucius, and Marcus Caledius Libo, freedman of Marcus.

All of these were former slaves.

This is one of the more extensive inscriptions with the character of inscriptions marking family tombs.

The language is typical of inscriptions marking masonry group tombs intended to house the graves of several individuals, suggesting that the excavators uncovered both group tombs and individual burials marked by columelle in this area.

We must assume that this recorded inscription represents a far larger number of tombs and grave markers without inscriptions that went unmentioned in the reports.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 334.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 80.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 13.

PM3 Pompeii. Tomb of Quintus Cornelius Diphilus, Cornelia Heraes and their own freedmen and freedwomen

PM3 Pompeii. Inscription on marble cippus of Quintus Cornelius Diphilus, Cornelia Heraes and their own freedmen and freedwomen.

Found 27th November 1756.

Q(uintus) Cornelius Q(uinti) P(ubli) l(ibertus) / Diphilus Cornelia Q(uinti) l(iberta) / Heraes h{e}ic cubant et / hoc liberteis meis et / libertabus locum concess(i) / et meis omnibus      [CIL X, 1049 = CIL I, 1638 = ILLRP 956]

Quintus Cornelius Diphilus, freedman of Quintus and Publius, Cornelia Heraes, freedwoman of Quintus lie here and this place is given to my freedmen and freedwomen and all of mine.

This is one of the more extensive inscriptions with the character of inscriptions marking family tombs.

The language is typical of inscriptions marking masonry group tombs intended to house the graves of several individuals, suggesting that the excavators uncovered both group tombs and individual burials marked by columelle in this area.

We must assume that this recorded inscription represents a far larger number of tombs and grave markers without inscriptions that went unmentioned in the reports.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 334.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 44.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 14.

PM4 Pompeii. Tomb of Caius Cornelius Lotus

PM4 Pompeii. Inscription on marble columella of Caius Cornelius Lotus. Found 20th April 1755.

C(aius) Cornelius / Lotus vix(it) / annis L      [CIL X, 1050]

Gaius Cornelius Lotus lived fifty years.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 333.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 44.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 9.

PM5 Pompeii. Tomb of Publius Cornelius Potitus, Cornelia Quinta, Publius Terentius Primus and Vinullia Maxima and their dependants

PM5 Pompeii. Inscription on marble of Publius Cornelius Potitus, Cornelia Quinta, Publius Terentius Primus and Vinullia Maxima and their dependants. Found 27th November 1756.

P(ublio) Cornelio / Potito / Corneliae / Quintae // P(ublio) Terentio / Primo / Vinulliae / Maximae // sibi et suis     [CIL X, 1051]

Publius Cornelius Potitus, Cornelia Quinta, Publius Terentius Primus and Vinullia Maxima and their dependants.

This is one of the more extensive inscriptions with the character of inscriptions marking family tombs.

The language is typical of inscriptions marking masonry group tombs intended to house the graves of several individuals, suggesting that the excavators uncovered both group tombs and individual burials marked by columelle in this area.

We must assume that this recorded inscription represents a far larger number of tombs and grave markers without inscriptions that went unmentioned in the reports.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 44.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 12.

PM6 Pompeii. Tomb of Cor

PM6 Pompeii. Inscription on marble to Cor. Found 20th April 1755.

Cor()      [CIL X, 1052]

Cornelius or Cornelia.

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 333.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 5.

PM7 Pompeii. Tomb of Daphine

PM7 Pompeii. Inscription on marble columella of Daphine. Found 10th November 1754.
Daphine vix(it) / annis XXII      [CIL X, 1053]

Daphine, lived twenty-two years.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 1.

Daphine was almost certainly a slave, given the single name.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

PM8 Pompeii. Tomb of Mesciniae Veneriae

PM8 Pompeii. Inscription on marble columella of Mesciniae Veneriae. Found 20th April 1755.

Mesciniae |(mulieris) l(ibertae) / Veneriae       [CIL X, 1054]

Mescinea Veneria, freedwoman of a woman.

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 334.

According to Emmerson, Mesania Veneria was a freedwoman.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 183 no. 11.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 6.

PM9 Pompeii. Tomb of Caius Novellius Natalis

Display in Naples Archaeological Museum, 2 found at Fondo Santilli, 1 from Porta Marina tombs (centre left) and 1 (centre right) from tombs at Herculaneum Gate. June 2017. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

According to the information card, cippus on left of centre in photo above  -

Marble sepulchral cippus, found 1755, from 42-79AD, inv.3907 (CIL X, 1055) reading –

“Caius Novellius Natalis, cult attendant of aug(ustalis)”.

The deceased is a freedman of the Novelli family, originally from northern Italy.

(“Caio Novellio Natale mag(ister) aug(ustalis)”.

(Il defunto è un liberto della famiglia dei Novellii, originaria dell’Italia settentrionale).

PM9 Pompeii. Marble columella of Caius Novellius Natalis. Found 20th April 1755.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 3907.

PM9 Pompeii. Inscription on marble columella of Caius Novellius Natalis. Found 20th April 1755.

C(aius) Novellius / Natalis mag(ister) Aug(usti)       [CIL X, 1055]

Gaius Novellius Natalis, Magister (of the pagus) Augustus.

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 334.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 104.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 7.

PM10 Pompeii. Tomb of Numerio?

PM10 Pompeii. Inscription on marble columella of Numerio or N.V.P. Found 10th November 1754.

N(umerio?) V() P()      [CIL X, 1056]

N(---) V(---) P(---)

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 334.

The status of N. V. P. remains in question.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 4.

PM11 Pompeii. Marker stone with incised letters LPP painted in red

PM11 Pompeii. Marker of Sorrento/Tiburtino/Caserta stone with incised inscription LPP (Locorum publicorum persequendorum?) and painted in red.

Found in the Masseria d’Irace on 6th December 1766.

L(ocorum) p(ublicorum) p(ersequendorum)      [CIL X, 1057]

In CIL X p. 122 this is said to be of Sorrento stone.

On CIL X p. 967 it is described as Lapidi Tiburtino qui dicitur (pietra di Caserta).

PM12 Pompeii. Tomb of Primigenius

PM12 Pompeii. Inscription on marble cippus of Primigenius. Found 20th April 1755.

Primigenius / v(ixit) an(nos) VII       [CIL X, 1058]

Primigenius, lived seven years.

Primigenius was probably a slave.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 181 no. 3.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 8.

PM13 Pompeii. Tomb of Saturninus

PM13 Pompeii. Tomb with apse of opus incertum masonry outside the gate. Found 10th November 1754.
See Cormack S., in Dobbins, J. J. and Foss, P. W., 2008. The World of Pompeii. Oxford: Routledge, p. 601.

Inscription on marble.

Saturninus / vix(it) an(no) uno m(ensibus) VII       [CIL X, 1059]

SATVRNINVS

VIX AN VNO M VII

Saturninus lived 1 year, 7 months.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. G54, p. 153.

Saturninus was almost certainly a slave, given the single name.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 182 no. 5.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 3.

PM14 Pompeii. Tomb of Sornia Secunda

PM14 Pompeii. Inscription on Travertine/Tiburtino/Caserta stone columella of Sornia Secunda. Found 20th April 1755.

Sornia / Secunda       [CIL X, 1060]

Sornia Secunda

According to Emmerson, the status of Sornia Sicunda in unknown.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 80.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 171 no. 16.

PM15 Pompeii. Tomb of Terentia Prisca

PM15 Pompeii. Inscription on marble columella of Terentia Prisca. Found 27th November 1756.

Terentia / Prisca / v(ixit) a(nnos) X       [CIL X, 1061]

Terentia Prisca, lived 10 years.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 182 no. 8.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 11.

PM16 Pompeii. Tomb of Tettia Prepusa

PM16 Pompeii. Inscription on marble cippus of Tettia Prepusa. Found 10th November 1754.

Tettia / Prepusa / v(ixit) an(nos) XX       [CIL X, 1062]

Tettia Prepusa, lived twenty years.

See Campbell V. L., 2014. The Tombs of Pompeii: Organization, Space, and Society. London: Routledge, p. 334.

The status of Tettia Prepusa remains in question.

See Emmerson A. L. C., 2010. Reconstructing the Funerary Landscape at Pompeii’s Porta Stabia, Rivista di Studi Pompeiani 21.

See Guarini R., 1837. Fasti Duumvirali di Pompei. Napoli: Mirandi, p. 183 no. 15.

See De Jorio A., 1836. Guida di Pompei. Napoli: Fibreno, p. 170 no. 2.