An ancient Roman marble cinerarium, the front carved with two facing griffins between two claw footed tripods holding globes; a central panel inscribed with a funerary dedication, DIS MANIB M PONTIO M F LONGINO VIX ANN VI M VI D XI H II; “To the Shades of the Dead, for Marcus Pontius Longinus, son of Marcus, (who) lived 6 years, 6 months, 11 days, 2 hours.”
Ca. 1st century AD.
Cineraria which held the cremated remains of the deceased bore inscriptions naming the individual and often those who provided for the the funerary monument. Some cineraria had recesses a the top through which libations were poured, often wine, honey, milk or olive oil. The cinerarium was often placed in a family vault or Columbaria.
Found before 1887 on the Via Trionfale, Rome; French private collection until the 1990s; subsequently in an American private collection.
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