The discovery of a tomb during the works for the construction of a cavity in the building of San Paolino, the new headquarters of the library of the Archaeological Park of Pompei, has brought to light an inscription that tells the story of Numerius Agrestinus, a high-ranking man who lived during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD).
Agrestino, after a brilliant military career that saw him engaged as military tribune, prefect of the Autrygoni and prefect of military engineers, settled in Pompeii, a Campanian city famous for its beauty and its mild climate, which also attracted illustrious figures such as Cicero and Agrippa.
Honored with a funerary monument on public land
The inscription on the tomb, which is located inside a semicircular niche, typical of Pompeian burials, reveals that Agrestino was granted, by decree of the city council, a burial place on public land, an honor reserved for very few illustrious citizens.
This privilege, combined with the fact that he twice held the office of duumvir, the highest magistracy in Pompeii, testifies to the great social and political prestige that Agrestino had achieved.
An important piece to understanding Roman society of the time
The discovery of the tomb of Agrestino is an important piece in the reconstruction of Roman society during the Augustan period. It offers precious information on the network of power that linked the elites of the empire and on the role they played in the military campaigns of conquest.
An example of how protection, research and enhancement are intertwined in Pompeii
“The unexpected discovery of this monument,” explains the director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, “is yet another example of how in Pompeii protection, research and valorization are closely intertwined.”
Still to be discovered
The analysis of the inscription has also allowed us to discover a new title held by Agrestino, that of “praefectus Autrygonum”. This is a previously unknown position that helps us to better understand the organization of Roman power in a period of transition towards the imperial model.
The discovery of the tomb of Numerius Agrestinus represents a significant step forward in our knowledge of Roman history and life in Pompeii during the Augustan era.
Article published on 16 July 2024 - 14:58
