Exceptional discovery in Pompeii: funerary relief of a couple from the Necropolis of Porta Sarno

During the archaeological excavations conducted as part of the project “Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii”, a funerary relief of extraordinary importance emerged. The discovery took place at the necropolis of Porta Sarno and depicts a couple, a man and a woman, in almost life-size.

Discovery Details:

• Funeral Relief: The two high-relief sculptures belonged to a monumental tomb, a testimony to the grandeur and care reserved for the deceased in ancient Pompeii.
• Archaeological Context: The excavation area, already investigated in the 90s for the construction of the Circumvesuviana, revealed the presence of over 50 cremation burials and an arched funerary monument.
• Meaning of the Figures: The symbolism of the woman's carved accessories suggests that she may have been a priestess of Ceres. The quality of the carving and the archaic features of the sculptures indicate a late Republican date.

Restoration and Exhibition:

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• The sculptures were transferred to the Palestra of the Pompeii excavations, where their restoration began.
• The public will be able to admire the finds and witness the delicate restoration process during the exhibition “Being a Woman in Ancient Pompeii”, which will open on 16 April 2025.

Importance of Discovery:

• The Director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, underlined the importance of this excavation campaign to broaden knowledge of the area outside the walls of Pompeii.
• The discovery is the result of a multidisciplinary project involving archaeologists, architects, restorers and anthropologists, thanks to the collaboration with the Universitat de València.

This discovery provides precious evidence of life and funerary practices in ancient Pompeii, enriching our understanding of this civilization.

Details and insights into the study hypotheses are reported in the article by Llorenç Alapont et al , published today in the E-Journal of the Pompeii excavations https://pompeiisites.org/e-journal-degli-scavi-di-pompei/

(the photo of the sculpture of the funerary relief at Porta Sarno is by Alfio Giannotti)