Tombs PSPN Pompeii. Cremations between Porta Sarno and Porta Nola.

According to Cooley, a series of inscriptions (CIL X 8349 to 8361) were found between the Porta Sarno and the Porta Nola.

These appear to be epitaphs and are inscribed directly on the city walls, rather than on separate tombstones.

Nearby were found 38 cinerary urns containing cremations.

“They perhaps represent the burials of the poorer inhabitants of Pompeii”.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. (G56-8, p. 154).

The 2015 excavations have since revealed a different picture with the discovery of a further two urns and an inhumation burial of a baby, aged between 3 and 6 months.

The urns, as well as containing the ashes of the deceased, also contained a coin and funerary goods, usually a small ceramic unguentarium.

See Pompeii Porta Nola Necropolis Project in Papers of the British School at Rome: Vol. LXXXVI, 2018, pp. 313-6.

The third area of the 2015 excavations focused upon a series of inscriptions of Greek names carved into the city wall east of the Nolan Gate towards Tower VII.

Traditionally, these have been interpreted as grave markers, possibly of poorer members of society as the area immediately outside the city walls was public land belonging to the pomerium, the sacred limit of the city.

Excavations in the late 19th century recovered 36 cremation urns, although it is not clear how these may have related to these inscriptions.

The 2015 excavations explored a 15 metre stretch alongside the city wall and the initial findings have revealed a different picture, suggesting a more structured burial area and a level of wealth amongst the deceased.

Whilst many of the burial urns had been removed, their positions could still be recorded due to the pits that had been dug for their placement.

The excavation discovered a far more complex necropolis, with more burials than inscriptions.

Whilst some of these inscriptions may have been lost over time, the excavation revealed a built structure with a wall and floor surface that defined a regular funerary area alongside the city wall.

The earlier investigations had failed to identity all the cremations as several more were discovered in 2015.

Of particular interest was a cremation urn in which had been placed the burnt coin collected from the funerary pyre.

Elsewhere, other funerary goods, such as small ceramic unguentarium were also recovered after being missed by the 19th century excavations.

All these indicate that the burials along the city wall date to the late Republican – Early Imperial period.

Finally, a later burial was also discovered which cut through the funerary structure.

The grave, covered and lined with fragments of amphora, was of a young infant, aged between 3 and 6 months.

See Fastionline – Porta Nola Necropolis 2015 excavations report

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. May 2006. Looking west along the city walls towards Tower VII.

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. July 2011. Walls containing carved inscriptions near Tower VII. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

According to Cooley, a series of inscriptions (CIL X 8349 to 8361) were found between the Porta Sarno and the Porta Nola.

These appear to be epitaphs and are inscribed directly on the city walls, rather than on separate tombstones.

Nearby were found 38 cinerary urns containing cremations.

“They perhaps represent the burials of the poorer inhabitants of Pompeii”.

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. The tomb inscriptions as recorded in CIL X 8349 to 8361.

See Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. X, p. 1007.1871. Berlin: Reimer.

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. 1812 drawing showing inscriptions on walls near tower to Pausia Iulia and Λολλία Χηλειδών (Lollia Chileidon).

According to Minervini, the latter was possibly a free Greek with allegiance to the name Lollia.

See Mazois, F., 1812. Les Ruines de Pompei: Premiere Partie. Paris: Didot Frères, (p. 36, pl. 12).

See Bullettino Archeologico Napolitano, N. S.  3, No 58, November 1854.

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) the first reads

Pausia Iulia       [CIL IV, 2502 (p 466) = CIL X, 8353 = AE 2004, +00398]

According to the Packard Humanities Institute https://epigraphy.packhum.org/text/141043?hs=60-68 the second reads

Λολλία

Χηλειδών.        [CIL IV, 2498 = CIL X, 8355 = IG-14, 00706 = AE 2004, +00398]

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. July 2015. Inscription to Λολλία Χηλειδών (Lollia Chileidon) on city walls near tower.

See D’Ambrosio, A. and De Caro, S., 1983. Un Impegno per Pompei: Fotopiano e documentazione della Necropoli di Porta Nocera. Milano: Touring Club Italiano, p. 25.

According to the Packard Humanities Institute http://epigraphy.packhum.org/inscriptions/ this reads

Λολλία

Χηλειδών.        [CIL IV, 2498 = CIL X, 8355 = IG-14, 00706 = AE 2004, +00398]

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. July 2011. Walls near Tower VII. Inscription to Aulius Fistium? Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

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

A(uli) Fisti v(ivit?)

locu(s)       [CIL IV, 2501 (p 466) = CIL X, 8351 = AE 2004, +00398 ]

C.I.L. suggests this is perhaps A. Fistiu(m) - or Afistiu(m) for Aufustium Lo[g]u(m)?

See Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. IV, 1871. Berlin: Reimer, p. 161.

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. July 2011. Walls near Tower VII. According to Virginia Campbell this is in fact Aulus Festius.

See https://pompeiinetworks.wordpress.com/tag/tombs/

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. July 2011. Niche in walls near Tower VII. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. July 2011. Inscription to PROTVS on walls near Tower VII. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

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

Protus      [CIL IV, 2500 = CIL X, 8357 = AE 2004, +00398]

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. July 2011. Inscription to PROTVS on walls near Tower VII. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

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

Protus      [CIL IV, 2500 = CIL X, 8357 = AE 2004, +00398]

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. 1993. Section of wall with inscription to Caius Considius (lower left).

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. 1993. Inscription to Caius Considius.

According to Senatore this reads XC · CO∑IDIVS.

See Senatore F, 1999. Necropoli e società nell’antica Pompei: In Pompei, il Vesuvio e la Penisola Sorrentina, p. 97.

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

C(aius) Co(n)sidius     [CIL IV, 2494 (p 466) = CIL X, 8350 = AE 2004, +00398]

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. 1993. Inscription to Alleia Calaes alleia Numphe.

According to Senatore this reads ALLEIA / CALAES / AL · NVPE.

See Senatore F, 1999. Necropoli e società nell’antica Pompei: In Pompei, il Vesuvio e la Penisola Sorrentina, p. 98.

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

Alleia

Calaes

Al(leia) Nu(m)phe      [CIL IV, 2495 (p 466) = CIL X, 8349 = AE 2004, +00398]

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. 1877 drawing by Nissen of inscription to NA.

See Nissen H., 1877. Pompejanische Studien zur Städtekunde des Altertums. Leipzig: Breitkopf Und Härtel, p. 482.

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

NA      [CIL IV, 2550,06 (p 466) = CIL X, 8356]

Tombs PSPN Pompeii. 2015. Inscription to Loia?

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

LOIA                [CIL IV, 2497 (p 466) = CIL X, 8354 = AE 2004, +00398]

Other inscriptions

In all there were 13 inscriptions.

The Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) records the remaining inscriptions as

A S

A[3]ISTII F       [CIL IV, 2499 (p 466) = CIL X, 8352 = AE 2004, +00398]

C(ai) Venni       [CIL IV, 2496 (p 466) = CIL X, 8358 = AE 2004, +00398]

XAI                  [CIL IV, 2550,07 (p 466) = CIL X, 8359]

Cai[                 [CIL IV, 2550,08 (p 466) = CIL X, 8360]

L P(?)               [CIL IV, 2550,05 (p 466) = CIL X, 8361]