Tomb of Eurysaces the Baker

The imposing tomb of Eurysaces located directly behind the Porta Maggiore in Rome. It probably dates from the year 30 BC The bulk bakers Eurysaces it was for himself and his wife set up. The strange round holes in his grave should probably symbolize bread dough Knettröge.

Probably was on the monument originally a pyramidal tip. Just like Cestius, who built a pyramid as a tomb to Eurysaces was probably addicted to Egyptomania.

Architecture

The tomb has a trapezoidal plan. It consists of a panel, a floor and a small crowned pyramid, which no longer exists today. The upper floor can be divided into four zones:

• The first zone is vertically arranged cylindrical motifs, which are located between trims.
• The second zone is divided by a smooth horizontal stripes with an inscription. The inscription reads " est hoc monimentum Marcei Vergilei Eurysacis Pistoris redemptoris: apparet ". That is to say: this is the Monument of the baker Marcus Vergilius Eurysaces, he's entrepreneurs and officials. "
• A smooth, encompassed by pilasters field with three rows of cylindrical motifs that are as open in the first zone hollow and outwards, the third zone forms. These cylindrical openings could be interpreted as bread dough Knettröge.
• The frieze represents the fourth zone and shows steps of making bread.

Both the content of the inscription as well as the frieze indicate the profession of Eurysaces.

Since he did not have as a freedman of the Roman civil law, he could work as a baker. However, it was possible to obtain full citizenship if they worked for the state. In the service of the state there were certain commitments: Baker had the bread at low prices of Annona deliver, its members had to be registered in the official lists, pursuing the occupation in person and had to cake 100 bushels a day. For this, they enjoyed privileges, and if a freedman made ​​this for over 3 years, he was able to obtain full citizenship. < RE XX 2, 1821ff. " pistor " >

Considering the cost of the property, as well as the architects and craftsmen of the tomb, he must have made it very far in his profession.

The urn in the form of a bread basket, in which the ashes of the Eurysaces and his wife will reside, is in form a further reference to the desire of the baker as to present itself even after his death as a baker. It can be visited at the spa museums in Rome today.

The main page of the tomb faces east. On this side, probably the portrait relief of the baker pair has been located, which was demolished during the construction of the Aurelian walls in the 5th century AD, along with the pyramid. The relief portrait is now in the Capitoline Museums in Rome.

History of the monument

As 271 AD, the Aurelian Wall was built, the tomb was located in front of the city of Rome. However, when Emperor Honorius in the 5th century AD, the Aurelian Walls had amplify the tomb of Eurysaces was integrated into the fortifications. It was built into one of the towers, the top and the relief portrait used as a quarry and incorporated into the building. When they demolished in 1838 this stem the Porta Maggiore, the tomb of Eurysaces reappeared. The portrait remains could be recovered, the presence of a peak of the tomb is not thinking at the time and examined accordingly, the stones are not too carefully. Only later archaeological investigations at the Tomb gave rise to the presumption, a small pyramid have formed the roof of the tomb.