Cinerarium with Lid
about A.D. 20–40
In the first century AD, the ashes of the dead were often placed in a marble cinerarium (cinerary chest), which was displayed in a niche in the family tomb. On this example, the decoration, which includes flowers and birds, symbolizes fertility and rebirth.
The front and sides of the chest are enclosed in frames. There are small feet at the front. The lower border is wider at the sides, and lies directly on the ground.
A rectangular tabula with a molded frame is set into the top of the front side in the middle. Beneath it, acanthus leaves form a cup from which two scrolls emerge. The first loop of each scroll holds a blossom. The scrolls end in a chalice of leaves in the second loop. Flowers are found in the lower corners, while at the top, a bird perches on the upper loop on each side. These birds turn toward the center while pecking at stems.
The left and right sides of the urn are alike. In the middle, growing out of a cup of acanthus, a leaf motif bears a small krater at the top. Two birds sit drinking on its rim. Scrolls of leaves extend from the acanthus cup and form three loops on both sides. In the lowest loop is a flower, the middle one holds leaves, and the top fruits (?). There are also two flowers at the sides between the top and middle loops. On the left end there are two flowers growing out of the scrolls.
The lid combines a rooftop form with a gable, and an altar form with volutes. The gable is framed by a twisted band, and at the top, with a row of dentils as well. Within the gable frame, two birds drink from a bowl. In the corners are shells from which lions' heads protrude. There is a flower in each of the volutes. In the spandrels between the gable and volutes, palmettes. On top of the roof, leaves and fruits. A strip runs along the ridge of the roof, and another divides the two sides.
(Description after Koch and Wight 1988)
The front and sides of the chest are enclosed in frames. There are small feet at the front. The lower border is wider at the sides, and lies directly on the ground.
A rectangular tabula with a molded frame is set into the top of the front side in the middle. Beneath it, acanthus leaves form a cup from which two scrolls emerge. The first loop of each scroll holds a blossom. The scrolls end in a chalice of leaves in the second loop. Flowers are found in the lower corners, while at the top, a bird perches on the upper loop on each side. These birds turn toward the center while pecking at stems.
The left and right sides of the urn are alike. In the middle, growing out of a cup of acanthus, a leaf motif bears a small krater at the top. Two birds sit drinking on its rim. Scrolls of leaves extend from the acanthus cup and form three loops on both sides. In the lowest loop is a flower, the middle one holds leaves, and the top fruits (?). There are also two flowers at the sides between the top and middle loops. On the left end there are two flowers growing out of the scrolls.
The lid combines a rooftop form with a gable, and an altar form with volutes. The gable is framed by a twisted band, and at the top, with a row of dentils as well. Within the gable frame, two birds drink from a bowl. In the corners are shells from which lions' heads protrude. There is a flower in each of the volutes. In the spandrels between the gable and volutes, palmettes. On top of the roof, leaves and fruits. A strip runs along the ridge of the roof, and another divides the two sides.
(Description after Koch and Wight 1988)
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)