THE ROMAN MUMMY OF GROTTAROSSA

Mummification was never a Roman custom, and at present the Grottarossa mummy must be considered a unique specimen (Ascenzi et al. 1996).

The Grottarossa district is on the outskirts of Rome, nine miles north of the Capitol along the via Cassia; the mummy was accidentally discovered there on 5 February 1964, during digging prior to building work. The corpse was found in a rectangular sarcophagus of white marble, with a lid opening at the front, and masks on its corners. Both the sarcophagus and its lid are decorated with fine ornamental carvings. There is a deer-hunting scene on the long front side, continuing as a boar hunting scene on the short right side. According to E. Paribeni in a press conference following the discovery of the mummy, the scene is inspired by the Aeneas and Dido episode in Book IV of the Aeneid. A lion-hunting scene is shown on the lid opening. Africa, Venus and a fluvial divinity are displayed in symbolic form on the short left side.

The mummy was an 8 year old girl (as indicated by the height and dental development). It exhibited jewels of a type that corresponded to her youth: a pair of gold earrings, a gold necklace with sapphires, and a gold ring. The funerary items included an articulated ivory doll, a small amber shell-shaped box, a small amber pot, a little box with a handle, and a little amber die.