Basic info

Collection

Archaeology

Title

Tombstone of Julia Velva

Object name

Tombstone

Object category

Roman

Description

Relief with Julia Velva on couch with young girl, boy servant and Aurelius Mercurialis above inscription. Described in eboracum as "Tombstone of gritstone, rectangular, 3ft ins by 4ft 9ins. An architectural frame encloses a round-headed niche in which is a relief of a funeral feast; in the spandrels are pine-cones. Below the relief is Julia Velva, whose head, with hair parted in the middle, and torso are alone visible, reclining on a couch and propping her head on her left arm, which rests on a cusion. She holds a wine jar in her right hand. The couch has a very thick matress, high sides and legs nobbed at the top but otherwise plain. In front of the couch, left to right, are shown a young girl seated on a basket chair and clasping a pet bird, a three-legged table on which are dishes are food, a boy standing with his right hand on the table and holding a jug in his left, while Aurelius Mercurialis, beared, stands in front of a larger table with claw feet, and holds a scroll in his right hand. Found in 1922, in making Abermarle Road, 15 yds from The Mount. D(IS) M(ANIBVS) IVLIE VELVE PIENTISSI ME VIXIT AN(NOS) L AVREL(IVS) MERVRIALIS HER(ES) FACI VNDVM CVRAVIT VIVVS SIBI ET SVIS FECIT "To the spirits of the departed and to Julia Velva. She lived 50 years, most dutifully. Auelius Mercurialis, her heir, had (this tombstone) made. He made it while alive for himself and his family.""

Production date start

44

Production date end

410

Period

Roman