Tomb of the Scipios
Location
City/Town
Rome
Modern Country
Italy
Culture
Roman
Site Type
Tomb
Description
The monument has two sections: the main complex and a brick-built arcade with a separate entrance. The central room is separated by four pilasters, with four long arcades along two central galleries. A high podium is the base of the structure, and it had three ashlar arches. One arch lead to the main tomb, another to a room, and the third on lead to no where. The upper part had semicolumns and three niches where statues of Scipio Africanus, Scipio Asiaticus, and the poet Ennius were placed.
Sarcophagi
Sarcophagus of Scipio Barbatus
The name was inscribed on the lid of the Sarcophagus, and the epitaph on the front of it.
Inscription:
CORNELIVS·LVCIVS·SCIPIO·BARBATVS·GNAIVOD·PATRE
PROGNATVS·FORTIS·VIR·SAPIENSQVE—QVOIVS·FORMA·VIRTVTEI·PARISVMA
FVIT—CONSOL CENSOR·AIDILIS·QVEI·FVIT·APVD·VOS—TAVRASIA·CISAVNA
SAMNIO·CEPIT—SVBIGIT·OMNE·LOVCANA·OPSIDESQVE·ABDOVCIT
Translation:
Cornelius Lucius Scipio Barbatus, sprung from Gnaeus his father, a man strong and wise, whose appearance was most in keeping with his virtue, who was consul, censor, and aedile among you - He captured Taurasia Cisauna in Samnium - he subdued all of Lucania and led off hostages.
Sarcophagus of Lucius Cornelius Scipio
Only fragments of this Sarcophagus remain, but the epitaph on it has been preserved.
Inscription:
Hunc unum plurimi consentiunt Romae
bonorum optimum fuisse virum
Lucium Scipionem. Filius Barbati,
Consul, Censor, Aedilis hic fuit.
Hic cepit Corsicam Aleriamque urbem
dedit tempestatibus aedem merito
Translation:
Romans for the most part agree,
that this one man, Lucius Scipio, was the best of good men.
He was the son of Barbatus,
Consul, Censor, Aedile.
He took Corsica and the city of Aleria.
He dedicated a temple to the Storms as a just return
Sarcophagus of Publius Cornelius Scipio
The only remains of this sarcophagus are two fragments of a stone plate with inscriptions engraved on them.
Sarcophagus of Lucius Cornelius Scipio
Inscription:
Lucius Cornelius Lucii filius Publii nepos
Scipio. Quaestor
Tribunis Militum annos
natus XXXIII
mortuus. Pater
regem Antiochum
subegit
Translation:
Lucius Cornelius, son of Lucius, grandson of Publius, Scipio, quaestor, military tribune, died aged 33 years. His father conquered king Antiochus.
Key Words
Niches
Scipio Africanus
Scipio Asiaticus
Ennius
Tomb
Sarcophagus