Stone grave marker for pouring libations, Roman, 1-300 CE

Made:
1-300 CE in Roman Empire
Rectangular stone slab Rectangular stone slab

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Rectangular stone slab
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Rectangular stone slab
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Rectangular stone slab, perforated in centre for pouring libations through into a grave, dedicated by parents for their son Theopropus, Roman, 1-300

Beginning with the words “To the Spirits of the Dead”, this sepulchral slab was dedicated to a man, Theopropus, by his parents. The slab would have lain on top on a grave and underneath its stone cover were holes so that wine, milk, honey, water or oil – known as libations – can be poured into the grave. Libations were offered to the ghosts of the dead to feed them in the afterlife. Another theory is that the offerings were to prevent the dead haunting the living.

The slab was originally part of the Gorga collection owned by Evangelista Gennaro Gorga (1865-1957), a famous Italian opera tenor. The Gorga collection of mostly Roman instruments, votive offerings and pharmacy ware was bought in two parts by Henry Wellcome in 1924 and 1936.

Details

Category:
Classical & Medieval Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A655527
Materials:
stone
Measurements:
overall: 30 mm x 230 mm x 266 mm, 3.8 kg
type:
sepulchral slab
credit:
Corga