Situated at the intersection between via delle Sette Chiese and via Ostiense, the graveyard occupies the central lane of the avenue, like a singular traffic island protected by a large roof.
This was an operation to create a museum, after excavations of this vast sector of tombs in 1918 and was the only one that can be seen of the larger necropolis below.
Primarily famous for the presence of the tomb of the apostle Paolo, the graveyard, which covers an area of about 350 m, offers an extraordinary documentation of the itinerary from cremation to the burial rites, commonly used in the second and third centuries AD.
Utilized from the 2nd c. BC to the 4th c. AD, the graveyard of via Ostiense was located on three main levels, as indicated by the older tombs in the northern area. The facade of one cella (I), dated second century BC, in square tuff works with a door framed with Travertine door jambs and lintels, is still preserved. Two brick tombs from the imperial age (II and III) were built above the graveyard and dated back to the 2nd century B.C. A small part of the first is still in existence and the other is an example of a typical columbarium.
Beyond the columbarium VI, another area (V) with walls interspersed with niches, in a network style, may be accessed. It was probably originally open, as indicated by the brick-lined well emerging from the ground.
It is also stressed that certain movable parts, found on the site, were transferred for security reasons. For example, cinerary urns made of ornate marble with flower motifs, now on show in the Musei Capitolini and in the Antiquarium Comunale - an especially touching example is offered by the modest gold jewellery and silver hair pins which were buried with a young girl - should be added to the inscriptions walled into the external walls of the keeper's house.
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Regio XIII- Aventinus
Via Ostiense |  |
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