Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
How Two Skeletons And Their Jewels Shed Light On The Eternal City’s Past
Rome is a city that never ceases to surprise and fascinate. Beneath its modern streets and buildings, there lies a rich and complex history that spans millennia, from the glory of the Roman Empire to the splendor of the Renaissance, from the turmoil of the Middle Ages to the elegance of the Baroque. Every corner of the city hides a story, a mystery, or a treasure, waiting to be uncovered and revealed.
One of the most recent and remarkable discoveries in Rome is that of two ancient skeletons that were buried with exquisite shoes and jewels, dating from the 1st to the 3rd centuries CE. The skeletons, a man and a woman, were found during the construction of a new subway line, the C line, which will connect the city center with the eastern suburbs. The C line, which has been under construction since 2007, has been dubbed the “archaeological line” by the media, as it has encountered numerous obstacles and delays due to the constant discovery of archaeological remains along its route.
The skeletons were found in 2018, near the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, one of the oldest and most important churches in Rome. They were buried in a simple pit, covered with tiles and bricks, in a necropolis that was located outside the ancient city walls. The necropolis, which was used between the 1st and 4th centuries CE, contained hundreds of tombs, some of which were decorated with frescoes, mosaics, and inscriptions.
What makes the skeletons stand out from the rest of the tombs is the extraordinary quality and quantity of the shoes and jewels that they were wearing. The shoes, made of leather and wood, were adorned with gold, silver, pearls, amber, and glass, forming intricate patterns and motifs. The jewels, which included rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and brooches, were also made of precious metals and stones, and displayed a variety of styles and influences, from Roman to Greek, from Egyptian to Persian.
The shoes and jewels indicate that the skeletons belonged to the upper class of Roman society, and that they had access to luxury goods and exotic materials from different parts of the empire and beyond. They also suggest that they had a refined taste and a keen interest in fashion and appearance, as they chose to be buried with their most prized possessions, rather than leaving them to their heirs or donating them to the gods.
The shoes and jewels also reveal some aspects of the personal and social lives of the skeletons, such as their age, gender, marital status, and religious beliefs. The man, who was between 35 and 45 years old, was wearing a gold ring with a carnelian intaglio, engraved with the image of a man holding a scroll and a staff, possibly a philosopher or a teacher. He also had a silver ring with a glass paste, depicting a couple embracing, possibly a wedding ring. The woman, who was between 25 and 35 years old, was wearing a gold ring with a garnet, engraved with the name “Maxima”, which could be her own name or that of a loved one. She also had a gold pendant with a cameo, representing the goddess Isis, who was widely worshipped in the Roman Empire, especially by women.
The shoes and jewels of the skeletons are not only valuable artifacts, but also powerful symbols of the identity and culture of the people who wore them. They tell us about their aspirations, their passions, their values, and their beliefs. They also connect us with a distant and fascinating past, that still resonates and inspires us today.
The shoes and jewels of the skeletons are currently on display at the Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo, in Rome, as part of an exhibition titled “Subterranea: The Hidden Rome”. The exhibition, which runs until January 9, 2024, showcases some of the most significant and spectacular finds from the C line excavations, such as mosaics, frescoes, statues, coins, and pottery. The exhibition also offers a virtual reality experience, allowing visitors to explore the underground spaces and structures that were unearthed by the subway works, such as aqueducts, sewers, catacombs, and temples.
The exhibition is a rare opportunity to witness the hidden and forgotten layers of Rome’s history, and to appreciate the beauty and diversity of its artistic and cultural heritage. It is also a testament to the challenges and rewards of preserving and integrating the past and the present, the ancient and the modern, in a city that is constantly evolving and transforming.
