One of the Largest and Best-Preserved Freedman Tombs in Ancient Rome
Just outside the ancient walls of Rome stands a truly unique monument: the Tomb of Marcus Vergilius Eurysaces, better known as Eurysaces the Baker. Unlike the grand temples and marble shrines dedicated to emperors and generals, this tomb was built by a freedman a former slave who rose to prominence through honest labor.
🧱 A Monument of Ambition and Identity
Constructed around 50 20 BC, near the end of the Roman Republic, the tomb is striking in both design and symbolism. Its unusual architectural features cylindrical shapes believed to represent grain-measuring vessels pay homage to Eurysaces’ trade as a baker and contractor.
An inscription carved halfway up the structure proudly reads:
“This is the monument of Marcus Vergilius Eurysaces, baker, contractor, public servant.”
This declaration not only commemorates his profession, but also reflects a moment in Roman society where freedmen could attain wealth, social status, and public recognition.
🪨 Art in the “Plebeian Style”
The sculpted frieze that wraps around the tomb is a rare surviving example of the “plebeian style” in Roman art a form that emphasized function, narrative, and realism over classical beauty. It vividly illustrates scenes from the bread-making process: kneading dough, stoking ovens, and weighing flour. This visual storytelling turns the monument into both a tomb and a celebration of labor.
❤️ A Family Legacy
Eurysaces likely built the tomb not only for himself but also for his wife, Atistia, whose name appears on a separate funerary urn. Together, they represent the aspirations of many former slaves who found new identities and opportunities within the Roman world.
🏛️ A Working-Class Hero’s Legacy
In a city filled with tributes to emperors and gods, the Tomb of Eurysaces is a monument to dignity in work. It reminds us that in ancient Rome, even those born in chains could leave behind a legacy carved in stone one that still tells their story more than two millennia later.
📷 Credit to the original photographer
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