Etruscan Tomb / Villa Giulia

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This tomb, discovered in 1873 at the necropolis of Tarquinia, consists of a large chamber carved into rock. The entire interior is decorated with painted plaster. It contained burial beds.

The walls are divided into two registers, the upper depicting numerous figures, and the lower a pattern of dolphins dancing over waves.

“Early interpretations of the paintings identified the catafalque as the funeral bed of the deceased wealthy couple to which the tomb belonged and around which the banquet and funeral games took place.” (Villa Giulia description plaque).

The ceiling is divided by a faux “beam” decorated with rosettes and crawling ivy. On either side is a multicolored checker motif.

Date: 470-460 BC

The tomb is on display in the National Etruscan Museum at the Villa Giulia, in Rome, Italy.