29 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

A Life-Size Funerary High Relief Discovered in Pompeii’s Porta Sarno Necropolis

A research project titled “Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii,” developed by the Universitat de València in collaboration with the Pompeii Archaeological Park, has led to a groundbreaking discovery in the Porta Sarno necropolis of Pompeii, unearthing a remarkable funerary relief depicting a couple—almost life-size—that sheds light on the funerary practices and social dynamics of this ancient city.

Led by Professor Llorenç Alapont, the project aims to deepen our understanding of the social identity of the deceased in a city famously buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. The high-relief figures, which have been transferred to the Palaestra Grande for meticulous restoration, will be featured in the upcoming exhibition “Being a Woman in Ancient Pompeii,” set to open on April 16, 2025. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to observe the restoration process as it unfolds within the exhibition space.

The excavation of the area began in July 2024, although it had previously been explored during the 1990s when a second track for the Circumvesuviana railway was installed. Notably, a 1998 excavation campaign documented over 50 cremation burials marked by stelae and monumental structures, including a large funerary arch.

Recent investigations have revealed a monumental tomb characterized by a large wall with several niches, at the top of which the newly discovered relief of a man and woman is sculpted. This suggests that the couple may have held a significant social presence in Pompeian society. Intriguingly, the symbolism surrounding the female figure indicates she may have been a priestess of the goddess Ceres, highlighting her involvement in the city’s religious life.

Detail of the high relief. Credit: Alfio Giannotti - Archaeological Park of Pompeii
Detail of the high relief. Credit: Alfio Giannotti – Archaeological Park of Pompeii

The artistic quality and stylistic features of the relief date it to the late Republican period, a time when local elites reinforced their identities through imposing funerary monuments. The director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, emphasized the project’s potential to expand knowledge about life in Pompeii’s extramural areas, noting past collaborations with the Universitat de València that led to significant discoveries, such as the tomb of Marcus Venerius Secundio.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



The multidisciplinary team, comprising archaeologists, architects, restorers, and anthropologists, has meticulously recovered and analyzed the remains found in the Porta Sarno necropolis. Initial analyses and conclusions have been published in the E-Journal of the Excavations of Pompeii, where the team presents hypotheses regarding the identity of the figures in the relief and the funerary context of their discovery.

In addition to the relief, the excavations have uncovered evidence of funerary rituals, including ceramic remains and glass ointment jars, likely used in libation ceremonies. These rituals, which involved pouring perfumed oils, were essential for creating a multisensory atmosphere during funerals, counteracting the unpleasant odors associated with death.

As excavations continue, the findings from the Porta Sarno funerary area promise to reshape our understanding of Pompeii’s social and religious landscape. The discoveries not only highlight the complexity of funerary customs but also underscore the active participation of women in religious practices, challenging previous assumptions about gender roles in ancient Roman society.

The ongoing research emphasizes the need for further documentation and exploration of this significant archaeological site, as it continues to reveal the rich tapestry of life and death in ancient Pompeii.

Archaeological Park of Pompeii

Cover Image Credit: Alfio Giannotti / Parco archeologico di Pompei (Archaeological Park of Pompeii )

Related Articles

A bronze tablet from 2000 years ago proves that Greek was spoken in Anatolia and that a multicultural life existed ‘Anisa tablet’

12 April 2024

12 April 2024

The Anisa bronze tablet proves that Greek was used in Anatolia 2000 years ago and that a multicultural life existed....

Mothers in the prehistoric were far more skilled at parenting their children than we give them credit for

24 November 2021

24 November 2021

The death rate of newborns in ancient cultures is not a reflection of inadequate healthcare, sickness, or other issues, according...

Knife and Lost Armor: First-Ever Verified Artifacts from Emperor Nintoku’s 5th-Century Kofun Tomb Revealed

13 August 2025

13 August 2025

In a discovery that is already rewriting the history of Japan’s ancient Kofun period, researchers have confirmed the existence of...

6000-Year-Old Salt Production House Rewrites Europe’s History

31 March 2021

31 March 2021

Archaeologists in the UK have found an ancient stone age-era salt-production house in North Yorkshire, estimated to be older even...

Falaj al Misfah: Working for a thousand years

26 September 2021

26 September 2021

The village of Al Misfah Abriyeen is known for its lush oasis, magnificent orchards, and year-round water source, the ‘aflaj.’...

Parts of the City of the old city of Ghadames called the pearl of the desert collapsed due to rainfall

28 January 2022

28 January 2022

Some parts of the Old City of Ghadames, located in an oasis about 600km southwest of Tripoli near Libya’s border...

Egyptian archaeologists found 110 ancient tombs in the Nile Delta

28 April 2021

28 April 2021

The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry announced Tuesday that Egyptian archaeologists had discovered 110 burial tombs on the Nile Delta dating...

Archaeologists have unearthed part of Hadrian’s Aqueduct, one of the Largest Hydraulic Works of the 2nd century AD, and Extremely Rare Greek Coins

11 January 2024

11 January 2024

Archaeologists have unearthed part of Hadrian’s aqueduct, one of the largest hydraulic works of the 2nd century AD, and a...

The Big Universe Coming Out from the Dust “in Esna Temple”

7 February 2021

7 February 2021

While the Esna Temple has been waiting to renew and breathe again for a long time, it has recently experienced...

8,000-year-old Yarmukian ‘Mother Goddess’ figurine discovered in Israel

9 July 2022

9 July 2022

An 8,000-year-old Yarmukian Mother Goddess figurine was found at Sha’ar HaGolan archaeological site, located on the northern bank of the...

Bronze Age Wedge Tomb Discovered on the Dingle Peninsula maybe Even Older

22 April 2021

22 April 2021

A wedge tomb recently discovered on the Dingle Peninsula of Ireland was described by archaeologists as “quite unusual”. Wedge tombs...

Egypt Traces Relics of Ramses III to the Arabian Peninsula

7 June 2021

7 June 2021

Following various findings showing ancient Egyptian King Ramses III had a presence on the Arabian Peninsula, an Egyptian archaeological team...

Archaeologists made a remarkable discovery in Kosovo: Evidence that the great Byzantine Emperor was of Dardanian origin

19 August 2023

19 August 2023

A mixed team of international and local experts led by Professor Christophe J. Goddard has unearthed a monumental inscription of...

Intact Bodies of Catalan Nobles Discovered in Santes Creus Monastery

11 March 2024

11 March 2024

A team of archaeologists and anthropologists found the human remains of a dozen members of the Catalan nobility dating back...

Women May Have Ruled El Algar in the Bronze Age

12 March 2021

12 March 2021

The diadem found in the Bronze Age tomb belonging to the El Algar culture may have belonged to a queen....