25 May 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

An unexpected discovery in Pompeii: A Roman Tomb Reveals the Existence of an Unknown Imperial Position in Hispania

Work to create a functional air chamber to evacuate moisture from the underground spaces of the San Paolino building, the new headquarters of the library of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, accidentally exposed the tomb of an important military official who served under the emperor Augustus (r. 27 B.C.- 14 A.D.) during his last wars of conquest in Spain.

A surprising discovery in Pompeii gives us new information about the history of Spain between the 1st century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. The inscription on the tomb tells us of a brilliant military career followed by a quiet retirement in Pompeii, now a symbol of world archaeology, at the time a town in Campania renowned for the beauty of its landscape and views of the Gulf of Naples.

The discovery was announced in the E-Journal of Pompeii Excavations, the online magazine that reports “in real-time” on discoveries and ongoing research at the archaeological site.

Maria Chiara Scappaticcio, Full Professor of Latin Language and Literature at the University of Naples Federico II, and Alberto Dalla Rosa, Full Professor of Roman History at Université Bordeaux Montaigne, contributed to the reading and interpretation of the inscription.

First, the construction revealed the two ends of a semicircular tomb—known as a “schola” tomb. In Pompeii, schola tombs were previously discovered. They are composed of a semicircular volcanic tufa stone bench with terminals shaped like lion paws. Following excavation, a sizable inscription with remnants of the original red paint inside was discovered on the bench’s curved back. The inscription was expertly carved in extremely regular letters.

The tomb was so old and neglected when the eruption occurred in 79 A.D. that the monument was buried up to the bench. Even so, when Vesuvius covered the city in death, the inscription remained clear and readable, even after it had been ignored and forgotten.

Photo: Archaeological Park of Pompeii

The inscription on the back of the bench revealed who the deceased was, reserving more than one surprise for those in charge of the work, The inscription reads in large letters:

N(umerius) AGRESTINUS N(umerius) F(ilius) EQUITUS PULCHER TRIB(unus) MIL(itum) PRAEF(ectus) AUTRYGON(um) PRAEF(ectus) FABR(um) II D(uum)V(irus) I(ure) D(icundo) ITER(um) LOCUS SEPULTURAE DATUS D(ecreto) D(ecurionum)

To Numerius Agrestinus, son of Numerius, Just Knight, military tribune, prefect of the Autrygoni, prefect of engineers, twice Duumvir by the jurisdiction (i.e., holder of the highest magistracy in the city of Pompeii), the burial place was given by decree of the city council.

One startling finding is that the same person is identified by another funerary inscription found in the Porta Nocera necropolis, where the man’s wife, Veia Barchilla, had placed a cylindrical memorial for the two of them. Only later did the Council of Decurions decree to honor Numerius Agrestinus with a monument on public land.

A second new element is the title of “Praefectus Autrygonum”. The Autrigones were a people from the northern regions of the Iberian Peninsula, where Augustus was engaged in the “Cantabrian wars” between 29 and 19 BC, aiming to complete the occupation of Hispania. This is a historically novel perspective that contributes to our understanding of how Roman power was organized during the transition from the Republican to the imperial model.

“Here we see the emergence of the network of power that connected the elites of the empire, whose members were asked to commit themselves in conflict areas, with the promise of economic rewards but above all of social prestige in the community of residence,” explains the director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel.

 “Having held the highest office in Pompeii, the duumvirate, twice, and having been honored with a funerary monument on public land, are expressions of recognition and loyalty to someone who had literally fought on the front lines for the cause of the empire. The unexpected discovery of this monument is yet another example of how in Pompeii protection, research and enhancement are closely intertwined.”

POMPEII

Cover Photo: Archaeological Park of Pompeii

Related Articles

Magnificent Discovery: A Major Tomb Filled with Gold and Ceramic Artifacts was Discovered in Panama

3 March 2024

3 March 2024

In an archaeological find in the El Caño Archaeological Park, located in the district of Natá, province of Coclé, in...

Archaeologists found a mysterious stone tablet in Georgia that contains an unknown language

5 December 2024

5 December 2024

Archaeologists have unearthed a basalt tablet with inscriptions in an unknown language near Lake Bashplemi, in the Dmanisi region of...

The Discovery of nobleman Khuwy could rewrite Egypt history

25 October 2021

25 October 2021

The mummified corpse of an ancient Egyptian nobleman named Khuwy, discovered in 2019, showed the ancient Egyptians were carrying out...

In Egypt, archaeologists have discovered a 4,500-year-old Sun temple.

16 November 2021

16 November 2021

Archaeologists discovered an ancient Sun temple in the Egyptian desert that dates back 4,500 years. The remains were discovered under...

Trier University’s Digital Coin Cabinet is Now Accessible

19 February 2024

19 February 2024

Historical coins are much more than just pieces of jewelry for collections and exhibitions and are of particular interest for...

In southern Turkey, the remains of a Roman villa whose floor was decorated with geometrically patterned mosaics were unearthed during construction

13 July 2022

13 July 2022

Workers working to lay the foundation of a new building in the Defne district of Hatay, southern Turkey, by accident...

Jiroft: The Mysterious Rival of Mesopotamia and the Dawn of an Ancient Civilization

24 March 2025

24 March 2025

Recent archaeological discoveries in southeast Iran are reshaping our understanding of early civilizations, particularly the Jiroft Civilization, which thrived around...

Researchers excavating the burial site along Caleta Vítor Bay in northern Chile found an Inka Tunic or unku

15 February 2023

15 February 2023

A recently published study, co-authored by a research professor at George Washington University, looks at the Inka Empire’s (also known...

A new study shows that the cave paintings at Cueva Ardales are the work of Neanderthals

21 August 2021

21 August 2021

A study of pigments used in murals in the Cueva Ardales caves in southern Spain has revealed that Neanderthals, long...

İnscriptions in Turkey is Showing How Romans Tackled İnflation

21 March 2021

21 March 2021

The largest marble city in the world, located in western Turkey in the province of Muğla, draws attention with large...

350,000-Year-Old Human Settlement have been Discovered on the Arabian Peninsula

17 May 2021

17 May 2021

One of the world’s oldest Acheulean sites was found in the northern region of Hail in Saudi Arabia. Al Nasim...

4,000-year-old cylinder seal found in Blaundos excavations

29 September 2022

29 September 2022

A 4,000-year-old cylinder seal was found during the excavations of the ancient city of Blaundus (or Blaundos, as it is...

Discovery of immense 4,000-year-old fortifications surrounding the Khaybar Oasis, one of the longest-known Oasis

10 January 2024

10 January 2024

Archaeologists have recently made a groundbreaking discovery in northwestern Arabia, unearthing immense fortifications that date back an astonishing 4,000 years....

International Sand Sculpture Festival Opens with the Theme “The Lost City of Atlantis”

6 May 2021

6 May 2021

The 16th edition of the International Sand Sculpture Festival (SANDLAND) has begun in Turkey’s Mediterranean resort city of Antalya. Every...

Spanish Water Worker discovered 2,500-Year-Old two Gold Necklaces

14 September 2023

14 September 2023

A worker at a local water company in Spain discovered two gold necklaces thought to date back 2,500 years. Sergio...