Ancient Roman tomb unearthed
17th October 2008
Archaeologists have uncovered what they’re calling “the most important Ancient Roman monument to come to light for 20 or 30 years”, in Rome.
A team of researchers discovered the tomb of Marcus Nonius Macrinus, the man whose story is said to have inspired Ridley Scott’s
Gladiator.
The tomb was found among some ruins on the route of the ancient Via Flaminia. These were unearthed by builders on the banks of the River Tiber at Saxa Rubra in north Rome.
The tomb had collapsed into the mud on the riverbank but its columns, decorations and roof were still intact. The river’s mud has helped to preserve the tomb over the intervening centuries.
Marcus Nonius Macrinus was a general and consul who led military campaigns for Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who reigned between 161 and 180AD. Macrinus’ villa near Lake Garda has already been found and partially excavated.
The character of Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe in
Gladiator, was partly based on Macrinus’ life. However Macrinus wasn’t banished from the Emperor’s court and didn’t become a gladiator as Meridius does in the film.
The tomb is one of many recent Roman archaeological finds. Others include an imperial villa on the Via Aurelia and a necropolis next to the Stadio Flaminio rugby ground.
There are reportedly plans to open a Via Flaminia Archaeological Park to showcase these new excavations.