Marble Funerary Altar of Julia Sperata

myminifactory

This is a marble funerary altar expertly carved with an eleven-line Latin inscription that translates to, "To the spirits of the departed. Gaius Iulius Sabinianus, commissioned this creation in honor of his most devout mother Jula Sperata, for her freedmen and freedwomen, and for their descendants." The pedimental lid is adorned with palmette acroteria in the corners and intricately carved in front with a bird facing an overturned fruit basket. A shallow rectangular cavity sits atop the altar under the removable lid, designed for the insertion of the cinerary urn. The son responsible for this magnificent monument, Gaius Vettius Sabinianus Julius Hospes, was a Roman military officer and senator who held the esteemed position of consul around AD 175-176. He enjoyed a long and distinguished career in both military and politics under the reigns of emperors Antonius Pius, Marcus Aurelius, and Commodus. Many thanks to Norman Wetzig for his revisions to this object's description, adding depth and accuracy to our understanding of this remarkable piece of history.