Funerary urn with lid, ca. 75–200 AD
Light blue-green glass, lid somewhat darker; urn mould-blown, lid blown
(H x Ø)31,4 × 21,3 cm
About the workThis glass item is so well preserved because it was buried in a grave as an ash urn. In the first and second centuries AD, the custom of cremation prevailed in the Roman Empire; the ashes, however, had to be buried to allow the spirit of the dead to find its way into the underworld. Although the surviving vessels are mostly found in graves, they were actually storage containers – and in this instance, from an undoubtedly wealthy household. The wide rims of the mouth and lid meant that it could be tied shut and sealed tightly.
AccessionAcquired in 1949
Inventory numberP 1949-3 a,b
