The lower burial chamber, accessible by a small
staircase of six steps, is more interesting
than the upper one. Because the floor lies subterranean, there is
nearly always water
on top of it. The floor consisrs of a black and white mosaic depicting
a rowing-boat with Charon, rowing the deceased to the afterlife.
In spite of the mythological meaning of the scene, the type of boat
depicted is the same type of boat fishermen used in the harbour
of Portus. The mosaic is now protected by plastic and earth.
Alongside the back and side-walls of the lower burial chamber
three sarcophagi, meant for inhumation, have been found (stored
in the Ostian museum).
A large platform at the back-wall
and one alongside the left wall
shows that inhumation in the upper
chamber became common during
a later reuse of that chamber.
(click
to continue tomb 86)
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