 In
the beginning tomb 97 was used for cremation only. Inside the niches
and on the ceiling traces of flower decorations and geometrical
motifs can be seen.
During a second period of use a new entrance was built next to the
inscription on the eastern wall. The new entrance was constructed
on a much higher level than the original and probably accessible
via a wooden staircase.
 In
the same period formae for inhumation were dug into the entire floor
of the portico.
It looks like the altar was part of
tomb 97 already from the beginning.
The altar is richly decorated and
has grooved columns with
capitals, depicting horns of plenty, in top.
 Between
the columns we see a frieze with a bush, a lion, a panther and two
griffins. In the tympanum the deceased is depicted with
a hairdress from the time of Trajan, the time in which tomb 97 was
built. Therefore tomb 97 belongs to the eldest graves in this necropolis.
The second period of use dates from
the third century AD.
(click
to continue tomb 97)
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