TOMB 79 (continuation)

This tomb was built as a columbarium, but was also used for inhumation later on.
Below the niches in the burial chamber are marble plates, once used for the names
of the deceased. These kind of tombs were probably used in later time
by members of a funerary guild (cf. tombs 60, 63, 77, 85, 87 and 94).
Above the central rectangular niche in each wall is a triangular
tympanum. The niche in the left wall has a painting of Neptune
on a white-yellow background. You can clearly see the trident in
his left hand. In the niche in the right wall, Hercules was depicted with
a club in his right hand (now in the stroage rooms of Ostia).

The ceiling, white plastered,
had many painted circles.
Some of these
still preserved paintings
of male and female heads
(probably the four seasons).
Others were showing
painted flowers. The best
preserved pictures are stored
in the Ostian storage rooms.
Brick stamps are dating tomb 79
back to 123 AD.