Painting of Orpheus and Eurydike in the underworld

Excavated in 1865 in tomb 33 of the Porta Laurentina necropolis.
Date: first half of the third century AD. W. 1.54, h. 0.51.

Tomb 33 was built by Decimus Folius Mela in the first half of the first century AD. In the interior a painting of Orpheus and Eurydice in the underworld was found (the original location can still be recognized as a stretch of wall with missing plaster). To the left is the gate of the underworld, in front of which are the dog Cerberus and a seated man with the word ianitor (doorkeeper). In the centre are Orpheus and Eurydice. In the upper right part we see Pluto and Proserpina. Below them is Ocnus, making a rope that is eaten by a donkey.

C.L. Visconti 1866. Nogara 1907, 63-64, 67-69. Helbig 1156. Heinzelmann 2000, 265-270 (tomb E3). Photos: Donati 1998, pl. 61 (top) and Giovanni Lattanzi (bottom).