A note on two Roman sepulchral reliefs

Abstract

Few people probably have noticed a Roman sepulchral slab with the portrait-busts of a man and a woman (plate XXIV), which is embedded in the wall of the Hall of Busts at the British Museum, just above two portraits of Tiberius (nos. 1830, 1881). It was transferred to its present more dignified position within the last five years, after a period of inglorious seclusion in one of the museum basements. The only modern publication of it appears to be that in a little book called Römische Kultur im Bilde, by Dr. Hans Lamer, published at Leipzig in 1910. His plate (no. cxxviii) is taken from a photograph, the source of which is said to be unknown.