The ‘Red Tomb’ at Cyrene

Abstract

An unregistered rock-cut tomb in Cyrene has been identified as that previously visited by two early explorers to Cyrene. Pacho recorded an inscription, which he published, and the interior was recognised as being that shown in Porcher's Watercolour 98 and the plan Watercolour 94 which he presented, with many others, to the Trustees of the British Museum in 1865.

Documenting an unknown funerary complex at Cyrene: ‘The Garden Tomb’. Architectural evolution and epigraphic issues

“…In Antiquity the walls of the main funerary room were covered with red, blue and ochre paint; a similar colour scheme was also used to decorate the Red Tomb in the Northern Necropolis (Thorn 2007, 92). Upon entering the main chamber, the wall on the right bears traces of red paint atop of which there is a charcoal inscription, discussed below.…”