Tomba di Cecilia Metella Il Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella può essere considerato il monumento simbolo della via Appia antica, noto e riprodotto fin dal Rinascimento al pari dei più celebri monumenti di Roma e oggetto di particolare attenzione da parte di archeologi, architetti, disegnatori e vedutisti.La tomba è stata costruita al III miglio della via Appia negli anni 30-20 a.C. in posizione dominante rispetto alla strada, proprio nel punto in cui si è arrestata la colata di lava leucititica risalente a circa 260.00 anni fa, espulsa dal complesso vulcanico dei Colli Albani.Si tratta di una tomba monumentale eretta per una nobildonna romana di cui si conoscono, grazie all’iscrizione ancora conservata, soltanto alcuni suoi gradi di parentela. Il padre era Quinto Cecilio Metello, console nel 69 a.C. e che tra il 68 e il 65 conquistò l’isola di Creta da cui gli derivò l’appellativo Cretico; il marito era, con ogni probabilità, Marco Licinio Crasso distintosi al seguito di Cesare nella spedizione in Gallia e figlio del celebre Crasso, membro del primo triumvirato insieme a Cesare e Pompeo.L’imponente tomba va pertanto interpretata sia come omaggio alla defunta che come una forma di celebrazione delle glorie, delle ricchezze e del prestigio della famiglia committente. Eng. The mausoleum was built at the third mile of the Appian Way in the years 30-20 BCE, on a dominant position overlooking the road, just at the point of arrestation of a leucite lava flow ejected 260,000 years ago from the Alban Hills volcanic complex.It is a monumental tomb erected for a Roman noblewoman whose degrees of kinship are known, albeit only partially, thanks to the inscription, still preserved. Her father was Quintus Caecilius Metellus, consul in 69 BCE, who, between 68 and 65 BCE, conquered the island of Crete, whence he derived the agnomen Creticus; her husband was, in all probability, Marcus Licinius Crassus, who distinguished himself among Caesar’s retinue on the campaign in Gaul and was the son of the celebrated Crassus, member of the First Triumvirate along with Caesar and Pompey.The imposing tomb is, therefore, to be interpreted both as an homage to the deceased and as a celebration of the glories, riches and prestige of the client family.The monument consists of a quadrangular basement of concrete, made of flintstone flakes, originally sheathed with blocks of travertine, only some heads of which, embedded in the core, are today preserved, because of the repeated spoliations of the Renaissance; upon this base rises an imposing cylinder, still clad with the original travertine slabs, on whose summit is a marble frieze decorated with bucrania and garlands of flowers and fruits, interrupted by a high-relief with a trophy of arms and the figure of a barbarian prisoner with his hands bound behind his back. Probably the cylinder was originally surmounted by an earthen barrow covered with vegetation.The interior of the tomb consists of a funerary chamber of slightly conical shape about 6.50 metres in diameter, occupying the whole height of the cylinder, open at its top with an oculus and sheathed with a brick curtain of excellent workmanship.Today the summit of the mausoleum is crowned by an extra storey in brickwork of small peperino blocks which retains the Ghibelline battlements relevant to the modifications carried out by the Caetani family in order to transform the sepulchre into the keep of their castle, subsequently enclosed in the larger Castrum Caetani (Caetani Castle).archeoroma.beniculturali.it
