Romano-British tomb
- Gallery: Room 49
- Culture: Romano-British
- Date: 1stC
- Object type: tomb
- Materials: stone
- Museum number: 1852,0806.2
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
Before you stands the reconstructed stone tomb of Gaius Julius Alpinus Classicianus, a figure from Romano-British history. The tomb is marked with Latin inscriptions detailing the names and roles of its occupant and his wife, Julia Pacata. This individual was appointed by Emperor Nero as the finance minister for Britain in the years following the Iceni revolt led by Queen Boudica. His tombstone, originally carved in the first century AD, was later reused in the walls of Roman London in the fourth century. Sections of the tomb were discovered as early as 1852, with additional pieces appearing during later excavations. Measuring about two meters wide and two and a half meters tall, the monument offers a rare connection between historical records and a physical burial site.
See it in person
Romano-British tomb is on display in Room 49 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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