NGH Pompeii. Porta Nola Tombs. Schola tomb with symbols of Dionysus, to east of ancient road to Nola.

 

Pompeii, Nola Gate. May 2006. Looking east from gate towards Schola tomb NGH.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. Schola tomb NGH in centre.

Continuation of ancient Via di Nola into unexcavated area is on the left.

 

NGH Pompeii. 1910 photo of tomb.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. Schola tomb with lion paw and altar.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. Schola tomb north-west end with lion paw.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. Schola tomb lion paw.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. Schola tomb with altar.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. West side of altar on Schola tomb.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. South side of altar on Schola tomb.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. South side of altar on Schola tomb.

 

NGH Pompeii. 1910 photo of south side of altar on Schola tomb.

According to Spano, this is a mystical chest, made of rushes, cylindrical, wide, and supported by feet, of which three are visible.

The head of a snake is lifting the cover. This side is framed by two great torches.

This symbolises that the buried person had been in initiated in life into the mysteries of Dionysus.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1910, p. 395-6.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. North side of altar on Schola tomb.

 

NGH Pompeii. May 2006. Schola tomb and north side of altar, from pathway above.