From this tomb we can ascend into a brick tomb of the second century.
TOMB OF CORNELIUS TACITUS.
This is probably the tomb of the historian, who died about A.D. 130. The following inscription was found here:—
CORNELIO TACITO
QUI VIXIT ANNIS DUOBUS
MENSIBUS X DIEBUS
II HORIS X FECIT
LUCRETIA TACITA
MATER FILIO B.M.
ET SIBI ET SUIS. POS
TERISQUE EORUM
Just beyond, in the Vigna Codini (No. 14), are the Columbaria of
THE OFFICERS OF CÆSAR'S HOUSEHOLD.
(Memorials of those mentioned by S. Paul.)
Two columbaria lie upon the right of the pathway, and possess considerable interest, not only as good specimens of the chambers where the ashes of those who were cremated were deposited, but special interest is attached to some of the names found therein—names that are mentioned in the New Testament. The question arises, Are these the remains of those there mentioned? Can we still look upon the ashes of those early Christians? Let us see.
In the first columbaria we find this inscription—
D.M. TRYPHAENAE . VALERIAS . TRYPHAENAE . MATRI. B. M. F. ET .
VALERIAS . FUTIANUS.
[Tryphænæ Valeria and Valerius Futianus to the memory of the mother Tryphæna.]