Ancient Roman cinerary urns (in Latin, cineraria or urnae) are vessels made to hold the cremated remains (cinerēs or ossa) of the dead. They were popular among a cross-section of Roman society in the early imperial period, presenting us with the names and unique stories of enslaved and freed people, Rome’s lower to middle classes, and new Roman citizens. Drawing on the collection of cinerary urns at the Michael C. Carlos Museum, this exhibition explores how these modest monuments give voice to the social concerns, aesthetic interests, and commemorative strategies of Rome’s non-elite inhabitants.

Cinerary urns were made from terracotta, glass, and different types of stone, including alabaster, granite, limestone, and marble. White marble from the quarries of ancient Luna (modern Carrara) was the preferred stone for urns in the city of Rome. These urns imitated a variety of forms, including altars, baskets, chests, tombs, and vases, and were adorned with sculpted decoration and inscribed names, offering a trove of information about the identities and social lives of the deceased. Marble urns are one of many types of Roman funerary monuments available to the ancient buyer. They served as meaningful gifts and solemn memorials, preserving the memory of the dead and their remains. The urns featured in this exhibition come from different areas of the Roman Empire but represent the range of types used in antiquity.