Decorated Lamps

One of the most obvious artefacts to be found in burial sites, especially underground ones, are the ceramic oil lams that during the time in consideration were one of the main sources of light. The fact that they produced light also produced a strong symbolic rather than practical purpose, and hence where often to be buried together with the corpse.

There were various typologies of lamps ranging from the open, double-spouted lamps typical of the early Phoenician and Punic periods, to the closed single-spouted lamps typical of the Late Roman period. Only the latter are represented in the small display at St Paul’s Catacombs, the reason being that these were often lavishly decorated with various symbols including ones clearly connected with religious beliefs.

The lamps on display show a variety of such symbols including fish, the so-called ‘doves of Sophos’, grapes, a human figure, two crosses and the Chi-Rho monogram.

Unguentarii and Balsamarii

Another artefact that is commonly found in a burial is the so-called balsamario or unguentarium, small glass or ceramic bottles used for perfumes and other unguents. The ones on displayed here are the two commonest types, the first of which is made of thin, transparent glass. Glass balsamarii are normally small about 10cm in height and consisting of a small bell- or pear-shaped body surmounted by a long, narrow neck ending in a flaring or averted rim. Larger examples reaching a height of about 20cm are however also known but it is not clear whether these larger examples served a similar function or were simply regarded as normal bottles.

The second type represented in this display is the ceramic one, which are normally longer and quite different in shape. Although the neck is essentially quite similar to the glass typology, the body is oval in shape and stands on a narrow base making the whole artefact look like a spindle.

Copper Bracelet and bone pins

Body adornment was very important in Roman times and the dead were also buried with fine pieces of jewellery. Represented here is a copper bracelet of fashion during the Roman period.

Several bone pins with globular knobs are also on display at St Paul’s Catacombs. These could have been used both to hold up the lavish hair styles of the Roman Period or as pins holding the clothes.

Figurines

Some burials were sometimes also accompanied by ceramic figurines. These were normally hollow from the inside and although the repertoire or representations is quite small, variations in size or in style are numerous. The display shows examples of the two most common figurine types found in Maltese burials. The first is the horse rider with a conical hat and the second is the cockerel. Animals were often represented but the large number of representations of the cockerel show that it was a favourite.

Funerary Inscription

Burials, especially those of important individuals and families and visible monuments, were often accompanied by a funerary inscription. On display at St Paul’s Catacombs is an example of one such inscription in Latin text engraved on a lead plaque. The inscription can be translated in English as follows:

“Fufica Galena and Curtius Diadoumenos, husband and wife erected [this tomb] for the well deserving Valeria"