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Tomb of the Horatii and Curiatii in Albano Laziale: the story behind a misleading name
The Tomb of the Horatii and Curiatii is located in Albano Laziale, in the province of Rome. It is a peperino stone mausoleum from the Republican era, linked to a legend dating back to the origins of Rome — but which has nothing to do with the real Horatii and Curiatii.
A name rooted in myth
The name evokes the legendary Horatii and Curiatii, yet the mausoleum dates to the Republican period and cannot be attributed to them. So who is buried there? According to some scholars, it is a reconstruction of the tomb of Arruns, commissioned by the Arruntia family, who owned land in this area. It is this intertwining of myth and reality that makes the monument a truly unique case.
The architecture
The structure recalls the Etruscan tombs of Volterra. The monument is built entirely from large rectangular blocks of peperino stone. The base is square, with four conical structures rising from the corners. At the centre, atop a cylindrical element, there may once have been a fifth — the tallest of all. You only need to walk around it to imagine how impressive the whole structure must have been.
Practical information
The tomb is located in Via della Stella, 00041 Albano Laziale. The site is accessible to people with disabilities.
