This content was automatically translated. View the original text.
The Archaeological Museum of Aquinum in Castrocielo: the secrets of the tombs along the ancient Via Latina
Inside Castrocielo town hall there is a small but meticulously curated museum. It is the Museo Archeologico di Aquinum, bringing together the most significant finds from the ancient Via Latina road. Stand-out exhibits include an imposing Funerary Altar, and grave items from the Necropolis of Campo Cavaliere, which tell the story of those who lived here centuries ago.
The tombs of an ancient people: the Sidicini
The centrepiece is a collection of richly furnished female burials dating to the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. They belong to the Sidicini, an ancient Italic people who settled in these lands. Their most powerful families built these tombs outside the city walls, using large blocks of travertine to recreate what amounts to a home setting. The effect is remarkable. Inside, the walls are decorated with niches and Aeolic capitals — a type of column adorned with elegant spiral volutes.
Precious grave items and a lead tablet
The funerary assemblages found within are of the highest quality. Visitors can admire refined ceramics and gold jewellery that the deceased brought with them on their final journey. But perhaps the most intriguing find is something else entirely: a tabula defixionis, a thin sheet of lead on a curse against an adversary is inscribed — an object that speaks to us of ancient superstitions.
The museum is located inside the Palazzo Comunale (town hall) of Castrocielo. Opening hours may vary; it is advisable to contact the Municipality for further information.
