Beautiful tombstone monument showing eagle and armaments

Roman tombstone from the time of the reign of Octavian Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE). The sculpture shows an eagle and weapons. In the past, the monument may have contained an urn with the ashes of Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus.

The object was found in Marino (Italy), which was in the possession of Valerius Paulinus, Corvinus’ ancestor. The beautiful monument is now in the Prado National Museum in Madrid.

Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus (64 BCE – 8 CE) was a Roman commander, writer and social activist, on whose initiative the roads from Rusculum and Alba were restored and numerous public utility buildings were built. After Caesar’s death (44 BCE), he was supporting the optimates: Brutus and Cassius, after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BCE went to Mark Antony’s side. In 31 BCE was a consul and fought in the Battle of Actium.