Tombstone of Agrippina the Elder

Marble tombstone of Agrippina the Elder – mother of emperor Caligula. The building was in the mausoleum of Augustus; currently located in the Capitoline Museums.

Naturally, no imperial remains have survived to this day. The ashes were put in beautifully decorated urns, made of gold or other precious metal, which was interesting loot for everyone. It is suspected that the urns were probably stolen by either the Visigoths (410 CE) or the Vandals (455 CE) during the capture of Rome or in later times when the building fell into ruin. The ashes, in turn, were probably simply poured.