Sepulcher of the Scipioni
The Tomb of the Scipios (Sepolcro degli Scipioni), also known as the hypogaeum Scipionum, is an underground burial complex on the Appian Way in Rome — the family mausoleum of the patrician Scipio family during the Roman Republic. Used for interments from the early 3rd century BC to the early 1st century AD, the tomb fell into disuse, its location was forgotten for centuries, and it was rediscovered only in 1614. Today visitors can descend into the hypogeum and explore the original rock-cut chambers, now offering a 360° virtual tour experience.
At a glance
- Type
- Ancient Roman underground tomb (hypogeum)
- Period
- Early 3rd century BC to early 1st century AD
- Style
- Roman Republican funerary architecture
- Location
- Via di Porta San Sebastiano, Rome, Lazio, Italy
- Coordinates
- 41.8760° N, 12.5006° E
Overview
The Tomb of the Scipios was the communal burial place of one of Rome’s most celebrated Republican families, whose members included Scipio Africanus the Elder, the general who defeated Hannibal at Zama in 202 BC. The hypogeum consists of a network of rock-cut corridors and chambers hewn directly into the tufa bedrock below the ancient Appian Way. Despite the fame of the family, the physical remains of its most famous sons were not found here — Scipio Africanus was buried at Liternum in Campania.
History
The tomb was first excavated by the Scipio family around 298 BC, beginning with the burial of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus, consul of 298 BC, whose magnificent sarcophagus (now in the Vatican Museums) was found here in 1614. The site was actively used for over two centuries before being abandoned. It was rediscovered in the early 17th century during construction work on the property above. Archaeological investigations in the 19th and 20th centuries clarified the layout and identified dozens of sarcophagi, inscriptions, and relief sculptures, many of which are now in the Vatican.
What you see
Visitors descend into the rock-cut hypogeum via a modern entrance, moving through corridors lined with niches where sarcophagi once rested. The chambers display carved inscriptions in archaic Latin — some of the oldest Latin texts surviving in situ. A virtual tour in 360° allows remote exploration of the underground space in full detail. The site is adjacent to a section of the ancient Servian Wall and the Columbarium of Pomponius Hylas, enriching the visit.
Cultural significance
As the burial place of the family most associated with Rome’s rise to Mediterranean power, the Tomb of the Scipios carries unique symbolic weight in the history of the Roman Republic. The sarcophagus of Scipio Barbatus, with its elegiac inscription in Saturnian verse, is one of the most important early Latin epigraphic monuments known.
Practical information
- Address
- Via di Porta San Sebastiano 9, 00179 Roma RM, Italy
- Hours
- Check official website (Sovraintendenza di Roma Capitale) for current opening times
- Admission
- Small fee; check official website for current prices and booking
Getting there
The tomb is located just inside the Aurelian Wall at Porta San Sebastiano on the Appian Way. Bus lines from the Colosseum and Circus Maximus reach the area. The nearest Metro stations are Circo Massimo (Line B) and San Giovanni (Line A), both requiring a short walk or bus connection. Cycling along the Appian Way park is a pleasant alternative approach.