Mausoleum of the Atilii facts for kids
The Mausoleum of the Atilii is an ancient Roman building. It was a special tomb, or mausoleum, built around 1,800 years ago. You can find it in a place called Sádaba in eastern Spain. People sometimes call it "Altar of the Moors" too.
This mausoleum was built by the Romans between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. It was located right next to an important Roman road. This road connected big cities like Zaragoza, Pamplona, and Astorga.
Today, only one wall of this ancient building is left. It is made of sandstone. This wall has special writings carved into it. These writings, called inscriptions, tell us about the family who built the tomb.
What is a Mausoleum?
A mausoleum is a large, impressive building that serves as a tomb. It is usually built for one person or a family. The Mausoleum of the Atilii was a grand burial place for the Atilii family. It showed how important they were in Roman times.
Where is the Mausoleum?
The Mausoleum of the Atilii is in the Aragon region of Spain. It is near the town of Sádaba. Not far from it, in the area of Uncastillo, there is also an old Roman villa. This shows that the area was important during the Roman Empire.
The Ancient Inscriptions
The surviving wall of the mausoleum has Latin words carved into it. These words are like a message from the past. They tell us about the Atilii family. Here is what the inscription says:
C(aio) ATILIO L(ucii) F(ilio), QVIRINA (tribu) GENIALI /
ATILIA FESTA AVO(lo) L(ucio) ATILIO C(aii) F(ilio) QVIRINA (tribu) FESTO ATILIA FESTA PATRI OPTIMO ATILIA L(ucii) F(ilia) FESTA ET SIBI SE VIVA FECIT
This inscription means that a woman named Atilia Festa built this tomb. She built it for her grandfather, Gaius Atilius Genialis. She also built it for her father, Lucius Atilius Festus. And she built it for herself while she was still alive. This was a common practice in Roman times. It shows the love and respect she had for her family.
See also
In Spanish: Mausoleo de los Atilios para niños
