“Use with happiness”. Those words, “UTERE FELIX”, are inscribed on a glass jar found inside this very Roman sarcophagus. It is a poignant echo from the past. What secrets does this ancient stone coffin hold?
The Roman sarcophagus before you is not just a box of stone. It is a time capsule. It carries whispers of a life lived nearly two millennia ago. This sarcophagus was discovered in Zülpich. Zülpich was known in Roman times as Tolbiacum. The discovery occurred during construction work.
Imagine the scene. Construction workers unearthed this heavy stone coffin. It measures 2.3 meters by 1.1 meters. The sarcophagus then transported to the LVR-Landesmuseum in Bonn. Here, experts carefully opened it.
Inside lay the skeletal remains of a woman. She was between 25 and 30 years old. She was also buried with items for her afterlife journey.
Consider the objects she was buried with. Elegant glass perfume bottles filled the space. A makeup palette hinted at beauty rituals. There was also a decorative knife. Beaded and pearl necklaces adorned her. A silver hand mirror reflected her image one last time.
These grave goods reveal much about her life. They speak of wealth and status. The woman was part of the Roman elite in this northern province.
Among the objects was a small folding knife. The handle was a figurine of Hercules. Delicate bone needles were found too. One had a gold-decorated head. Rings made of gold and jet completed the assemblage.
The focus of the objects is clearly related to jewelry and cosmetics. A German newspaper quoted Susanne Willer of the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn. “It follows the expression: Be beautiful to death.”
The sarcophagus itself is rare. It is the first Roman sarcophagus found in the Rhineland outside of Cologne in over a decade. Finding such an expensive sarcophagus in this region is remarkable.
Roadside burials were customary in the Roman era. This location was no exception. Other graves were found during the excavation. This sarcophagus was not alone in its vigil.
The meticulous excavation took over a week. The lid alone weighed over 2 tons. Massive construction equipment moved the stone coffin. Security guards watched over the trench at night.
The discovery site was near the ancient Roman road. It was known as the Agrippa Road. This road ran from Cologne to Trier. The sarcophagus rested near a Roman estate.
The “UTERE FELIX” inscription offers a personal touch. It was a common expression on jewelry and accessories. It urges the user to “use this happily”. Even in death, there was a desire for joy.
Today, the artifacts have been cleaned and conserved. Experts at the Landesmuseum carefully preserved them. The finds provide insight into Roman life.
The Roman sarcophagus in Bonn offers a glimpse into the past. It reminds us of a woman. She valued beauty and adornment. Her legacy lives on through these objects. They connect us to a distant era. They also invite us to reflect on life, death, and the enduring human spirit.