The tomb of Naevoleia Tyche and Caius Munatius Faustus is arguably the most elaborate tomb in this project. Consisting of an enterable enclosure and pedestal, and a large marble funerary altar, the tomb of Tyche demonstrated that its owners would have had some level of wealth in ancient Pompeii. This hypothesis is furthered by the fact that this particular tomb on the Via dei Sepolcri is not the only tomb attributed to Tyche and Faustus. On the opposite end of the city near the Porta Nocera, Tyche and Faustus also had a large pedimental tomb, where a dedicatory cippus inscription implies Faustus was actually buried in this other tomb. Interestingly, no dedication or remains have been identified with Tyche in either tomb, which has led to some suggestions that Tyche was still alive when the volcano erupted in 79 CE.
Like the Triclinium tomb, the Tomb of Tyche would have been accessible for visitors (presumably those associated with the family). Entering the enclosure, visitors would have had to go past a small passageway along the main pedestal for the altar and turn to the right, where a small entrance into the pedestal was located. Inside the chamber would have been several niches lit by candlelight, and within each niche was presumably a type of Roman cinerary urn for the deceased. The remains inside the funerary chamber are detailed on The Finds.
This tomb is largely known for its decorative reliefs on the altar. The eastern relief depicts an honorary couch, similar to the one depicted on the Tomb of Quietus, and on the west is a ship. The northern relief appears to be a portrait of Tyche above the following inscription:
Naevoleia L(uci) lib(erta) Tyche sibi et
C(aio) Munatio Fausto Aug(ustali) et pagano
cui decuriones consensu populi
bisellium ob merita eius decreverunt
hoc monimentum Naevoleia Tyche libertis suis
libertabusq(ue) et C(ai) Munati Fausti viva fecit
CIL X 1030
“Naevoleia Tyche, freedwoman of Lucius, made this for herself and for Caius Munatus Faustus, Augustalis and Paganus, to whom the decurions by consensus of the people dedicated an honorary couch on behalf of his merit. Naevoleia Tyche, when she was alive, made this monument for herself and Caius Munatus Faustus’s freedmen and freedwomen.” [Translation by author.]
This tomb is one example of the type of wealth freedmen and freedwomen could obtain after being granted freedom. The fact that Tyche and Faustus not only were freedmen but had freedmen of their own to dedicate a tomb to, is a testament to the social and economic mobility in ancient Pompeii.
