The Roman mausoleum of Córdoba is an ancient structure in the Jardines de la Victoria, Córdoba,

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, southern

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. It is a funerary monument of cylinder-shaped that corresponded to a group of funerary monuments of the

Republican era Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

, built in the 1st century AD. It was discovered in 1993 during archaeological excavations. It includes the

chamber tomb A chamber tomb is a tomb for burial used in many different cultures. In the case of individual burials, the chamber is thought to signify a higher status for the interred than a simple grave (burial), grave. Built from Rock (geology), rock or som ...

that housed the

Urn An urn is a vase, often with a cover, with a typically narrowed neck above a rounded body and a footed pedestal. Describing a vessel as an "urn", as opposed to a vase or other terms, generally reflects its use rather than any particular shape ...

, as well as remains of the basement, cornices, and crenellated parapet. Unusual for such structures in Roman Iberia, it may have been designed by an Italian architect, due to similarities to other mausoleums in

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and the rest of

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. Its size also suggests that it belonged to a wealthy family. The mausoleum is located near the road that connected the ancient city with Hispalis (now Seville), and exited from the city by the western gate, or "Porta Principalis Sinistra" (Puerta de Gallegos). The archaeological site also includes remains of the pavement of the latter.

History

The mausoleums were built on a pre-existing necropolis that had already undergone a phase of monumentalization during the

Augustus Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (), was the founder of the Roman Empire, who reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in A ...

era. During the reign of Emperor

Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus ( ; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was Roman emperor from AD 14 until 37. He succeeded his stepfather Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC to Roman politician Tiberius Cl ...

(14-37 AD), the Northern Mausoleum was constructed, serving as the final resting place for an unknown patrician. The Southern Mausoleum was intended for the ancestors and relatives of this patrician, taking the form of a columbarium. By the middle of the 1st century, the necropolis reduced its perimeter to make way for a residential district in the shadow of the Corduba amphitheater. By the end of the 3rd century, after the abandonment of this residential area, the original funerary function of the place was restored. The remains were discovered in 1993 during archaeological excavations, after which they were reconstructed following original patterns. In 2021, the University of Córdoba proposed opening the monument to the public on Saturdays and Sundays in agreement with the Córdoba City Council. However, this agreement was rejected a year later. In February 2023, the City Council announced that it would oversee the opening of this public space. Reina, Carmen (February 13, 202
El Ayuntamiento contratará la apertura al público de los Mausoleos Romanos de Puerta Gallegos
- Cordópolis

Description

These are two cylindrical funerary monuments, each 13 meters in diameter. They preserve the burial chamber that housed the cinerary urn, as well as remnants of the base, cornices, and battlemented parapet. Unusual in its typology for the peninsula, it might have been designed by an Italic architect, drawing inspiration from other mausoleums in the imperial capital and throughout Italy. Given its size, it likely belonged to a wealthy family. This is a clear example of the Roman law that mandated the construction of burials outside the city limits, flanking the communication routes. These monuments are located next to what was the

Via Augusta The ''Via Augusta'' (also known as the ''Via Herculea'' or ''Via Exterior'') was the longest and busiest of the major roads built by the Romans in ancient Hispania (the Iberian Peninsula). According to historian Pierre Sillières, who has supe ...

, which connected Corduba with Hispalis, and exited the city through the western gate or ''Porta Principalis Sinistra'' (the old Gallegos gate). Original remnants of the pavement from that era can be observed in the archaeological site.

References

External links

Roman mausoleums of "Puerta Gallegos" in Córdoba
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman mausoleum of Cordoba Cordoba Buildings and structures in Córdoba, Spain History of Córdoba, Spain Buildings and structures completed in the 1st century 1st-century establishments in the Roman Empire 1993 archaeological discoveries