In the commune of Lanuéjols, in the Lozère department of the Occitania region, lies the Mausoleum of the Pomponii. This Gallo-Roman funerary monument dates back to the second half of the 2nd century AD. It was built on the model of a mausoleum-temple by a wealthy family, probably of Syrian origin, who lived nearby. Known in the local Occitan dialect as "Lou Mazelet", the monument was dedicated to the memory of two of the family's sons.
The mausoleum is part of a funerary complex that also includes an altar, in front of which funerary or commemorative ceremonies were probably held. A third, non-visible building, probably even larger than the Pomponii mausoleum, may have been the parents' tomb. A pit containing meal reliefs found near the mausoleum suggests that funeral banquets were held on the site in honor of the deceased.
Built in large units of Jurassic dolomitic limestone, probably quarried locally, the monument is built on a podium preceded by an eight-step staircase. The staircase and pronaos were restored in 1999 and 2000. Traces of the construction site, including lifting gear supports and drainage ditches, have been identified in the vicinity of the monument.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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