[SunkenCiv]

Some of the funerary wares found in a chamber tomb near Rome. Credit Romano D'Agostino, Special Superintendence for Rome

[BlackVeil]

A fantastic find.

[Cronos]

wow just at the time of the struggles between plebeians and patricians

[mewzilla]

Another pic and a 4 minute vid at this link...

Roma, trovata al Tiburtino «tomba dell’Atleta» del IV secolo a. C. sotto scavi per costruire condutture idriche

Be interesting to see if that date holds up.

[Silentgypsy]

Wow, they really knew how to build ‘em back then.

[rlmorel]

Fantastic!

[Larry Lucido]

"To say there was an athlete is a bit of stretch, but it works journalistically," joked Fabio Turchetta,

"Why do they call it athlete's tomb? My great great great great grand mummy's in one, and believe me, she's no athlete!"

[\/\/ayne]

I remember an ancient joke about an important Roman who never spoke publicly. So when he mounted a speaking pedestal in the public square everyone rushed to hear what he finally had to say.

"Do you see that tree over on my property at the edge of the square?" the man proclaimed. "Many people have hanged themselves from it over the years. I just wanted to let everyone know I'm cutting it down next week - in case anyone wants to use it."

[DariusBane]

all three were over 35 — very old in those days)

Bull hockey. 35 was never considered old.

[a fool in paradise]

"Of ALL the luck..."

[G Larry]

(all three were over 35 — very old in those days)

Where do they get this nonsense?

History and Scripture is replete with people living to their 70’s,80’s, and 90’s, in this era.

The same claims are made as recently as the 1800’s and I have Great, Great Grandparents, Great Grandparents, and Grandparents who lived to their 90’s.

I’m sure that the rate of infant death impacts the “averages”, but to suggest 35 was old is nonsense.

[moovova]

“...during the construction of an aqueduct in a Rome suburb...”

That’s funny. One of the greatest civic accomplishments of the Roman Empire...the aquaduct...and they’re still building them! Outstanding!

(Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.)

[Grimmy]

Nice find.

It’s funny how random truths and insight to life, the universe and everything turns up unexpectedly at times.

“... is a bit of stretch, but it works journalistically,...””

[JZelle]

I just bought a set of those dishes at Kohl’s.

[ro_dreaming]

he family tomb was distinctive “because it remained intact, and was never violated,”

At least, it wasn’t violated until the “chamber tomb that came to light five weeks ago during the construction of an aqueduct in a Rome suburb, when an earthmover accidentally opened a hole in the side of the chamber...”

Honestly, we expect people to leave our dead and buried alone, but this GRAVE from hundreds (ok, possible 2000) years ago, we dig into? It’s a grave - if you want ours respected and left alone, leave others alone.

/Not directed at you SC, just find it crazy/odd...