Mausoleum of Caecilia, Via Appia Antica, Rome

We don’t know too much about Caecilia Metella, but this enormous Mausoleum was raised for, or by her, circa 30-10BC near Rome.

She was the wife of Marcus Licinius Crassus. No, not THAT Marcus Licinius Crassus, but his son, who served with Caesar in Gaul and remained a partisan of the same. As is sadly often the case, all we really know about her is the men in her life and what they did. The tomb was likely built, or at least finished, by her son … he was also called Marcus Licinius Crassus.

Some have conjectured that she survived her husband by some time and therefore gained independence, respect and wealth. Given her father-in-law was the wealthiest man in Rome and her husband lost both his father and younger brother at the Battle of Carrhae, this may have some credibility and may account for the size and ostentation of the tomb.

The Mausoleum of Caecilia is one of the most well known and best preserved monuments along the Via Appia.

Taken Dec 2015