Tomb of Orcus

For the moon also designated Orcus I, see Vanth (moon).
A diagram of the Tomb of Orcus, showing the two chambers and two dromes (entrances).

The Tomb of Orcus (Italian: Tomba dell'Orco), sometimes called the Tomb of Murina (Italian: Tomba dei Murina), is a 4th-century BC Etruscan hypogeum (burial chamber) in Tarquinia, Italy. Discovered in 1868, it displays Hellenistic influences in its remarkable murals, which include the portrait of Velia Velcha, an Etruscan noblewoman, and the only known pictorial representation of the daemon Tuchulcha.[1] In general, the murals are noted for their depiction of death, evil, and unhappiness.[2]

Because the tomb was built in two sections at two stages, it is sometimes referred to as the Tombs of Orcus I and II; it is believed to have belonged to the Murina family, an offshoot of the Etruscan Spurinnae. The foundation is inscribed with the following inscription:

LARΘIALE HVLΧNIESI MARCESIC CALIAΘESI MVNSLE NACNVAIASI ΘAMCE LE…[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference grumm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "The Tomb of the Orcus". The Mysterious Etruscans. RASNA. 2000. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  3. ^ Douglas G. Kilday (January 15, 2006). "Text B from Pyrgi". Retrieved November 23, 2008.