Limestone Ossuary with Lid in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, June 2009

Limestone ossuary with lid
Roman, 1st-3rd century AD

Accession # X.248.11a, b

Despite the use of a similar rosette design, this ossuary differs from the other one displayed in the case to the left in that its decoration is carved in relief and still retains traces of its original red paint. It has a Greek inscription identifying two individuals whose bones it contained. Their names are Philetarios and Annios, suggesting that they may have been Hellenized Jews.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.