The tomb of the Cornelii Scipiones lay on the Via Appia, about 380 m. inside the Porta Appia of the Aurelian Wall. It was first discovered in 1614, when the funerary inscription of Lucius Scipio, son of L. Cornelius Scipio Barbatus (CIL VI, 1287) came to light. The site of the tomb was forgotten, then in May 1780 it was rediscovered, and in the course of three years work it was excavated. The funerary inscriptions of the members of the family of the Cornelii Scipiones are preserved (CIL VI, 1284-1294); they were buried in sarcophagi, of which only that of Scipio Barbatus, consul in 298 B.C., is decorated. It was discovered in 1782 and taken to the Vatican. The tomb, which had been detached by unsystematic excavations, was restored as far as possible to its original condition, in 1926.
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