Funerary Monument of Lusius Storax
The Funerary Monument of Lusius Storax is a temple tomb of the early Roman Imperial period, preserved in the in Chieti. The monument consists of two reliefs, a frieze and a pediment, which are dated between AD 30 and 50 on epigraphic and stylistic grounds. The tomb's occupant, Gaius Lusius Storax, was a freedman who became a sevir Augustalis of Teate following the administrative reforms of Augustus.
Frieze
The frieze depicts a gladiatorial game, which the rich Lucius must have organised on the occasion of his election. The gladiators are depicted in various poses, as if part of a single scene, although in reality the various stages would actually happen sequentially. The goal of the donor must have been to document the sumptuousness of the games, whose cost was proportional to the number of combatants involved. The relief is composed with a careful equilibrium and rhythmic pattern of movement. The background is neutral and the details of the figures are developed with care, especially the musculature and drapery. The style has been thought to be inspired directly by models from the city of Rome.Pediment
The scene on the pediment is more crowded and seems to depicted a single, real event, namely the investiture of Lusius Storax as sevir Augustalis. There are two levels, one on top of the other. At the sides are two groups of musicians: cornicines at right and tubicines at left. At lower left on the first level, there is a seat with three young men, likely three camilli who symbolise the sacrifices connected with the investiture ceremony. The centre is occupied by the tribunal, with Storax at the centre and two bisellia at his sides, in which the Quadrumvirs of Teate sit, flanked by a standing lictor. A man with a stick stands at right, balancing the three camilli.The upper level of the pediment has a colonnade in the background, probably the forum of Teate. Eleven togate men stand on this level, who are the college of seviri Augustales, six leaving office at the end of their term and five entering office, as well as a lictor. One of the seviri bends to say something in Storax's ear. Two of them stand at right counting the money in a box, symbolising the payment of the summa honoraria by Storax, although this scrutiny would not actually have taken place during the games.
At the far left of the upper level, there is a compressed scene of a woman with arms wide open and a man punching another man in the face. This might be a depiction of a small brawl which occurred during the games, similar to the riot of the Pompeians and the Nucerians in AD 59.