The man who erected his own monument on this spot was a baker, who
seems to have made a considerable fortune as a purveyor. According to
the good old custom, he was not ashamed of his calling, but built a
species of trophy for himself out of the utensils of the trade by
means of which he had attained to wealth and respectability. The
hollow drums of pillars, for instance, let into the superstructure,
which rests upon double columns, seem to represent vessels for
measuring fruit; and the inscription found beside them agrees with
this opinion, as it states that the mortal remains of Atistia, the
wife of Eurysaces, were deposited in a bread-basket. In fact,
everything was represented that appertained to a baker's trade.
This is rendered the more interesting from the circumstance of several
of these representations seeming to belong to the present time--people
in this sphere in Italy usually adhering to the customs transmitted to
them by their forefathers.
The inscription on the architrave, stating this monument to be that of
M. Virgilius Eurysaces, purveyor of bread, is repeated three times. A
relief of the baker and his wife, also the remains of the Gate of
Honorius, are to be seen on the right of the road.
To the north of the tomb three old aqueducts, Marcia, Tepula, and
Julia, can be seen passing through the walls of Rome.