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Ghirza - North Cemetery (C)

Unless otherwise indicated, pictures on this page © Marco Prins and Jona Lendering. Photos can be downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes, but you have to acknowledge Livius.

This photo shows, in front, Mausoleum C on Ghirza's North Cemetery (Mausoleum A in the background).

North Cemetery (Gh129)

Mausoleum A
Mausoleum B
Mausoleum C
Mausoleum D-E
Mausoleum F
Other

South Cemetery (Gh128)

Mausoleum A
Mausoleum C
Mausoleum NN
Mausoleum G
Other

Other

Town (Gh127)
Gh 82

The third monument of Ghirza's North Cemetery is Mausoleum C. It was built by Marchius Nimmire and Maccurasan for their parents Marchius Chullam and Varnychsin. Nimmire and Maccurasan probably represent the fourth generation of Marchii. Like Mausoleums A an B, it is built on a high platform, faces east, and is surrounded by classical columns - Corinthian ones this time. The momument may have been erected in the second quarter of the fourth century.

On the west and south sides, the frieze has survived. Photos are shown below. On the west side, we can discern two people: one of them is playing a harp, the other is carrying an amphora. To the right, we can see a man feeding a dromedary standing in front of a small gate.
The well-preserved relief on the south side shows, from left to right, a man watering flowers, two oxen, two date palms, and two hunting scenes. The first of these shows a man directing a spear against an animal that looks like a hyena; we can also see a lioness, the hunter's dog, and a man who has been killed and is being devoured by a hyena. The second scene shows a hunter and two dogs attacking a wild bull. On the spandrels, flowers are depicted and fishes, a very common motif in the art of the Sahara (and still used on native textiles).


West side relief	South side relief (left)	South side relief (west)

Marchivs CHVLLAM ET VARNYCHSI
N PATER ET MATER MARCHI
NIMMIRE ET MACCVRASA
Nis QVI EIS HEC MEMORI
AM FECERVNT DISCVSSI
MVS RATIOCINIO AD
EA EROGATVM EST SVM
TOS MERCEDIBVS IN N
VMMO FOLLIS SINGVLA
RES NVMERO QVADRAGI
NTA QVINQVE MILIA SESCE
NTOS PRETER CIBARIA OP
ERANTIBVS FELICITER
VISITENT FILI ET NEPOTES(more...)

The translation of the text above the false door:

Marchius Chullam and Varnychsin, father and mother of Marchius Nimmire and Maccurasan, who built this memorial. We have accounted accurately the costs. 45,600 folles have been paid as wages and for these works. May our children and grandchildren visit this tomb in happiness.

And a last picture of the decoration of the platform itself..

>> to part five >>

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