One of the four tombs in Great Tumulus II, it is named after two large impasto dolia used to store food and the firedogs found in the right-hand side cell. This “Firedog Chamber” was discovered undisturbed and yielded an important assemblage, including Greek and East-Greek imports now held by the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia. Storage jars, spits and hearth equipment evoke aristocratic feasting: inside the tomb, food, consumption and offerings became instruments of social and ritual display.
What to look for
The dolia and firedogs are not merely everyday objects: they connect food storage, hearth, banquet and family rank.
Discovery and excavation
Its name, the side-chamber assemblage and its present location at Villa Giulia are documented in the UNESCO dossier.