Vatican Museums

The ranked soldier Titus Aurelius Maximus, a native of the Aelia Mursia, colony in the Roman province of Pannonia (an area corresponding to a vast part of Austria and Hungary), was the standard-bearer (signifer) of the squadron (turma) of select cavalry (equites singulares, barracked in Rome) led by Aurelius Bithus and also used as the emperor’s escort and bodyguard corps. He lived to the age of 40, and served for 22 years. His tomb, consecrated to the Manes gods, was prepared by Titus Flavius Firmus, friend and heir, also an ex-soldier liable to recall (evocati). The reliefs depict the bust of Maximus, who is then portrayed in a reclining position, in the act of proposing a toast. Surmounted by a garland of leaves, there is a standard scene at the bottom, very frequently found among the stele dedicated to members of this equestrian corps, which shows a horse being trained using long reins.