The Archaeological Museum of Terni: Tomb 26 from the Necropolis of Acciaierie

In 1909, a tomb containing two burials was found in the area of the Necropolis of Acciaierie( Stelworks) The discovery aroused much interest among insiders, also for being the only burial of this type brought to light in the archaeological site unearthed during the excavation for the construction of the plants. The belief that the two bodies placed side by side were those of Sabino and Serapia, whose love is told in one of the legends related to San Valentine, protector of lovers and Patron of Terni, spread among the people of Terni. The young man, a Roman centurion, turned to the Saint (bishop of Interamna in the 4th century) to convert to Christianity so that the family of his beloved would allow the wedding. However, when Serapia fell seriously ill and died, Sabino expressed to Valentino the desire to be united with her in eternal sleep. The bishop invoked the Lord with his prayers and shortly after their souls were joined in heaven. However, the in-depth studies carried out on this burial invalidate the tradition for which tomb 26 of the Necropolis of Acciaierie is known, so much so that it is commonly called "di Sabino and Serapia". In fact, the results of the investigations reveal that the inhumation of the two bodies, placed at the same time, dates back to a period between the end of the 8th-beginning of the 7th century BC, therefore much earlier than the period in which San Valentino lived (probably martyred in 347). The age of both could be established, between eleven and fourteen, but only the sex of one of them. Once the excavation was completed, conducted following the technique of earth loaves, the skeletal remains together with the funerary goods - made up of clay and bronze material - were hermetically sealed in a wooden case. After careful restoration,carried out a century after its discovery, the tomb with the reassembled skeletonsis on display at the "Claudia Giontella" Archaeological Museum of Terni in the section dedicated to protohistory.