(In a pagan society highly decorated Roman memorials offered a hope of immortality. Strangers passing by were expected to admire the splendid sarcophagi and tombstones and read aloud the texts which recorded for eternity a good reputation won in life. For us, the memorial texts offer a unique record of individuals and institutions in the Roman empire. Sculptures and inscriptions in the British Museum collections, along with contemporary descriptions, wills and other texts, are used in this book to explore aspects of Roman funerary ritual and the Mediterranean-wide trade in marble sarcophagi. With 50 black and white illustrations).