Vatican Necropolis - Tomb of the Teacher

This second-century mausoleum was built during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD).  In part, the Guide to the Vatican Necropolis describes it, as follows:

The upper part of the rear wall features a delightful scene of daily life probably inspired by the activity of the anonymous owner of the sepulchre: a man with a beard is seated on a stool with an open scroll in his hands in front of a table; to the right of the elderly man stands the figure of a young man. It is perhaps an administrator checking the accounts in front of a servant. Nevertheless, those who first saw the painting decided to see a teacher and his pupil in the two figures. Hence the name "of the teacher" is attributed to the small building.

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Credits

Photo from Guide to the Vatican Necropolis, by Michele Basso, published by Fabbrica di S. Pietro in Vaticano (1986).   Image online, courtesy St Peters Basilica.org.