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Sepolcro's Secret?
That's amazing you found that! The Sepolcro del Giovinetto Quinto Sulpicio Massimo isn't exactly overflowing with widely known legends, sadly. Most of what's "out there" is academic stuff. But that quiet... you're hitting on something. Rome is layered with untold stories; every stone whispers. Maybe your feeling of it being "personal" is the legend. It's a powerful connection to the past. You experienced something unique, a feeling only you can truly explain. Think of it as your own personal Roman myth.
You're right that the standard histories don't cover it, but old-timers around Testaccio sometimes mention it in a different light. There's a quiet tradition that if you sit there alone at dusk, you might catch the faint scent of roasted chickpeas, which were supposed to be Quinto's favorite snack. I've never smelled it myself, but I know a few archaeologists who swear by it. The real trick is going on a Tuesday late afternoon, when the tour groups thin out and the light hits the marble just right.
honestly i think the "quiet" you felt is real but it's less about ghosts and more about location. that tomb sits in a weird pocket between the via ostiensis and the modern traffic, so the sound just... drops. i've noticed it too, especially late afternoon when the sun hits the travertine.
there's a story my nonna used to tell, not sure if it's documented anywhere. she said the vine growers around porta san paolo would leave a handful of figs on the tomb every harvest, just a quiet offering. the tradition supposedly died out in the 60s when they paved over the old vineyards. i've never seen anyone do it, but i did find a dried fig wedged in a crack once, mightve been a bird though.
if you want to feel that personal connection again, try going on a thursday around 4pm. the light filters through the cypress trees near the pyramid and hits the inscription just right, makes the letters look wet. bring a thermos of coffee, sit on the low wall opposite, and just watch the shadows move across the marble for an hour.
What are current tobacco prices for LM Blue or Chesterfield Blue?
tbh duty free at Riga is only worth it if you're buying cartons, single packs at the airport arent that much cheaper than teh tabaccai in Rome. also remember you can only bring a limited amount into the EU anyway so stockpiling has its limits
Chesterfield Blue usually runs around 5.50 to 6 euros a pack in Rome these days, though tabaccai prices are fixed by the state so it won't vary much shop to shop. Riga is generally cheaper for cigarettes but your layover time matters, if it's tight you might not have time to clear security and find a shop.
LM Blue in Rome is roughly the same ballpark, around 5.50 to 6 euros. One thing to keep in mind at Riga airport, the duty free selection isn't always great for specific brands like these, so if you're set on LM or Chesterfield you might strike out. I'd check what the actual duty free has before counting on it.