Question

Naturalistic encaustic portraits of the roman era, from the fayum oasis in egypt, were created as ________.

Answer 1

Naturalistic encaustic portraits of the Roman era, from the Fayum Oasis in Egypt, were created as funerary adornments.
This type of art refers to adornments that have to do with cemeteries and tombs. It was especially popular in Egypt, where sarcophagi were embellished so as to commemorate the dead. In the Roman empire this was also a custom, only tombstones instead of sarcophagi were decorated. 

Answer 2

Funerary adornments.