Caption

Sarcophagus with a depiction of a married couple and a shepherd, unknown Roman workshop. A large Roman sarcophagus with strigilla S-shaped grooves converging toward a central medallion, decorated with a standing, thoughtful shepherd leaning on a pedum shepherd's staff. The front sides show presumed depictions of the deceased against draped fabrics parapetasmata: on the left, a woman in a tunic and palla holding a scroll volumen in her left hand; on the right, a man in tunic and toga with a contabulatio specially wrapped hem holding a scroll in his left hand and wearing calcei leather military boots. Both frontal figures have incompletely finished heads. The side walls bear reliefs of a seated griffin with a lion's head; the left wall near its lower left corner has an opening to the interior; the lower left corner of the right wall is missing. The rear wall is rather carelessly worked. Considerable abrasions and damage, particularly to the corners and figures on both sides of the front wall. Circa 270 CE, Roman Empire. Sarcophagus Roman. Height 100 cm, width 214 cm, depth 100 cm, weight 2400 kg., A carved stone relief of a draped figure shown from the chest upward, rendered in shades of white, gray, and off-white. The figure has a rounded head with indistinct facial features, hair drawn back into a simple style, and wears garments with layered folds and flowing drapery. A few gathered cloth elements hang behind the figure at either side, tied near the top, and a sash or band crosses the chest. The figure’s right hand is visible holding a fold of the drapery, while the left arm rests at the side beneath the folds. The stone surface shows subtle texture variations, weathering, and small areas of wear. The background is a smooth gray.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A05_242

License type

Rights managed

Available size

68.7Mb (3.6Mb) / 13.3in x 20.0in / 4000 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Sarcophagus depiction married couple shepherd unknown Roman workshop large Roman sarcophagus strigilla S-shaped grooves converging central medallion decorated standing thoughtful shepherd leaning pedum shepherd's staff front sides presumed depictions deceased draped fabrics parapetasmata left woman tunic palla holding scroll volumen left hand right man toga contabulatio specially wrapped hem holding scroll wearing calcei leather military boots frontal figures incompletely finished heads side walls bear reliefs seated griffin lion's head left wall near lower corner opening interior right wall missing rear wall carelessly worked Considerable abrasions damage particularly corners figures sides front wall Circa 270 CE Roman Empire Sarcophagus Roman Height 100 cm width 214 cm depth 100 cm weight 2400 kg carved stone relief draped figure shown chest upward rendered shades white gray off-white figure rounded head indistinct facial features hair drawn back simple style wears garments layered folds flowing drapery gathered cloth elements hang side tied near top sash band crosses chest figure’s right hand visible holding fold drapery left arm rests side beneath folds stone surface subtle texture variations weathering small areas wear background smooth gray.