Limestone fragment of a sarcophagus - image 1

Hellenistic

Limestone fragment of a sarcophagus

This piece once formed one of the long sides of a sarcophagus. The symmetrical decoration consists of two small bulls that flank two wreaths. At the upper corners of the panel a ring is carved in relief, imitating the handles of a chest. The style of the panel shows the influence of woodcarving. Stone funerary architecture often imitated wooden constructions, and this sarcophagus was probably based on a wooden prototype. WebPub GR 2012 Cesnola: 18 × 69 × 2 15/16 in., 134 lb. (45.7 × 175.3 × 7.5 cm)

Date

299 - 200 BC

Accession No.

74.51.2491

Collection

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Provenance

  • Found “near Larnaca” (Doell)

References

  • Doell, Johannes. 1873. Die Sammlung Cesnola. no. 835, p. 58, pl. XII.10, St. Petersburg: L’Académie Impérial des Sciences.Cesnola, Luigi Palma di. 1877. Cyprus: Its Ancient Cities, Tombs, and Temples. A Narrative of Researches and Excavations During Ten Years' Residence in That Island. p. 54, London: John Murray.Myres, John L. 1914. Handbook of the Cesnola Collection of Antiquities from Cyprus. no. 1372, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Karageorghis, Vassos, Joan Mertens, and Marice E. Rose. 2000. Ancient Art from Cyprus: The Cesnola Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. no. 334, p. 207, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Hermary, Antoine and Joan R. Mertens. 2013. The Cesnola Collection of Cypriot Art : Stone Sculpture. no. 494, pp. 372-73, Online Publication, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.