Sarcophagus of the Spouses

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Sarcophagus of the Spouses
Banditaccia Sarcofago Degli Sposi.jpg
Year late 6th century BC
Type Terracotta
Dimensions 1.14 m × 1.9 m (3.7 ft × 6.2 ft)
Location National Etruscan Museum, Rome

The Sarcophagus of the Spouses (Italian: Sarcofago degli Sposi ) is a late 6th century BC Etruscan anthropoid sarcophagus, actually exhibited in the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, Rome. It is 1.14 m high by 1.9 m wide, and is made of terracotta which was once brightly painted.[1] It depicts a married couple reclining at a banquet together in the afterlife and was found in 19th century excavations at the necropolis of Cerveteri (ancient Caere). The portrayal of a married couple sharing a banqueting couch is distinctly an Etruscan style; in contrast, Greek vases depicting banquet scenes reflect the custom that only men attended dinner parties.[1][2]

The Sarcophagus of Spouses was discovered in a necropolis. Etruscan culture practiced cremation, so the tomb housed ashes rather than body remains, and women led generally less restricted lives, though they were far from the promiscuous and uncontrolled figures that later Roman writers liked to claim. Unlike in the Greek world, where banquets were reserved for men, the Etruscan woman, who held an important place in society, is represented by her husband's side, in the same proportions and in a similar pose.[3] They are both smiling and have a loving attitude which is very uncommon for Greek culture. Because this is a funerary piece it could mean a positive attitude towards life and death. She is in the process of pouring perfume into his hand, she is making the gesture of offering perfume, another essential component of funerary ritual. In her left hand she is holding a small, round object, possibly a pomegranate, a symbol of immortality.[4]

The smiling faces with their almond-shaped eyes and long braided hair, as well as the shape of the feet of the bed, reveal Greek influence. However, the marked contrast between the high relief busts and the very flattened legs is typically Etruscan. "The Etruscan artist's interest focused on the upper half of the figures, especially on the vibrant faces and gesticulating arms."[1]

A similar sarcophagus, also from Cerveteri, is housed in the Louvre in Paris (Cp 5194).

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kleiner, Fred S. (2010). A History of Roman Art, Enhanced Edition, p. xxxi. Wadsworth, Cenage Learning.
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