Getty Museum

Sarcophagus

Date

A.D. 180–220

Medium

Marble

Culture

Roman

Department

Sculpture

Institution

Getty Museum

The body of the sarcophagus is carved on all four exterior sides. On the front and two short ends are scenes relating to the life of Achilles. On the front, Achilles steps into a chariot as he prepares to drag the lifeless body of Hector around the walls of Troy as numerous other figures look on. On one short end, Achilles is discovered among the daughters of King Lycomedes of Skyros (The king sits enthroned to the right, and Odysseus, identifiable by his pointed cap, appears at the left). On the other short end, Achilles is being armed for battle, also in the presence of Odysseus. On the back of the sarcophagus, carved in low relief, is a scene of the Greeks battling the Centaurs. The sarcophagus lid features husband and wife, their heads unfinished as their portraits were never carved. The man's right hand embraces his wife, while his left rests upon a book, which, like the epic scenes on the body of the sarcophagus, signals his aspiration to high culture.

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