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Source Description
Carved in relief on this sarcophagus, panther-griffins face one another, each raising a paw towards a central vase-like object used in the cult of Dionysus Sabazius. The motif is well known from imperial temples, where it appears as a symbol of deification and ascension to heaven. This imperial allusion reflects the high aspirations of the family to whom the tomb belongs. Along the lid, Eros figures ride fantastical sea-creatures.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
3446
label
Sarcophagus with Griffins
core
obj
dtoType
sculpture
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
3446
sourceUrl
contentType
sculpture
stage
normalized
title
Sarcophagus with Griffins
description
Carved in relief on this sarcophagus, panther-griffins face one another, each raising a paw towards a central vase-like object used in the cult of Dionysus Sabazius. The motif is well known from imperial temples, where it appears as a symbol of deification and ascension to heaven. This imperial allusion reflects the high aspirations of the family to whom the tomb belongs. Along the lid, Eros figures ride fantastical sea-creatures.
provenance
[Excavated from the so-called Licinian tomb, via Piave, Rome, 1885]; Clemente Maraini, 1885, by excavation; Don Marcello Massarenti, Rome, by 1894, by purchase [marble no. 7]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1902, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
140-170 CE (Imperial)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Sculpture
sarcophagi (coffins)
covers
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
62.2
height
156.2
depth
54
dimensionsRaw
24 1/2 x 61 1/2 x 21 1/4 in. (62.2 x 156.2 x 54 cm)
Source extras
cul
Roman
med
marble
creator_ids
6191
collection_ids
ROM
exhibition_ids
2177
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
6c0552637d3b08a0