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Unknown Maker, Roman

Fragment from a Sarcophagus

Maker

Unknown Maker, Roman

Culture

Roman

Title

Fragment from a Sarcophagus

Period

Ancient

Year

ca. CE 200

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

white marble

Dimensions

17.8 x 20.3 x 9.4 cm (7 x 8 x 3 11/16 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Charlotte F. Dailey

Object Number

02.004

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

Rethinking the Romans
New Views of Ancient Sculpture
Apr 06, 2001 – Jan 02, 2009

Label copy

This fragment was part of the upper edge of the long side of a sarcophagus, as indicated by a preserved portion of the upper molding. It depicts Omphale, a queen of ancient Lydia (in west Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey), and another woman to her left. According to legend, Herakles was enslaved to Omphale to atone for his crimes. He performed various exploits for her and became her lover. During his enslavement, Herakles was ordered by Omphale to exchange roles and clothes with her. She is shown here wearing Herakles’s lion skin. This is an extremely rare depiction of Omphale on a sarcophagus; only one other such representation is known.

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Roman
Fragment from a Sarcophagus, ca. CE 200
Marble
17.8 x 20.3 x 9.4 cm (7 x 8 x 3 11/16 inches)
Gift of Charlotte F. Dailey 02.004

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