Large Roman Intricate Sarcophagus
Preserving the front panel and parts of each side, the front centred by a garland framing a draped bust of Semne supported by two large Cupids, Semne depicted frontally, her hair centre parted, wearing a stola and a palla, holding them in her right hand, the garland formed from apples, pinecones and poppies, a large blossom above, the Cupids depicted nude, their wings raised and their heads turned out, an overturned fruit-filled urn, a snarling panther and a bow and quiver below each Cupid, a tree stump to the left supporting a bow and another to the right supporting a quiver, a winged Cupid at each corner, nude but for a diagonally-draped mantle, each holding a garland, a griffin on each side panel, an inscription in Greek epigram on the borders, but likely beginning on the now-missing lid, reading, [With my death I have left behind for my beloved parents] along the top, [as a compensation for the mourning and tears, my brother Semnos and the longed-for double offspring of my body. You want to know my name and that of my sweet parents], and along the bottom, [As daughter of (?) and of Trophimos, I, Semne, was born, just and honourable. Now my body denies me its service, but my mouth still knows how to speak as it did during my life]
Provenance
Publications
- Minerva: the International Review of Ancient Art & Archaeology
- , "Römische Sarkophage in Japan", Archäologischer Anzeiger
- , The Kurashiki Ninagawa Museum, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Mainz
- Christie's Antiquities, New York
- , "Roman Marble Sculpture", Mougins Museum of Classical Art, France
- "C'est quoi cette oeuvre?'", Mougins Infos, France
Exhibitions
- Musée d'Art Classique de Mougins (MACM), Mougins, France, from June 2011
N.B. Our online collection is being continually updated thanks to ongoing research and documentation efforts carried out by the MACM documentation team. Any additional information is welcome, please contact us.