Description

Sarcophagus case, imported from Attica. The front, main, side of the case and a small part of the back and the base are preserved almost intact. The decoration of the main face gives a plume of acanthus: a central calyx of acanthus leaves forms the core on either side of which four spirals are formed. On the leaves stand two birds, a larger one facing left, and a smaller one facing right, while between them is a large flower. Inside the spirals a rich floral pattern is formed: in the inner spirals, four broad leaves form the background for a bell-shaped flower, while in the outer ones the flower is rosette-shaped with a circular core and leaves arranged around the perimeter. On the reverse side remains of the claws of the soles of an eagle are preserved and on either side the ends of two ribbons. This is the usual decorative composition of Attic sarcophagi, in which two garlands are carried by an eagle in the middle and bucephalae at the ends.