Headless effigies of a reclining couple on the finely sculpted lid of a plundered Roman marble sarcophagus or tomb chest outside the Greek and Roman city of Salona, at Solin near Split, Dalmatia, Croatia. The couple were probably leading citizens of Roman Salona. Intricate detail on this sloping side of the sarcophagus lid, which lies in the Necropolis of Manastrine, includes winged horses, a sleeping putto or cherub, dolphins or porpoises, sea monsters and hunting scenes. The artist was particularly skilful in sculpting the folds in the couple's clothing.
Salona, Solin, Dalmatia, Croatia: superbly sculpted and finely detailed white marble lid of a plundered Roman sarcophagus featuring a (now headless) reclining couple who must have been among the leading citizens of the ancient city of Salona, capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia. The lid lies with other shattered tomb chests in the Necropolis of Manastirine, outside the city walls. Intricate detail on this sloping side of the lid includes winged horses, a sleeping putto or cherub, dolphins or porpoises, sea monsters and hunting scenes. The artist was particularly skilful in sculpting the folds in the couple's clothing. Most of the sarcophagi in the Salona cemeteries are holed or in fragments because they were plundered after the city fell to Slav and Avar forces in 614 AD. Their sculpted detail, drawn from Greek and Roman mythology, provides an interesting contrast to tombs with early Christian symbols, commemorating saints and other martyrs executed by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, as well as later generations of Christians who chose to be buried near their graves. Salona, a former Adriatic port, was founded by Illyrians in the 3rd century BC and was later a Greek city. It became a Roman colony in about 40 BC and was made the Dalmatian provincial capital during the reign of Augustus Caesar. Its cosmopolitan citizens, safe behind strong walls and towers, enjoyed the use of public baths, an aqueduct, a forum, a theatre and an 18,000-capacity amphitheatre. The Roman Empire began to collapse in the 5th century and Salona fell to the Ostrogoths in 493 AD. Although it was later returned to Rome, its citizens fled in 614, leaving their city in ruins. The excavated site is now an archaeological park.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Salona, Solin, Dalmatia, Croatia.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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