SARCOPHAGUS WITH NYMPHS, C. 280-290 CE. GARDENS OF PALAZZO COLONNA
The origins of this unusual sarcophagus are unknown, but this was put into its current position in 1630 when the cascade of Villa Colonna, that is, the gardens on the slope of the Quirinal hill attached by bridges to palazzo Colonna, was designed and built. From the three blocked holes in a vertical row at centre, the white marble box had clearly been used as a water trough, washbasin, or fountain before. The central part of the front has symmetrical strigillation, meeting at centre to form an almond-shaped gap in which a male divinity, probably Hermes, stands. The strange thing about the relief work here is at the corners, where two graceful nymphs with baskets of fruit at their feet are dancing, their poses mirrored. They are very deeply cut into the sarcophagus, making the strigillate panel protrude slightly. They have the velificatio or floating drapery over their head that indicates divinity. Are they attendants of Flora or Vertumnus, deities of abundance?
#SarcophagusSaturday leads us into the magical gardens of #palazzoColonna in #Rome, along the slope of the #Quirinal hill, to find a late-C3 CE #sarcophagus serving as the lowest basin of the C17 cascade, which once roared down this hill and is now a trickle.
#ClassicalBuesky 🏺