Finds

Strigil sarcophagus

A strigil sarcophagus in Greek marble dated between the end of the IV and start of the V century A.D.: probably comes from the Columbaris funerary area. (fig. 1).

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Fig. 1 - Antiquarium of Cuglieri, strigil sarcophagus in marble (from TEATINI 2008, p. 1308, fig. 7).


It is rectangular in shape and being small in size it was assumed to be for a child. After the find, the sarcophagus was used as a fountain in the square in Cuglieri. For this, a hole was made in the bottom and it was nicked on the upper edge of one of the two heads to allow water to flow. Finally, it was taken to the town Antiquarium. The case seems to be surrounded by a frame on the two short sides and on the upper longer one, to frame an area decorated by two series of strigils and divided into two parts by a central almond-shaped pattern in the lower space. The example can be compared to other Sardinian (figs. 2-3) and North African sarcophagi.

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Fig. 2 - Pula, Parish Church of S. Giovanni Battista: strigil sarcophagus in marble (from TEATINI 2008, p. 1307, fig. 6).
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Fig. 3 - Cagliari, church of San Lucifero: strigil sarcophagus in limestone with tabula with handle (from TEATINI 2008, p. 1310, fig. 9).


Due to various characteristics, the production of those island cases leads back to African workshops, perhaps even to marble workers from Carthage for the decoration found only on the main side  (figs. 4-5). The almonds on the strigil sarcophagi can portray various things, have an empty field or show a small barrel, like the Cornus one.

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Fig. 4 - Carthage, Damous-el Karita: strigil sarcophagus in Greek marble (from TEATINI 2008, p. 1307, fig. 8).
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Fig. 5 - Detail of the Eutropos slab, portraying the shop of a marble worker (from BARATTA 2007, p. 212, fig. 28).



Bibliografia

  • G. BARATTA, La mandorla centrale dei sarcofagi strigilati. Un campo iconografico ed i suoi simboli, in F. HÖLSCHER, T. HÖLSCHER (a cura di), Römische Bilderwelten. Von der Wirklichkeit zum Bild und zurück, Kolloquium der Gerda Henkel Stiftung am Deutschen Archäologischen Institut Rom (Rom 15.-17. März 2004) = Archäologie und Geschichte, 12, Heidelberg 2007, pp. 191-215.
  • F. BENOIT, Recensione a G. Pesce, Sarcofagi romani di Sardegna, Roma, 1957, in Latomus: revue d’études latines, XVI, pp. 555-556.
  • G. KOCH, H. SICHTERMANN, Römische Sarkophage, München 1982, pp. 242, 294-295.
  • A. M. GIUNTELLA, Cornus I.1. L'area cimiteriale orientale = Mediterraneo tardoantico e medievale. Scavi e ricerche, 13. 1, Oristano 1999, pp. 27, 79, 95.
  • A. MASTINO, Cornus nella storia degli studi con un catalogo delle iscrizioni rinvenute nel territorio del comune di Cuglieri, Cagliari 1984, p. 27.
  • G. PESCE, I sarcofagi romani della Sardegna, 1957, pp. 89-90.
  • A. TEATINI, Le produzioni di sarcofagi a Cartagine nella tarda antichità: nuovi dati dalla documentazione sarda, in M. Milanese, P. Ruggeri, C. Vismara (a cura di), L’Africa romana. I luoghi e le forme dei mestieri e della produzione nelle province africane. Atti del XVIII Convegno di studio (Olbia, 11-14 dicembre 2008), II, pp. 1295-1323.

 

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