October 2021

Marble sarcophagus depicting a dionysiac grape harvest scene

Marble sarcophagus depicting a dionysiac grape harvest scene. ©Ministry of Culture-AMTh

Attic type relief sarcophagus depicting a dionysiac grape harvest scene and a battle scene with Centaurs against Griffins on its body, as well as a married couple on a banquet couch on its lid.

The Greek inscription engraved at the lowest part of the monument’s front face informs us that it was bought by Poplia Antia Damocratia for herself and her (already deceased) husband, Vitalius Restitutus. The text ends with a threat of a high fine to be imposed on whoever breaks open the sarcophagus, after she is buried there herself.

The sarcophagus (Inv. No. 1247) is fairly well-preserved, the main loss being that of both the couple’s heads. It was unearthed in 1929, close to the junction of Langada and Agiou Demetriou streets, an area within the west cemetery of ancient Thessaloniki. Ιt was made of Pentelic marble in an Attic workshop, towards the close of the 3rd century A.D. Its provenance, artistic quality and sheer size (2.41 m. long) make it one of the most expensive marble funerary works of art that have survived from Thessaloniki of the Roman imperial times.

The dead couple is pictured reclining on the same couch, complete with two pillows, as well as a thick mattress, covered with richly-decorated bedclothes. And if this picture is proof of wealth and marital love, the harvest scene on the front and the sides is commonplace on attic sarcophagi of the times, but may also bear witness to the love of earthly joys.

The whole entourage of Dionysus takes part in the (currently relevant) feast of the harvest, except for himself and Ariadne: Satyrs, Maenads, Cupids, panthers, Hermaphroditus and Silenus harvest, play music with guitars and flutes, dance and have fun under vines loaded with grapes, while a goat laden with two baskets transports the grapes to the wine press. The back of the sarcophagus depicts a different theme, which has a more relaxed relationship with the Dionysiac mythological cycle. It is a battle scene between Centaurs and Griffins, developing in two duels. The two Centaurs fight with clubs and are differentiated by age, as the first is mature and bearded, while the second is younger and lacks a beard.

You can see the sarcophagus in the atrium of the Museum.