COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
mediaCollectionId
AMICO~1~1
The AMICA Library
Collection
true
AMICA ID:
MMA_.74.51.2453
amicoid
MMA_.74.51.2453
AMICA ID
false
AMICA Library Year:
2002
aly
2002
AMICA Library Year
false
Object Type:
Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects
oty
Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects
Object Type
false
Description:
The Amathus sarcophagus, from Amathus, Cyprus, arguably the single most important object in the Cesnola Collection, is unique among ancient Cypriot sculptures in its monumentality and in the preservation of its polychromy . It probably belonged to one of the kings of Amathus. The primary scenes, on the long sides, show a procession of chariots escorted by attendants on horseback and followed by foot soldiers. The main personage is probably the driver, who is standing under a parasol in the first chariot. His horses, like the others, are richly caparisoned; his chariot resembles the others as well, except that the wheel has fewer spokes. The decoration of the short ends of the sarcophagus consists of a row of Astarte figures, nude except for their double necklaces and ear caps, and a row of Bes figures. The choice of these two deities?one Near Eastern, the other Egyptian?suggests the importance of procreation to the deceased. The figural panels are framed by a variety of vegetal ornaments, while the gabled lid once featured a pair of sphinxes and a palmette at each end. The iconography as a whole documents the thorough integration of Greek, Cypriot, Persian, and Egyptian features in middle fifth-century B.C. works of high quality.
opd
The Amathus sarcophagus, from Amathus, Cyprus, arguably the single most important object in the Cesnola Collection, is unique among ancient Cypriot sculptures in its monumentality and in the preservation of its polychromy . It probably belonged to one of the kings of Amathus. The primary scenes, on the long sides, show a procession of chariots escorted by attendants on horseback and followed by foot soldiers. The main personage is probably the driver, who is standing under a parasol in the first chariot. His horses, like the others, are richly caparisoned; his chariot resembles the others as well, except that the wheel has fewer spokes. The decoration of the short ends of the sarcophagus consists of a row of Astarte figures, nude except for their double necklaces and ear caps, and a row of Bes figures. The choice of these two deities?one Near Eastern, the other Egyptian?suggests the importance of procreation to the deceased. The figural panels are framed by a variety of vegetal ornaments, while the gabled lid once featured a pair of sphinxes and a palmette at each end. The iconography as a whole documents the thorough integration of Greek, Cypriot, Persian, and Egyptian features in middle fifth-century B.C. works of high quality.
Description
false
Creator Nationality:
European; Southern European; Cypriot
crc
European; Southern European; Cypriot
Creator Nationality
false
Creator Name-CRT:
Cypriot
crt
Cypriot
Creator Name-CRT
false
Title:
Sarcophagus
otn
Sarcophagus
Title
false
View:
Principal view
rid
Principal view
View
false
Creation Date:
second quarter of 5th century B.C.
oct
second quarter of 5th century B.C.
Creation Date
false
Creation Start Date:
0
ocs
0
Creation Start Date
false
Creation End Date:
0
oce
0
Creation End Date
false
Materials and Techniques:
Limestone
omd
Limestone
Materials and Techniques
false
Style or Period:
Archaic
std
Archaic
Style or Period
false
Dimensions:
H. 62 in. (157.5 cm)
met
H. 62 in. (157.5 cm)
Dimensions
false
AMICA Contributor:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
oon
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
AMICA Contributor
false
Owner Location:
New York, New York
oop
New York, New York
Owner Location
false
ID Number:
74.51.2453
ooa
74.51.2453
ID Number
false
Credit Line:
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874-76
ooc
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874-76
Credit Line
false
Copyright:
Copyright ? 2002 The Metropolitan Museum of Art . All rights reserved.
ors
Copyright ? 2002 The Metropolitan Museum of Art . All rights reserved.
Copyright
false
Rights:
orl
<a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/education/er_photo_lib.asp"target="_new">http://www.metmuseum.org/education/er_photo_lib.asp</a>
Rights
false
Related Image Identifier Link:
MMA_.h1_74.51.2453.tif
ril
MMA_.h1_74.51.2453.tif
Related Image Identifier Link
false