| Collection: | Corinth | |
| Type: | Object | |
| Name: | S 779 | |
| Title: | ROMAN SARCOPHAGUS: SEVEN AGAINST THEBES | |
| Category: | Sculpture | |
| Category Code: | S | |
| Object Number: | 779 | |
| Description: | Sarcophagus, with a band at bottom, roughly picked, H. 0.14; above this a broad shallow scotia with fillet at top and bottom, and between them a plastic band of oak leaves; at corners are small sculpted bases: two at right end show a lion pulling down a bull and a boar; on front a lion. Above, figured panel, crowned by Lesbian cymatium. On long side, Seven against Thebes: at left woman holding out helmet to warrior wearing a chlamys, who turnes head away from her; possibly Eriphyle and Amphiaraus; on his head a wreath. Between the two figures a woman, in low relief; of her face, in profile to right, chin and mouth remain. A second warrior, wearing a chiton, holds a horse, in low relief behind him, possibly Adrasus, and his horse Arion; a warrior carrying a bow and wearing a chlamys or small himation; a second wearing a boar's hide, probably Tydeus; behind these a dog in low relief. A fifth warrior, in full armor, has a ladder on his left shoulder, and is Capaneus. Between his legs a quiver in low relief. A sixth warrior is nude with cloak around neck, striding to left through body frontal, Corinthian helmet between legs; he and third warrior probably Parthenopaeus and Hippomedon. A seventh warrior in full armor strides to left with frontal body, carrying shield on left arm, right arm stretched out in back; between his legs a shield in low relief decorated with a seated sphinx; this Polynices. At right corner a draped female figure, a Caryatid. On narrow end, death of Archemoros or Opheltes. Child on ground, caught in coils of serpent, head to left, left arm down, right raised; to right is his nurse directed left, wears peplos and himation around waist. Right arm raised agaisnt serpent; at left a nude warrior with sword in right hand attacking serpent. At right edge a base on which a sphinx was seated: preserved are the face and paw of sphinx. Beneath an unintelligible object. On back: lower part of female figure, end of a fillet and traces of garland with fruit. For cover cf. S-1021,-1022. Above relief, cyma reversa, and tall fascia, top surface worked with coarse claw chisel; along inner edge a low raised lip. | |
| Material: | Fine crystalled white marble, discolored brown over much of surface. | |
| Condition: | Missing parts. Numerous joining fragments, preserving most of right end, most of one long side except for top - head height and up; only a little of back remains. | |
| Dimensions Actual: | exterior W. 1.154, H. 1.24, H. relief field 0.764 | |
| Dimensions Restored: | interior L. 2.20 | |
| Period: | 2nd c. A.C. | |
| Chronology: | according to Corinth IX N241 | |
| Area: | North of city | |
| Context: | NB32 P2 | |
| Bibliography: | Johnson, 1931, Corinth IX N241; Hesperia 1981 P441 | |
| Site: | Corinth | |
| City: | Ancient Corinth | |
| Country: | Greece | |
| References: | Monument: North of city Images (8) Basket: NB32 P2 Notebook Page: NB 18, spread 109 (p. 209) Notebook Page: NB 32, spread 5 (p. 3) |
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