DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0543
chap, xxii.] INTERESTING SARCOPHAGUS. 437
genii, ministers of death, whose office is betokened by the
snakes twisted round their arms, have seized upon a young
female5—the same probably whose effigy reclines on the
lid—and are about to lead her away, when a majestic
figure, her father it must be, interposes, and with out-
stretched hands seems imploring them to release her; while
her mother, with younger children in her arms and at her
side, looks on in motionless woe. On one side of this
group, but in a separate compartment, stands a winged
Charun, resting on his oar, as if awaiting the coming of
the spirit; and at the other side stands a similar figure
with hammer uplifted, ready to strike the fatal blow.6 At
each end of the sarcophagus is a winged griffon—a
Bacchic emblem, intended at the same time as a figurative
guardian of the sarcophagus.
Two other sarcophagi of singular interest were recently
to be seen at Musignano, and are described in the
Appendix to this Chapter.
5 Micali, who has described this sar- latter being two serpents ;" for the other
cophagus (Mon. Ined. p. 303), is in genius also holds a serpent; as shown in his
error when he represents the two genii plate of the monument (tav. XLVIII. 1).
as "the good and bad demons, distin- 6 Dr. Braun (Ann. Inst. 1843, p. 365)
guished by their attributes—those of the calls both these figures, Charun.
genii, ministers of death, whose office is betokened by the
snakes twisted round their arms, have seized upon a young
female5—the same probably whose effigy reclines on the
lid—and are about to lead her away, when a majestic
figure, her father it must be, interposes, and with out-
stretched hands seems imploring them to release her; while
her mother, with younger children in her arms and at her
side, looks on in motionless woe. On one side of this
group, but in a separate compartment, stands a winged
Charun, resting on his oar, as if awaiting the coming of
the spirit; and at the other side stands a similar figure
with hammer uplifted, ready to strike the fatal blow.6 At
each end of the sarcophagus is a winged griffon—a
Bacchic emblem, intended at the same time as a figurative
guardian of the sarcophagus.
Two other sarcophagi of singular interest were recently
to be seen at Musignano, and are described in the
Appendix to this Chapter.
5 Micali, who has described this sar- latter being two serpents ;" for the other
cophagus (Mon. Ined. p. 303), is in genius also holds a serpent; as shown in his
error when he represents the two genii plate of the monument (tav. XLVIII. 1).
as "the good and bad demons, distin- 6 Dr. Braun (Ann. Inst. 1843, p. 365)
guished by their attributes—those of the calls both these figures, Charun.