Theseus Sarcophagus
The Marble sarcophagus with garlands and the myth of Theseus and Ariadne was made during the Hadrianic or early Antonine period in A.D. 130-150. The sarcophagus was discovered in 1889 near Rome. The sarcophagus is made out of marble, luni, and peltonic with the dimensions of 31 x 85 3/4 x 28 inches. The purpose of the sarcophagus was to hold human remains. The lid is shown in low relief of winged erotes driving chariots drawn by animals associated with the seasons: bears with spring, lions with summer, bulls with autumn, and boars with winter. The front of the sarcophagus shows four erotes with garlands consisting of flowers, wheat, grapes, pomegranates, and laurel. It tells the myth of Theseus and Ariadne. With the help of the Cretan princess Ariadne, the Greek hero Theseus slaughtered the Minotaur, a part bull and part human monster. The Minotaur was placed in a labyrinth, where he consumed Athenian children sent as an annual tribute. From left to right, the narrative represents Ariadne giving a thread to Theseus at the enterance to the labyrinth, Theseus massacring the
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Therefore, it influenced Roman culture. According to the mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of Minos, king of Crete and his wife, Pasiphae. Poseidon put Minos in charge of taking care of a Minotaur and offering it sacrifices every nine years. On the third sacrifice, an Athenian prince, Theseus volunteered to go to the sacrifice to kill the Minotaur. Ariadne fell in love with Theseus and devised a plan to help Theseus escape from the labyrinth. The plan was successful and they went to the Naxos. However, Theseus abandoned Ariadne on the island and she was rescued by the god, Dionysus. He made her immortal and the goddess of vegetation. This myth was written in Ovid’s Metamorphoses documenting the lives of gods and goddesses from Greek mythology relating to change and
Therefore, it influenced Roman culture. According to the mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of Minos, king of Crete and his wife, Pasiphae. Poseidon put Minos in charge of taking care of a Minotaur and offering it sacrifices every nine years. On the third sacrifice, an Athenian prince, Theseus volunteered to go to the sacrifice to kill the Minotaur. Ariadne fell in love with Theseus and devised a plan to help Theseus escape from the labyrinth. The plan was successful and they went to the Naxos. However, Theseus abandoned Ariadne on the island and she was rescued by the god, Dionysus. He made her immortal and the goddess of vegetation. This myth was written in Ovid’s Metamorphoses documenting the lives of gods and goddesses from Greek mythology relating to change and