• r2-170-10
    Fragment of monument (?) with ram's head and garland, overview. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Fragment of Monument (?) With Ram’s Head and Garland

Date
2nd-3rd C. AD, Roman
Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
NoEx74.007
Material
Marble, Stone
Object Type
Sculpture, Sarcophagus
Sculpture Type
Sarcophagus
Site
Sardis
Findspot
Field near B.
Description

The large, heavy corner block is probably not from a sarcophagus but part of a marble monument or tomb. Two clamp holes show that the piece was clamped from the back and side. There are cleavage lines along the right bottom part, smoothed in a way befitting a frieze or capital. Treatment of the back is with large to medium trimming hammer strokes; top is rough pointed.

A four-petalled rosette with indented leaves which have heart-shaped interiors is over a garland of acanthus and fruit tied by a wide ribbon just below the rosette. A pomegranate facing upwards and grapes descending out of the acanthus form the top of the garland. An egg and dart pattern, on top profile preserved on l. side, broken off, except for part of two eggs and the corner on r. side. Another garland of upward pinecones and palm leaves exists above a four large- and four small-petalled rosette with long, subdivided leaves in interior. The background is done with multiple point.

Condition
Large-grained, grayish white local marble. Broken at top and bottom of r. side.
Dimensions
Max. P.L. 0.45; H. 0.32; W. 0.275.
Comments
See Also
Bibliography
Author
NHR