• r2-185-10
    Lid corner with sorrowing triton, frontal view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
  • r2-185-20
    Lid corner with sorrowing triton, right profile. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Lid Corner with Sorrowing Triton

Date
Late 2nd or early 3rd C. AD, Roman
Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
S73.003
Material
Marble, Stone
Object Type
Sculpture, Sarcophagus
Sculpture Type
Sarcophagus
Site
Sardis
Sector
RT
Trench
TY 73
Locus
RT North Colonnade (area of)
B-Grid Coordinates
W6.90 / S8.80 *96.90
Findspot
S of BS.
Description

A bearded male figure holding a fish in his r. hand clasped to his chest is in high relief. The hair flows back in vertical strands, interrupted by horizontal bands in back which are intended to be either folds of the garment or waves of water. Waves are distinctly seen below r. arm. Hair and waves are done with wide flat chisel strokes. Beard and one or two runs in the hair are done with stop-and-go drill. Eye corners are deepened with chisel and small drill, thus heightening pathos. The mouth is open, with small drill hole within each side, accentuating the agonized expression. Deep lines are on either cheek, under eyes, at bridge of nose, on forehead. The muscles of the upper arm are large and rounded. This disproportionately large hand grasps a fish, tail downward, with the head held to the end of the beard.

The inside of the lid is typically rough-pointed. Inspiration for the expressive pathos is Hellenistic. The fine late Roman technique indicates a date in the late 2nd or early 3rd C. A.D.

Condition

White, translucent, large-grained marble. Heavily incrusted.

Split off from lid corner on two sides. Proper r. half of face split off.

Dimensions
H. 0.225; W. at shoulder 0.151.
Comments
See Also
Bibliography
Author
NHR