Asset number
1613258392
Description
Pentelic marble sarcophagus decorated with scenes from the life of Achilles. The ancient surface of the interior is roughly worked with a point, and the long sides in diagonal channels. On the front, Achilles accepts a helmet prior to recognition of him by the daughters of Lycomedes. On the left side, Achilles is instructed in boxing by the centaur Chiron. On the right side, Hephaistos completes work on Achilles' shield. Thetis offers greaves and a scabbard to Achilles, who stands waiting in a cuirass. On the rear, Hector's corpse is dragged before the walls of Troy.
The upper mouldings are decorated with a lesbian cymatium, ovolo and bead-and-reel; the lower with Lesbian cymatium and guilloche. The mouldings on the back of the chest are uncut. Caryatids mark the corners - they stand on plinths decorated with (front) two lions, confronted; (left side) panther and stag, confronted; (right side) hound and panther, facing the rear; (back) hound and panther (?), confronted.
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