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The Necropolis of the “Via Triumphalis” – XXXII

Sarcophagus of Meleager and the mythical hunting of Calydonian boar. This detail showing a group of hunters supporting Meleager attests the high quality of this sculpture.

The considerable number of sculptures and the numerous replicas of Meleager’s myth carved on Roman sarcophagi show the great popularity of Meleager during the imperial times. This appreciation of the myth of the heroic hunter who slew the monstrous Calydonian boar accounts “the appeal that hunting figures had for the Romans, through their heroizing connotations.

 

Marble sarcophagus found in the chamber tomb VIII, [Necropolis's map, chamber tomb VIII]

Santa Rosa Area

End of 2nd early of 3rd century AD

Vatican State

 

Source: P. Liverani, G. Spinola, “Le Necropoli Vaticane” , Jaca Book

 

 

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Uploaded on February 25, 2014
Taken on February 8, 2014