Dionysus and the Season - I
At the center of the bas-relief Dionysus, raising his right bent arm over the head, is leaning against a satyr standing on his left. Eight Erotes arranged in two series surround the god. They are portrayed as slender youths with hair full of curls. Six of them are wearing over their naked body a short chlamys hooked on their left shoulder. Each of them holds typical attributes and/or tools symbolizing the four Seasons. From left, the first Erote holding a floral wreath in his raised left hand may be identified with the Spring. The second one bringing a cup near his lips for tasting the new wine could be the representation of the Winter. The next one depicted with a scythe in his right hand and a basket full of corn near his feet, is easily identifiable with the Summer. The Autumn closes the series sculpted to Dionysus’ left: he is portrayed as a hunter who holding with his left hand a hare by its paws, raises the arm while a dog tries to grab his prey.
The Seasons' right series starts with the Summer. The youth personifying this season has a bunch of corn's ears in his right hand, and holds a basket full of fruits with his left lowered hand; below the basket a goat nurses her baby. The second one is the Autumn portrayed as a youth who leaning on a vine shoot with his right arm, supports a basket with his left arm. The next character, a youth carrying on his shoulders a lamb held for its paws, is identified as the Spring. The last Erote, wearing boots and a short tunic with hood, holds two ducks and a lake reed: he symbolizes Winter.
The sarcophagus' lid is enclosed between two angular masks. At the center, supported by two cupids, there is a framed “tabella” for the funerary epigraph. To its left, the bust of the deceased woman is carved against a veil, “parapetasma”, held by two Erotes. On the other side, four cupids flying towards right, move bunches of corn ears.
Stylistic considerations concerning the rendering of the main characters – arrangement of the figures, hairstyle etc. - date this sarcophagus to the second quarter of the IV century AD.
Roman Sarcophagus
About 320 – 350 AD
Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano, Terme di Diocleziano
Dionysus and the Season - I
At the center of the bas-relief Dionysus, raising his right bent arm over the head, is leaning against a satyr standing on his left. Eight Erotes arranged in two series surround the god. They are portrayed as slender youths with hair full of curls. Six of them are wearing over their naked body a short chlamys hooked on their left shoulder. Each of them holds typical attributes and/or tools symbolizing the four Seasons. From left, the first Erote holding a floral wreath in his raised left hand may be identified with the Spring. The second one bringing a cup near his lips for tasting the new wine could be the representation of the Winter. The next one depicted with a scythe in his right hand and a basket full of corn near his feet, is easily identifiable with the Summer. The Autumn closes the series sculpted to Dionysus’ left: he is portrayed as a hunter who holding with his left hand a hare by its paws, raises the arm while a dog tries to grab his prey.
The Seasons' right series starts with the Summer. The youth personifying this season has a bunch of corn's ears in his right hand, and holds a basket full of fruits with his left lowered hand; below the basket a goat nurses her baby. The second one is the Autumn portrayed as a youth who leaning on a vine shoot with his right arm, supports a basket with his left arm. The next character, a youth carrying on his shoulders a lamb held for its paws, is identified as the Spring. The last Erote, wearing boots and a short tunic with hood, holds two ducks and a lake reed: he symbolizes Winter.
The sarcophagus' lid is enclosed between two angular masks. At the center, supported by two cupids, there is a framed “tabella” for the funerary epigraph. To its left, the bust of the deceased woman is carved against a veil, “parapetasma”, held by two Erotes. On the other side, four cupids flying towards right, move bunches of corn ears.
Stylistic considerations concerning the rendering of the main characters – arrangement of the figures, hairstyle etc. - date this sarcophagus to the second quarter of the IV century AD.
Roman Sarcophagus
About 320 – 350 AD
Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano, Terme di Diocleziano