Sarcophagus with Apollo and Marsyas - I
The sarcophagus features scenes from the myth of Marsyas, from the discovery of the flute until his defeat in the musical challenge with Apollo and the consequent cruel punishment inflicted upon him by the god.
On the left side Apollo, the leader of the Muses, appears here exclusively in the role of singer with his lyre, whereas Athena, with her weapons but no further attributes, is allocated the role of protectress of the sciences and the arts.
In this subject too, the reference to literature and singing, and the praise of virtue that goes with it, is obvious. Nevertheless, this does not appear to exhaust the message expressed by the unequal contest between Apollo and the satyr, who in his hubris issued a challenge to the god, placing his own mastery of the flute on too exalted a level. What was evidently important was to show the higher status of the Apollonian art of song in comparison with the Dionysiac flute, and thus to assess relative values within the cultural sphere of music. On the right side the punishment of the satyr.
At center, a Muse sits, from the viewer’s perspective, to the right of the competition scene. She turns her head to her left, away from both contestants, and sits with her left flank toward the viewer. The seated figure gazes over her shoulder, making a narrative transition to the next scene, in which the defeated Marsyas stands gazing downward with the auloi in his hand. Her placement here is appropriate in a frieze that moves chronologically from viewer’s left to viewer’s right.
The sarcophagus lid is decorated with griffins and tripods.
Source: Zankler P., Living with Myths
Marble sarcophagus
Lunense marble
H. 56 cm - L.190 cm - W. 60 cm
Half of the second century AD
From Rome, via della Garbatella
Musei Capitolini, Centrale Montemartini, Inv. S 2402
Sarcophagus with Apollo and Marsyas - I
The sarcophagus features scenes from the myth of Marsyas, from the discovery of the flute until his defeat in the musical challenge with Apollo and the consequent cruel punishment inflicted upon him by the god.
On the left side Apollo, the leader of the Muses, appears here exclusively in the role of singer with his lyre, whereas Athena, with her weapons but no further attributes, is allocated the role of protectress of the sciences and the arts.
In this subject too, the reference to literature and singing, and the praise of virtue that goes with it, is obvious. Nevertheless, this does not appear to exhaust the message expressed by the unequal contest between Apollo and the satyr, who in his hubris issued a challenge to the god, placing his own mastery of the flute on too exalted a level. What was evidently important was to show the higher status of the Apollonian art of song in comparison with the Dionysiac flute, and thus to assess relative values within the cultural sphere of music. On the right side the punishment of the satyr.
At center, a Muse sits, from the viewer’s perspective, to the right of the competition scene. She turns her head to her left, away from both contestants, and sits with her left flank toward the viewer. The seated figure gazes over her shoulder, making a narrative transition to the next scene, in which the defeated Marsyas stands gazing downward with the auloi in his hand. Her placement here is appropriate in a frieze that moves chronologically from viewer’s left to viewer’s right.
The sarcophagus lid is decorated with griffins and tripods.
Source: Zankler P., Living with Myths
Marble sarcophagus
Lunense marble
H. 56 cm - L.190 cm - W. 60 cm
Half of the second century AD
From Rome, via della Garbatella
Musei Capitolini, Centrale Montemartini, Inv. S 2402