Sarcophagus for a dead boy - IV

On the right corner the artist carved a scene of mourning. The boy, now shown larger, has died, and is lying dead on the floor, lamented by a Cupid with an inverted torch. Next to him is one of the Parcae, Atropos, reading from the scroll of his fate, while Hermes, represented as Psychopompos, leads away the soul, freed from the body but still resisting in fear. Psyche, previously depicted as a butterfly, is now depicted in the shape of a girl with butterfly wings. The figure between Athena and the mourning Cupid could be the mother of the dead child. She is turned to face the observer, and perhaps has individualized features.

On the upper part of the scene, Selene closes the narration by driving her chariot beyond the horizon line.

 

Source, Zanker P. e Wwald B.C., “Vivere con I Miti – L’iconografia dei sarcophagi romani”

 

Reference for detailed Italian information:

museicapitolini.net

 

Pentelic marble sarcophagus

Late 3rd early 4th century AD

From

Rome, Musei Capitolini

Palazzo Nuovo, Sala delle Colombe, Inv. No. 0329

 

Done