Sarcophagus For A Young "Eques Romanus"
FLORENTIO
DOMITIO MARINIANO
EQR QVI VIXIT ANN VIllI
MENS DVOBVS DEFVNCTVS
III NON AVG DEPOSITVS
VIII IDVS AVGVSTAS
TVLLIANVS ET ARISTEA PAREN
FILIO DVLCISSIMO
Florentio / Domitio Mariniano / eq(uiti) r(omano) qui vixit ann(is) VIIII / mens(ibus) duobus defunctus / III non(as) aug(ustas) depositus / VIII idus augustas / Tullianus et Aristia parent(es) / filio dulcissimo
The funerary text (its dedicatory layout, the memory of the deceased's rank and his family ties, as well as the reference to the tomb as the object of the dedication) and the elements of the carved decoration belonging to the classical tradition attest the high status of the sarcophagus commissioners.
According to the dedicatory epigraph, the chest contained the body of Florentius Domitius Marinianus, a very young "eques romanus", Roman knight, who died on August 3 at the age of nine years and two months. His parents, Tullianus et Aristia, deposed the their beloved son on August 6, only three days after his death, too short an interval of time to make a so richly carved sarcophagus. They therefore bought one already sculpted, in which the only change needed was the figure of the deceased. The boy-knight holds a scroll in his left hand, making an oratory gesture; he wears the dress of a high officer: a waist tied tunic, cuirass with pendants, chlamys with buckles on the right humerus and "calcei", typical Roman foot-wears. Our young officer stands in front of the tent, supported by two plump flying genies under which there are two deities representing Ocean, on the right, and Earth, on the left. Ocean is depicted with bare torso and legs wrapped in a pallium; he holds an anchor with his right hand. A putto is kissing him; another one approaches him by swimming from right, facing a "pistrice" - imaginary sea animal - threatening him, with his wide open mouth. Earth wears a tunic and a typical female cloak, "palla"; she holds the cornucopia with her left hand. Her right hand is extended in a gesture of reproach towards a putto, who has frightened a companion with a mask, making him fall to the ground.
The beautiful head carved on the left of Earth probably represents a Nymph. In the corners there are two genies of the Seasons. On the right, Autumn with a basket full of fruit and a bunch of grapes; on the left, Winter with a walking stick, "pedum", and a hare towards which a dog jumps. At the feet of Autumn a lapwing.
Source: Wilpert J., “I sarcofagi Cristiani Antichi” (Volume 3) – Roma
Marble sarcophagus
310 – 320 AD
From Rome, Catacombe di Novaziano
Vatican Museums, Museo Pio Cristiano
Sarcophagus For A Young "Eques Romanus"
FLORENTIO
DOMITIO MARINIANO
EQR QVI VIXIT ANN VIllI
MENS DVOBVS DEFVNCTVS
III NON AVG DEPOSITVS
VIII IDVS AVGVSTAS
TVLLIANVS ET ARISTEA PAREN
FILIO DVLCISSIMO
Florentio / Domitio Mariniano / eq(uiti) r(omano) qui vixit ann(is) VIIII / mens(ibus) duobus defunctus / III non(as) aug(ustas) depositus / VIII idus augustas / Tullianus et Aristia parent(es) / filio dulcissimo
The funerary text (its dedicatory layout, the memory of the deceased's rank and his family ties, as well as the reference to the tomb as the object of the dedication) and the elements of the carved decoration belonging to the classical tradition attest the high status of the sarcophagus commissioners.
According to the dedicatory epigraph, the chest contained the body of Florentius Domitius Marinianus, a very young "eques romanus", Roman knight, who died on August 3 at the age of nine years and two months. His parents, Tullianus et Aristia, deposed the their beloved son on August 6, only three days after his death, too short an interval of time to make a so richly carved sarcophagus. They therefore bought one already sculpted, in which the only change needed was the figure of the deceased. The boy-knight holds a scroll in his left hand, making an oratory gesture; he wears the dress of a high officer: a waist tied tunic, cuirass with pendants, chlamys with buckles on the right humerus and "calcei", typical Roman foot-wears. Our young officer stands in front of the tent, supported by two plump flying genies under which there are two deities representing Ocean, on the right, and Earth, on the left. Ocean is depicted with bare torso and legs wrapped in a pallium; he holds an anchor with his right hand. A putto is kissing him; another one approaches him by swimming from right, facing a "pistrice" - imaginary sea animal - threatening him, with his wide open mouth. Earth wears a tunic and a typical female cloak, "palla"; she holds the cornucopia with her left hand. Her right hand is extended in a gesture of reproach towards a putto, who has frightened a companion with a mask, making him fall to the ground.
The beautiful head carved on the left of Earth probably represents a Nymph. In the corners there are two genies of the Seasons. On the right, Autumn with a basket full of fruit and a bunch of grapes; on the left, Winter with a walking stick, "pedum", and a hare towards which a dog jumps. At the feet of Autumn a lapwing.
Source: Wilpert J., “I sarcofagi Cristiani Antichi” (Volume 3) – Roma
Marble sarcophagus
310 – 320 AD
From Rome, Catacombe di Novaziano
Vatican Museums, Museo Pio Cristiano